Kara Robinson Chamberlain, who survived an 18-hour captivity by a serial killer when she was 15, is now dedicated to helping solve decades-old unsolved disappearances and murders. As the host of the ABC News Studios and Freeform true-crime series “Somebody Knows Something,” Chamberlain revisits cold cases, aiming to bring renewed attention and generate leads that could crack them.
"My purpose was to let families have the mic and show what law enforcement has done," Chamberlain told Fox News Digital. "We want people to have the information they need, so they can come forward with anything that could be helpful. Several of these cases involve children, young people. I have three kids, so I found myself identifying with either the young person who is missing or the victims themselves as parents."
Chamberlain's own harrowing experience began on June 24, 2002, in South Carolina. While at a friend's house, a man later identified as Richard Evonitz pulled into the driveway. Despite an initial feeling of unease, Chamberlain suppressed her intuition, a decision she attributes to societal conditioning to be agreeable. Evonitz approached her, and after asking if her parents were home, he threatened her with a gun and forced her into a dark storage container in his car.
"I’m often asked, ‘What’s the thing that we can learn from your story, Kara, to keep ourselves or our children safe?'" she said. "And the one thing that I tell people the most is there’s a great book called ‘The Gift of Fear.’ And it’s the first time that I’ve heard someone describe the way I feel, which is to listen to your intuition."
At Evonitz's apartment, Chamberlain endured sexual assaults but also relied on her instinct for survival. She described herself as "very stubborn" and utilized a coping mechanism of appeasing her captor to lower his guard. After 18 hours, during which she memorized details of her surroundings, Chamberlain managed to free herself when Evonitz fell asleep and escaped. She flagged down people in a parking lot who took her to the police.
Upon arriving at the police station, Chamberlain led officers back to Evonitz's apartment. However, Evonitz had already fled. Investigators later discovered that Evonitz had taken Chamberlain to his shared apartment while his wife was away. Police tracked Evonitz to Sarasota, Florida, where he died by suicide at age 38 as authorities closed in.
Evidence found in Evonitz's possessions linked him to the abductions and murders of three girls from Spotsylvania County, Virginia: Sofia Silva, 16; Kristin Lisk, 15; and her sister, Kati Lisk, 12. Investigators also found notes indicating Evonitz had identified other potential victims. Chamberlain believes Evonitz was responsible for more crimes than officially identified, but his death by suicide left these questions unanswered.
Chamberlain's personal quest for answers has informed her perspective on families still searching for missing loved ones. "Closure really is a myth," she stated, explaining that families endure trauma whether their loved ones are found or not.
In 2010, Chamberlain trained at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and worked as a school resource officer. This experience, she said, prepared her for filming the series and speaking with families, emphasizing the importance of allowing them to share about the person their loved one was, not just the circumstances of their disappearance or death.
Chamberlain believes her 15-year-old self would not be surprised by her current work, feeling that surviving the ordeal was for a reason and has shaped, but does not define, who she is today.