Case overview
On June 24, 2002, 15-year-old Kara Robinson was abducted from a friend’s front yard in Columbia, South Carolina, by Richard Evonitz, a serial killer who had murdered three girls in Virginia. Robinson escaped after 18 hours in captivity, providing investigators with evidence that connected Evonitz to multiple unsolved homicides and prevented further violence.
The abduction
Kara Robinson was watering plants in a friend’s front yard when a man approached her with a gun. He forced her into a plastic storage container in the back of his car. Robinson later told investigators she tried to stay calm and observe everything around her.
The man was Richard Evonitz, a 38-year-old former Navy sailor who had relocated to South Carolina from Virginia. He drove Robinson to his apartment in Columbia, where he handcuffed and sexually assaulted her. Over 18 hours, Robinson studied the apartment—items on shelves, the layout, anything that might help police identify him later.
Evonitz fell asleep early on June 25. Robinson freed herself, unlocked the door, and ran. She flagged down a driver and called 911 from a nearby home, giving investigators a detailed account of Evonitz, his vehicle, and the apartment’s interior.
The investigation and pursuit
Investigators used Robinson’s description to identify Evonitz within hours. They located his vehicle and tracked his movements as he fled to Sarasota, Florida, where he had family ties.
Police issued a nationwide alert. On June 27, 2002, officers surrounded Evonitz in a motel parking lot. As law enforcement moved in, he shot himself and died before he could be arrested.
Investigators searched his belongings and found a lockbox in his storage unit containing news clippings, photographs, and items tied to the 1996 murders of Sofia Silva, 16, and sisters Kristin and Kati Lisk, ages 15 and 12, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. DNA evidence and recovered belongings confirmed his involvement in all three killings.
What investigators found
Evonitz had abducted Sofia Silva from her front yard in September 1996. Her body was found five days later. In May 1997, he kidnapped the Lisk sisters from their home while their parents were away. Their bodies were recovered from a river days later. Both cases had remained unsolved for years.
Robinson’s escape provided the break investigators needed. Her account, combined with physical evidence from Evonitz’s apartment and vehicle, linked him directly to the Virginia homicides. Investigators also reviewed additional missing-person cases and unsolved assaults in areas where Evonitz had lived or traveled, though no further charges were confirmed.
Evonitz had no prior convictions for violent crimes. He had been honorably discharged from the Navy and worked maintenance jobs. He had lived in Texas, California, and Virginia, and had been married twice. According to interviews with people who knew him, there were no obvious signs of violent behavior.
The aftermath
Kara Robinson testified publicly about her abduction and escape in the years that followed. She worked with law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, speaking about survival strategies and recognizing dangerous situations. She later became a sheriff’s deputy and continued working in public safety.
The families of Sofia Silva and Kristin and Kati Lisk received confirmation of who was responsible for the murders, though Evonitz’s death prevented a trial. Investigators closed the cases based on the evidence recovered after Robinson’s escape.
Robinson’s ability to remain observant during captivity and recall specific details about her surroundings was credited with identifying Evonitz and linking him to the earlier murders. Her account also allowed investigators to map his movements and establish a clearer timeline.
Unresolved questions
Evonitz’s full history remains partially unclear. Investigators reviewed cases in jurisdictions where he lived or worked, but no additional confirmed victims were identified. Some law enforcement officials stated that items found in his possession suggest he may have committed other offenses, but no charges were filed posthumously.
Robinson’s case brought attention to abduction response procedures and the role of victim accounts in solving linked crimes. It also highlighted gaps in tracking offenders who move frequently across state lines without prior criminal records.
Where to look next
- Documentary: “Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story” (Lifetime)
- Documentary: “I Survived” (A&E)
- Book: “Watching You” by Kara Robinson Chamberlain
- Podcast: “Crime Junkie” (Audiochuck)
