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Richard Evonitz

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Richard Evonitz
FBI fugitive mugshot
Born
Richard Marc Edward Evonitz

(1963-07-29)July 29, 1963[1]
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedJune 27, 2002(2002-06-27) (aged 38)
Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide by firearm
Details
Victims3 known
Span of crimes
1996–1997
CountryUnited States
State(s)Virginia

Richard Marc Evonitz (July 29, 1963 – June 27, 2002) was an American 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. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide.[2]

Biography

Early life and education

Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitz. He was the first of three children; two sisters, Kristen and Jennifer, followed him in 1968 and 1971. Known as Marc to avoid confusion with a paternal uncle also named Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at age 16.[3]

Career

After high school, Evonitz worked briefly as the manager of a Jiffy Lube before joining the United States Navy. He served as a sonar technician and received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged after eight years of service.[4]

Following his stint in the Navy, Evonitz worked steadily at businesses that sold compressors and grinding equipment. He filed for bankruptcy in 1997, unable to keep up with bills following a divorce, and had a house foreclosed in 1999 following a failed business venture, but at the time of his death Evonitz had been working at an air-compressor company since moving to South Carolina a few years earlier.[4]

Personal life

Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death.[3]

Criminal career

In January 1987, Evonitz exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. He was arrested a month later when his ship returned to port. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation.[5]

Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Massaponax, Virginia.[4]

On September 9, 1996, Evonitz abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her front yard near Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County. Her body was found a month later in a creek off State Route 3 in King George County.[6]

Sisters Kristin and Kati Lisk, ages 15 and 12, were abducted from their front yard near Spotsylvania Courthouse on May 1, 1997; their bodies were found five days later in the South Anna River near Old Ridge Road in Hanover County.[7]

On June 24, 2002, Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from a friend's yard in Columbia, South Carolina. He took her to his apartment, raped her and tied her to his bed. While he slept that night, Robinson was able to free herself, escaped and was able to identify her attacker to police. Evonitz fled after finding her gone, ending up surrounded by police in Sarasota, Florida.

Death and afterward

On June 27, 2002, Evonitz was surrounded by police near the waterfront in Sarasota, Florida. He was urged to surrender peacefully but kept a pistol in his hand until a police dog was released; after being bitten multiple times, Evonitz shot himself and was declared dead at 10:52 p.m.[8] Following the return of his body to his family, his remains were cremated and scattered over the Saluda River.[9][10]

Further reading

References

  1. ^ Birth date from SSDI as Marc E Evonitz, SSN 251-04-4170.
  2. ^ "As Police Closed In, Evonitz Admitted Crimes to Sister". pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Hall, Jim, and Kari Pugh (June 14, 2004). "The making of a murderer". Fredricksburg Free Lance-Star. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c Hall, Jim, and Kari Pugh (June 13, 2004). "Discovering deadly secrets". Fredricksburg Free Lance-Star. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Gross, Edie (July 2, 2002). "Man flashed Florida girl". Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "End of Trial Fails To End Uncertainty". pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  7. ^ "3 Slain Girls' Cases Closed". pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  8. ^ Suspect kills self during police standoff (dead link)
  9. ^ Hall, Jim, and Kari Pugh (June 16, 2004). "End came with love, fear, horror". Fredricksburg Free Lance-Star. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Glod, Maria (August 14, 2002). "3 Slain Girls' Cases Closed". Retrieved December 30, 2017 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
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