Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/ReutersAlex Murdaugh, the once-prominent member of a legal dynasty in South Carolina's Lowcountry, has been convicted of murdering his wife and son in June 2021.Murdaugh, 54, was found guilty of all four counts against him on Thursday in connection with the deaths of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, near the . By using this site you agree to our privacy policy. Eventually, the Columbia native tied the knot with Hope Marie Crowley in 1999. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. A few days later, they were found dead in a river. Her body was found five weeks later in a King George County creek. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. . There were additional guns, ropes, and other murder equipment discovered, as well as notes indicating that Evonitz was on the lookout for other victims. Have something to tell us about this article? Sensing no way of escape, Richard shot himself dead before he could be arrested. Her sister Kati Lisk was just 12 and enjoyed playing the clarinet and drawing, local outlet. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING, WHERE TO WATCH CLEVELAND ABDUCTION ON STREAMING, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Now, if you wish to know more about the murders Richard committed and his current whereabouts, we have you covered. Furthermore, the police found a lockbox containing news clippings and notes related to Kati, Kristin, and Sofias murders, along with writings mentioning the locations near their houses. Evonitz fled after finding her gone and was tracked by the police to Sarasota, Florida. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to. In one swift movement, she moved the items [that were blocking the doorway], shoved the vacuum cleaner into the closet and slammed it shut, opened the front door and ran out. ", But he added, "This is the best lead we've had out of the 12,000 leads to come out.". Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. As she looked at them, he forced her at gunpoint into a green plastic storage container in the car's trunk. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. Downes and other detectives are familiar with the psychological labels that have been attached to Evonitz, terms like bipolar, hebephile, fantasy-driven or psychopath. Richard Marc Evonitz committed suicide after being apprehended by the police 20 years ago. Sofia Silva, 16; Kristin Lisk and her sister Kati Lisk, Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. Most children are kidnapped by someone they know, per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. But perhaps that pain will be bearable if these newly revealed facts help us to understand how a man capable of performing these misdeeds could live among us. Both bodies were found five days later in a river. When he abducted and killed his first victim, Sofia Silva, his first wife was on holiday in California. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. Hope Evonitz rode with her husband on some of these trips. But inside Evonitz's apartment, detectives found a Fredericksburg, Va., newspaper from the day after the Lisk abductions and notes about the girls, along with directions to a location near their home. Smith said detectives found evidence in their South Carolina searches that Evonitz was stalking other girls in Spotsylvania. His belongings connected him to the abduction and murder of three girls whod been taken from their homes in Virginia years earlier: Sofia Silva, 16, in 1996, and sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, in 1997. Police have learned that Evonitz carefully plotted the who, where and when of his crimes. Her sister Kati Lisk was just 12 and enjoyed playing the clarinet and drawing, local outlet The Free Lance Star reported in 2002. They hope to understand him and connect him to other crimes he may have committed. On June 27, 2002, police finally caught up with him in Florida, where he led them on a high-speed chase, and finally cornered him,, . She shared with People: It was one of the most important things thats ever happened to me, she says. Authorities said Evonitz pulled up in his mother's green Pontiac Firebird and offered to sell her some magazines. The New York Daily News said that investigators thought the deaths were related to Silvas. Steve Dempsey of the King George County Sheriff's Office and a member of the task force that investigated the 1996 and '97 slayings of three Spotsylvania County girls: Sofia Silva and Kristin and Kati Lisk. No one answered the door today, and Evonitz's sister and mother have declined to comment. Learn more about Kara Robinsons story here: True Crime Daily, Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. Police initially treated it as a missing persons case instead of an abduction -- until Silva was found about five weeks later, dead in a swamp. He declared bankruptcy after losing the majority of his money as a result of the divorce. Based on the evidence collected from his apartment, the police concluded that he had killed Silvia, Kristin, and Kati and intended to do the same with Kara. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. Kristin and Katis bodies were found five days later, and the police reportedly found a strand of Sofias hair on the older Lisk sisters body. Investigators said they might never have stopped Evonitz had Robinson not saved her own life, The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. Does She Have Kids. Yet, despite her traumatic ordeal, she kept an alert mind and noted all the details of her surroundings. The next morning, he slept beside Kara on his bed when she somehow managed to free herself and escape the apartment. Related:Mother on Flight From Disney World Told to Glue Mask to Childs Face. "No signs of the monster.". Richard Gere's wife, Alejandra Silva, shared more updates on the actor's health after he was hospitalized during the couple's vacation in Mexico. