Diane Fanning - Into the Water: The Story of Serial Killer Richard Marc Evonitz

FIGHT OR FLIGHT

One mile, two miles, then Evonitz spotted the flashing lights racing toward himhe knew they had him in their sights again. Joy transformed into panic and despair. He was clocked at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour.

At Route 41 and Tenth Street, he slowed at a red light as he approached three lanes of stopped traffic. Then, he blasted through the intersectionsliding between two cars stopped at the light. He missed them both by a whisper.

Up ahead, three officers each picked a spot and pulled stop strips of tire-ripping Teflon nails out of their trunks. The strips lay in wait in the inside lanes of the street. Evonitz flew across them, blowing out tires with a roar. Three of his tires were flat. He lost control of his car, striking the curb. He bounced back on the roadway. He kept going forward on his rims, ricocheting from one curb to the other. Rubber from his front left tire flew off in all directions hitting guardrails and patrol cars with a denting thud. The police no longer were hampered in their chase by his extinguished headlightsthe metal rims of his Escort sprayed sparks, lighting his trail.

The chase was so frenzied and determined that the police did not have time to pull the stop strips from the road before five or six of their own vehicles flew across them and had their tires blown, too.

Now Evonitzs disabled car had slowed to the point that some officers were pursuing him on foot. He tried desperately to cross the median. His car conquered the curb, but knocked off all of the rubber on a front tire in the process. The rim dug into the grass and dirt, and stopped him in his tracks.

Adrenaline pumped to the max, Evonitz was ready for fight or flight. He stuck one hand out the drivers-side window. In the other hand, he held a gun.

TITLES BY DIANE FANNING

Through the Window

Into the Water

FROM THE TRUE CRIME LIBRARY OF ST. MARTINS PAPERBACKS

Contents

Dear Reader:

The book you are about to read is the latest bestseller from the St. Martins True Crime Library, the imprint the New York Times calls the leader in true crime!Each month, we offer you a fascinating account of the latest, most sensational crime that has captured the national attention. St. Martins is the publisher of bestselling true crime author and crime journalist Kieran Crowley, who explores the dark, deadly links between a prominent Manhattan surgeon and the disappearance of his wife fifteen years earlier in THE SURGEONS WIFE. Suzy Spencers BREAKING POINT guides readers through the tortuous twists and turns in the case of Andrea Yates, the Houston mother who drowned her five young children in the familys bathtub. In Edgar Award-nominated DARK DREAMS, legendary FBI profiler Roy Hazelwood and bestselling crime author Stephen G. Michaud shine light on the inner workings of Americas most violent and depraved murderers. In the book you now hold, INTO THE WATER, Diane Fanning explores the twisted world of a serial killerand laments the lives and love that was lost.

St. Martins True Crime Library gives you the stories behind the headlines. Our authors take you right to the scene of the crime and into the minds of the most notorious murderers to show you what really makes them tick. St. Martins True Crime Library paperbacks are better than the most terrifying thriller, because its all true! The next time you want a crackling good read, make sure its got the St. Martins True Crime Library logo on the spineyoull be up all night!

Charles E. Spicer, Jr.

Executive Editor, St. Martins True Crime Library

THE STORY OF SERIAL KILLER

RICHARD MARC EVONITZ

Diane Fanning

St. Martins Paperbacks

NOTE: If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

INTO THE WATER

Copyright 2004 by Diane Fanning.

Cover photograph of water SIME/eStock Photo.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martins Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

ISBN: 0-312-98526-6

Printed in the United States of America

St. Martins Paperbacks edition / June 2004

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED WITH ADMIRATION TO

Kara

AND WITH DEEP REGRET TO

THE WOMEN WE WILL NEVER KNOW:

Kristin Usk

Kati Lisk

Sofia Silva

Acknowledgments

I have an overwhelming appreciation for everyone who took the time to talk to me about pivotal events in their lives or careers as I conducted the research into this story.

My thanks to Carol and Melissa Britt, Danny Minter, Pat Stanley, Adrienne Hayden, Angie Frantz, Kieth Raba and all the many other folks in Spotsylvania County who shared their experiences with me but who chose to remain nameless.

In Columbia, South Carolina, there are a number of people in this book who are identified only by their first names to protect the privacy of a brave young girl named Kara. Thanks to Debra and Cindy for giving me the personal perspective of the harrowing event that occurred there. And thanks to Alan Hitchcox, editor of Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine.

I extend my appreciation to the relatives of Richard Marc Evonitz: Tess Ragin, Joe Evonitz, Kristen Weyand, Jennifer Evonitz and Jeffrey Weyand, who shared the shock and pain they experienced in learning the truth about an important person in their lives.

William Neeley, Commonwealths Attorney for Spotsylvania County, Sanda Wasser of the records room in the office of the clerk of circuit court in Spotsylvania, April Warford in the clerk of court office at the Charleston County Criminal Court, the clerk of courts office in the criminal division of the Clay County Circuit Court, Patricia Eckard of the Placer County Superior Court in California, Norfolk Commonwealth Attorneys Office, and Pam Liles of the Charleston Post and Courier provided invaluable assistance in preparation for this book.

The excellent journalistic coverage provided by a host of reporters at the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star constructed a road map I could follow in the earliest stages of my research. Thanks to you allwith a special nod to American University Journalism Professor Rose Ann Robertson, who worked on the newspapers Web site during the summer of Evonitzs capture.

There is one group of people whose information and insight was of paramount importancethe members of law enforcement. In Virginia, thanks to Major Howard Smith and Detective Twyla Demoranville of the Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Department, Captain Steve Dempsey of the King George Sheriffs Department, Captain David Hines and Lieutenant Doug Goodman of the Hanover County Sheriffs Department, Lucy Caldwell of the Virginia State Police, and Detective Sam Newsome and Sergeant Kim Chinn of the Prince William Police Department.

In South Carolina, hats off to Major Howell Holly Siniard and Sheriff Leon Lott of the Richland County Sheriffs Department; Captain John Allard of the Lexington County Sheriffs Department; Chief Roddy Perry, Mount Pleasant Police Department; Eugene Frazier, retired detective, Charleston County Police Department; Lt. Chris Morgan, Raleigh Police Department; Captain Rene Williams of the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Department and Captain Dwayne Courtney, Aiken police.