Name Richard Evonitz Country United States | Span of killings 1996–1997 Victims 3 known Role Serial Killer | |
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Born July 29, 1963 ( 1963-07-29 ) Columbia, South Carolina Died June 27, 2002, Sarasota, Florida, United States | ||
Cause of death Suicide by firearm | ||
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. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide.
Contents
- Richard Evonitz Serial killer documentary The Best Documentary Ever
- Early life and education
- Career
- Personal life
- Criminal career
- Death and afterward
- References
Richard Evonitz Serial killer documentary - The Best Documentary Ever
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Massaponax, Virginia.
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. Following the return of his body to his family, his remains were cremated and scattered over the Saluda River.