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. Hope Evonitz wonders if the trophy box was her husband's way of trying to keep his demons under lock and key. It was then that Evonitz drove up and started chatting to her under the pretense of selling magazines -- before pointing a gun at her and forcing her into a Rubbermaid container in the back of his car, the New York Daily News reported in 2015. In 2010, Robinson graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Other houses in the area where he lived will also be searched, he said. When Virginia officers looked through his Columbia, S.C., apartment, they searched for an afghan they knew he owned in Spotsylvania. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! On June 24, 2002, Robinson, then 15, was watering the plants at a friend's home in Colombia, South Carolina, when her friend went inside. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Later, they checked to see if they had overlooked him during their long investigation. During the time of these killings, a serial killer was working in the area, Marc Evonitz. Her decomposed body was found five weeks later in a creek in King George, Virginia, yet the police could not comprehend the cause of death and the killers identity. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. Neighbors in Columbia said he was friendly and quiet. Evonitz stored the footlocker in the corner of his cluttered bedroom, hidden beneath a pile of clothes. He forcefully held Kara in his After playing a key role in solving Evonitzs other murders, Kara was able to meet the families of both Sofia and the Lisk sisters. Credit: Disney. This four-part series is based on interviews with investigators and members of Evonitzs family, and a review of public documents from Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. Inside the Magic consists of multiple writers & videographers living near both Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks and around the world. she asked. This made Richard a primary suspect in the murder investigation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In 1987 he ran into trouble with the law when he exposed himself to a 15-year-old girl and he was arrested one month later when his ship returned to port. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. Investigators were able to track the serial killer to Sarasota, Florida, where a high-speed chase ensued. In his secret footlocker police found scraps of paper, old envelopes, anything he could find, on which he had written directions to potential victims' houses and descriptions of young girls. We are not able to find his account on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The image of the shadowy stranger snatching children in broad daylight made a lasting impact on the collective consciousness, but the truth is stranger abductions are very rare. She was. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Richard had separated from his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1996 and was considerably older than Hope. Gere, 73, is "feeling much better," Silva wrote. After Kara escaped from Evonitz in Columbia, police realized that they had never heard his name before. It's never been determined if Evonitz was responsible for more than three murders. As the investigators searched for the suspect, they soon traced his location to Sarasota, Florida. Usually, Evonitz was more careful. Evonitzs wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. Make sure you join Kara Robinson Chamberlain after the premiere for a live conversation on her Instagram! As per the news reported, Marie was a loyal wife to her husband. To avoid confusion with a paternal uncle called Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at the age of 16. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. Not just that, the teenager mentally noted her kidnappers doctor and dentists contact details posted on the refrigerator. "I just wanted him to sit across from me and look in my eyes, she said, and know that picking me was the greatest mistake he ever made.. He used his mother's car when he abducted Kara. He described another girl in the same neighborhood: her appearance, how she walked each day on certain streets, how her parents were gone during the day, how she entered her home through a rear door. Because of that, we do not have any information about how he was on the social media platform or his lifestyle. Following my escape, I was able to go to Virginia and meet with the families of the three girls, Robinson said. When she's not planning her next Disney trip, Rebekah can be found spending time with her family, shopping for Lilly Pulitzer, buried in a good book, or doing yoga. pic.twitter.com/PJBCnblMux. Ginny and Georgia star Katie Douglas stars as Kara Robinson. She and other family members met with police the next morning at the Richland County police headquarters. Police found her body in a pond weeks later. "We're going to do his whole life's tale," Lott said. WARNING: Content of a disturbing nature ahead. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. While Richard seemingly remained inactive for the next few years, he struck again in June 2002. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). "They were in fear of him," Downes said. In 2002, the 15-year-olds life took a devastating turn after being abducted by Richard Evonitz from her friends home in Columbia, South Carolina. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. She reported the matter to the Richland County Sheriffs Department and took them back to his apartment complex, where a maintenance man helped them identify the residence. "He was someone who just blends in. Evonitz mentioned only scant details about that killing, but it was enough to determine that he was not referring to the slayings of three Spotsylvania County, Va., girls, Lott said. But due to the lack of evidence, both cases remained cold for several years until June 24, 2002, when Richard abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson at gunpoint from her friends front yard in Columbia. He was tracked to Florida on June 27 and was involved in a high speed chase by police to Sarasota, where he was surrounded and subsequently shot himself in the standoff. Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain three days before his death. For more on this case and Robinson's story, watch"Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story.". However, that brazen kidnapper, the one who operates in broad daylight, does exist. Richard Marc Evonitz (July 29, 1963 - June 27, 2002) was a serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist responsible for the deaths of three girls in Spotsylvania County, Virginia and the abduction and rape of a 15 year old girl in Richland County, South Carolina. However, until Robinson led investigators to Evonitz, little progress was made in the investigation. Staff writers Patricia Davis and Josh White and researcher Bobbye Pratt in Washington contributed to this report. Popular: Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? He would not be able to join them, he said, because he had to work. This helped the police track down his location. As the detectives investigated further, they discovered that after fleeing his Columbia apartment, he had allegedly called some relatives and cryptically stated his crimes. Kara said: At the same time he put a gun up to the right side of my neck and to come with him or he would shoot me., Related:Woman Seen Handcuffed at Disneys Hollywood Studios. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! On June 24, 2002, Hope and Richards mother were away on vacation at Disneyland, California. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. pic.twitter.com/zcsbeDwBv4. We're going to take our time. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. You have permission to edit this article. Law enforcement officials said he was born and raised near Columbia and attended Irmo High School before joining the Navy. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. On June 24, 2002, Richard Evonitz abducted the then-15-year-old Kara Robinson. After gagging her, he repeatedly raped Kara over the next eighteen hours and forced her to smoke marijuana. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. I wanted to gather as much information as I could to figure out where I was and who he was to identify him later., Related:Iconic Disney Trains Left Brilliantly Vandalized at EPCOT. Investigators soon found evidence that Evonitz was responsible for the murders of three girls in Virginia:Sofia Silva, 16; Kristin Lisk and her sister Kati Lisk, the Associated Press reported at the time. PRIVACY POLICY. Kati Lisk, her younger sister, was just 12 years old at the time and liked playing the clarinet and painting, according to the local newspaper The Free Lance Star in 2002. Glod previously worked at the Montgomery Journal in Maryland. They learned later that Bonnie, his first wife, had the blanket in California. Friends and neighbors described the Evonitzs as a pleasant couple, especially Richard was known as someone who was friendly and loved animals. A high-speed car chase followed to catch Richard, resulting in him running over spike strips on the highway and being attacked by a police dog. However, they found a lead in May 1997 when two sisters were found dead in Hanover County. That was two years ago. His wife and mother were out of town on a trip to Walt Disney World, according to a 2002 Washington Post article. His belongings, connected him to the abduction and murder of three girls. Richard Marc Evonitz born July 29, 1963 was a serial killer, kidnapper and rapist responsible for the deaths of three girls in Spotsylvania County, Virginia and the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl in Richland County, S.Carolina. As they surrounded him, he killed himself with his gun. Who is Hope Marie Crowley? The crime took place in September 1996. Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. "It is kind of scary that some guy was out there looking at me, one of the girls described in the notes told the The Free Lance-Star, according to the AP report. As he drove from his South Carolina home to Georgia and into Florida last week, Richard Evonitz knew he was only a few steps ahead of police trying to arrest him in the rape of a 15-year-old girl. Her decomposed body was found a month later in a creek off State Route 3 in King George County. (function(e,t,n,r){var i=n.currentScript,s=null;if(i)s=i;else{var o=n.getElementsByTagName(r),u=o.length-1;for(var a=u;a>=0;a--)if(o[a].getAttribute("rel")==="skimlinks-ref-banner"){s=o[a];break}}s&&setTimeout(function(){var i=e[t]||(e[t]=[]),o={"imageUrl":"/banners/img/referral/higher_commissions/728X90.gif","wid":"07","creativeId":60710,"color":"grey","size":"728X90","domainId":"1601785","publisherId":137930,"bannerUrl":"/banners/js/referral/referral_banner.min.js","cdnUrl":"https://s.skimresources.com"};if(i.length===0){var u=n.createElement(r);u.src=o.cdnUrl+o.bannerUrl,u.async=!0,s.parentNode.insertBefore(u,s)}i.push({el:s,config:o})})})(this,"__skimlinksBanners",document,"script"); CONTACT US | ADVERTISE ON ITM Evonitz may have gone on in his life if not for the 15-year-old he spotted as she was watering flowers in a friend's Lexington County yard June 24. Police think while his 20-year-old wife was on vacation, Mr. Evonitz kidnapped a 15-year-old girl at gunpoint on June 24, forced her to his vehicle, drove her to his Columbia apartment and. "Just like an animal, he stalks his victims, waits for the right time and takes them," Downes said. Police records in Clay County say he "confessed both orally and written to his guilt. "Obviously, we're all anxious and want to solve this, but we're also very cautious," Smith said. " Actually, he, too, had taken a week's vacation, a secret break. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. by Competitive-Club4848. [2], After high school, Evonitz worked briefly as the manager of a Jiffy Lube, before joining the United States Navy. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. Meanwhile, discovering her escape, Evonitz fled to Florida. Robinson has publicly spoken about the terrifying ordeal, years before the Lifetime true crime movie aired. Deep within some of the tapes were scenes that Evonitz recorded. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Pic- survivor Kara Robinson Richard Marc Evonitz born July 29, 1963 was a serial killer, kidnapper andrapistresponsible for the deaths of three girls inSpotsylvania County, Virginiaand the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl inRichland County, S.Carolina. "She was so, so alert," Metts said. