Serial killer's ex-wife slept beside murderer for 8 years, never suspected his deadly double life

Bonnie Lou Gower shared a bed with Richard "Marc" Evonitz for eight and a half years without suspecting he was a serial killer. The former spouses reunited for Investigation Discovery's true crime docuseries, "The Serial Killer Connection," to examine whether Evonitz is linked to other unsolved cases.

Gower, who married Evonitz in August 1988 when she was 17 and he was 25, stated she had no idea the man sleeping beside her was capable of murder. She recounted asking the FBI how she could have missed the signs during their marriage in South Carolina, Maine, San Diego, and Virginia. The FBI assured her there was no way she could have known. Gower admitted she did not question Evonitz's claims that he had to work while she visited family, only later learning he had taken time off. She described herself as naïve and trusting at the time, noting that Evonitz isolated her from friends and family as they moved around the country.

The marriage ended in January 1997, with divorce finalized in 1998. Gower said financial pressures and Evonitz's mood swings fueled tensions, but she never feared for her own life when leaving. Her fear was for his safety after he threatened suicide with a gun. Gower said she felt she was leaving for no real good reason at the time, despite being unhappy. She noted that Evonitz had never physically abused her.

The truth emerged after Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain on June 24, 2002, in South Carolina. Chamberlain endured 18 hours of captivity and torture before escaping from Evonitz's apartment. She led police to the scene, but Evonitz had already fled. Police tracked him to Sarasota, Florida, where he died by suicide at age 38.

Investigators later linked Evonitz to three unsolved murders. On September 9, 1996, he abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from Spotsylvania County, Virginia, where Gower and Evonitz were living. Silva's body was found five weeks later in King George County. On May 1, 1997, sisters Kristin "Kristi" Lisk, 15, and Kathryn "Kati" Lisk, 12, vanished after school. Their bodies were found five days later in the South Anna River. Evidence from Evonitz's South Carolina apartment, Virginia residence, and vehicle connected him to these crimes.

Gower learned of the other victims months after Chamberlain's abduction. She described the revelation as unreal, comparing it to a movie plot. Now, Gower provides investigators with a timeline of Evonitz's movements during their marriage, including dates and locations. Chamberlain is investigating whether Evonitz committed other crimes dating back to the 1980s. She noted an unexplained break in activity between the three homicides and her own abduction.

Chamberlain stressed that nothing has been confirmed regarding additional victims. She said Evonitz's DNA profile is not in the FBI's national DNA database, CODIS. However, authorities in Spotsylvania County still hold a blood sample that can be used for comparisons. Chamberlain believes it is impossible that Evonitz murdered just three girls and kidnapped her.

During the docuseries production, Gower discovered a photograph of herself at age 11 hidden behind another framed picture of her in Evonitz's possession. She never knew he had the photo from before they dated. Gower said she is still grappling with the events and does not think she will ever fully make sense of them.