Ex-Wife of Serial Killer Richard Evonitz and Survivor Kara Robinson Chamberlain Seek Answers in Cold Cases

Bonnie Lou Gower, the ex-wife of serial killer Richard Evonitz, and Kara Robinson Chamberlain, who survived an 18-hour abduction by Evonitz, are collaborating on a new Investigation Discovery docuseries titled "The Serial Killer Connection." The series explores whether Evonitz, who was responsible for at least three murders, may be linked to other unsolved cases.

"The Serial Killer Connection" follows Gower and Chamberlain as they retrace Evonitz's past, seeking to uncover potential additional victims and bring closure to unresolved investigations.

Gower shared that when she first learned of Evonitz's crimes, her immediate questions were to the FBI about how she could not have known the man sleeping beside her was a killer. The FBI assured her that there was no way she could have known.

Gower recounted instances during their marriage where Evonitz insisted on staying home from trips to visit her family, claiming he had to work. She later discovered he had taken time off during those periods. Evonitz, eight years her senior, met Gower in South Carolina when she was 16. They married in August 1988, when she was 17 and he was 25. Gower described herself as naive and trusting at 17, a trait she believes Evonitz exploited.

During their marriage, Evonitz became increasingly isolating, moving Gower from state to state. Gower expressed that she never feared for her own life, even when she decided to leave the marriage. Her fear was for Evonitz's safety when he spoke of harming himself.

Chamberlain, who was abducted by Evonitz in June 2002 at age 15, endured hours of torture before escaping. She led authorities to Evonitz's apartment, but he had already fled. Evonitz was later tracked to Sarasota, Florida, where he died by suicide at age 38 as law enforcement closed in.

Evidence from Evonitz's former residences and vehicle linked him to the murders of Sofia Silva, 16, in September 1996, and sisters Kristin and Kathryn Lisk, aged 15 and 12, in May 1997. All three victims were sexually assaulted and murdered.

Gower and Chamberlain are now examining Evonitz's past, including old calendars and notes, to identify any potential leads in cold cases. Chamberlain is particularly interested in Evonitz's time in the Navy and the years prior to her abduction, exploring the possibility of an escalation in his criminal behavior.

"Everything’s possible and nothing has been confirmed," Chamberlain stated. "It’s a frustrating place to be, but I will not stop searching."

A potential key to further investigations lies in Evonitz's DNA. Chamberlain noted that Evonitz's DNA profile is not in the FBI's CODIS database, but a blood sample from Spotsylvania County could be used to compare with evidence from other unsolved cases.