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. On June 24, 2002, 15-year-old Kara Robinson was at a friends house in Lexington County, South Carolina preparing for a day at the lake. Please subscribe to keep reading. [8][9], On February 11, 2023, Lifetime released a television film called The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. The film starred Katie Douglas as Kara Robinson, Cara Buono as Debra Robinson, and Kristian Bruun as Richard Evonitz. He also will host an FBI "working group" on Evonitz next year. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her. Richard Marc Edward Evonitz (July 29, 1963 - June 27, 2002) was an American serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist responsible for the deaths of three teenaged girls in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl in Richland County, South Carolina. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Related: 'Mandalorian' Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. Law enforcement officials spent three hours today searching the house where Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 1997, Smith said. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. After her escape, Kara helped lead authorities to her abductors apartment. At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. ", One exception that investigators have focused on is Evonitz's 1988 conviction for exposing himself to a teenager and her toddler sister in Florida. Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. The information shed stored in her head proved invaluable in confirming his identity. Hope Marie Crowley was taken aback when she learned that her husband was a criminal. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. But Evonitz eventually fell asleep, and Robinson was able to slip out of her restraints and make a run for it. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. Evonitz hid the souvenirs of his crimes in a locked footlocker in his bedroom. 'The Monster' Richard Marc Evonitz was a rapist and a stalker, and he may be worse. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday, Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? In broad daylight, Robinson was abducted by a stranger who had pulled up in his car and approached her, ostensibly to hand her some magazines, she told Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, a two-hour Oxygen special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. Kara was forced into a storage bin, where she amazingly kept her wits about her, remembering the turns the vehicle, a green Pontiac Firebird, took and even memorizing the storage bins serial number. He spoke about Evonitz last year at a meeting of the International Homicide Investigators Association in Las Vegas. On September 9, 1996, Richard abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her homes front yard in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Evonitz's criminal career lasted at least 15 years. Are you watching the premiere of The Girl Who Escaped: #TheKaraRobinsonStory? Authorities apprehended Evonitz in Florida three days after he kidnapped Robinson, and a high-speed chase occurred, culminating with Evonitz shooting himself and dying. Evonitz fooled everyone, including his family. I knew if I woke him up and wasnt successful [in getting out] that would probably be when I would get hurt, and when his sadistic nature would kick in [she feared being shot in the back]., Related:Florida Man Arrested After Threatening to Blow Up Homes of Disney Executives. This included 16-year-old Sofia Silva and 12 and 15-year-old sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. At the time of Kara's abduction and subsequent sexual assault, Evonitz's wife of three years, Hope Marie Crawley, was visiting Walt Disney World Resort. When he and his wife-to-be Hope Crowley moved from Virginia to Columbia in 1999, they . In broad daylight, Robinson was abducted by a stranger who had pulled up in his car and approached her, ostensibly to hand her some magazines . After Richard Evonitz was discharged from the Navy, the couple moved to Fredericksburg. Investigators suspected the the murders were linked to Silva's, The New York Daily News reported. Evonitz took Robinson to his apartment, where he restrained her, drugged her, and sexually assaulted her. An article about Karas harrowing ordeal noted that she was outside watering flowers for a neighbor: when a car drove past and came back moments later, pulling into the driveway. They have not said whether they found similar evidence about the Silva killing, but they have previously said that scientific evidence links the two cases. Consider serial murderer Richard Evonitz, the subject of the upcoming Oxygen special Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, who kidnapped Kara Robinson. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. The pursuit ended when Evonitz ran over spike strips and was forced to exit his vehicle. In other news, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide. Investigators said they might never have stopped Evonitz had Robinson not saved her own life, reported WISTV.com. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Hope Marie Evonitz (ne Crowley) was utterly devastated by her husbands death and the shocking revelations made by the police, yet she refused to believe he had done anything wrong. On May 1, 1997, Richard kidnapped 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kathryn Kati Lisk, from their front lawn after school. They will focus on possible links between Evonitz and unsolved crimes. Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. "She was able to give us information down to the exactness of what was in the apartment.". On June 24, 2002 Evonitz kidnapped 15-year-old Kara Robinson from a yard in South Carolina. In an August 2002 interview, the young widow stated, He was my husband, he is still my husband, and I love him dearly. Once the investigation concluded, Hope chose to remain in South Carolina and stood by her husbands family following his death. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females.
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