Kara Robinson Chamberlain was abducted by a serial killer at the age of 15. Now, she seeks answers in long-unsolved cases. She hosts the ABC News Studios and Freeform true-crime series “Somebody Knows Something,” which revisits cold cases of disappearances and murders.
Chamberlain collaborates with families and reevaluates each case in hopes that renewed attention could reveal new leads. “My goal is to give families a platform and showcase law enforcement’s efforts,” she said. “Several cases involve young people, and as a parent, I feel a connection. If I can help solve even one case, it would be a life accomplishment for me.”
Kara Robinson Chamberlain was a victim who turned advocate. (ABC News Studios/Freeform)
Her personal experiences fuel her mission. In 2002, Chamberlain was abducted by Richard Evonitz in South Carolina. She recalls her intuition warning her as he approached her friend’s home, yet she ignored it.
Evonitz, posing harmlessly, held her at gunpoint and took her in a dark container in his car. Chamberlain emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s intuition. “The book ‘The Gift of Fear’ describes the instinct that keeps us alive,” she highlights.
Chamberlain escaped from captivity after 18 hours. She memorized details about her surroundings while in Evonitz’s Columbia apartment. Once she freed herself, she sought help, leading police to her captor’s location.
Evonitz escaped but was later located in Sarasota, Florida, where he died by suicide. Evidence tied him to the murders of three Virginia girls. Chamberlain suspects he might have had more victims.
Evonitz’s crimes impacted numerous families. (FBI)
Chamberlain understands families searching for lost loved ones. She says, “Closure is a myth. Families will always carry trauma. They’re constantly missing the ones they love.”
By 2010, Chamberlain had joined law enforcement, serving different roles until her children were born. Her experiences aid her in filming her series, working with those deeply affected by crime.
She describes the importance of letting families share who the victims were beyond their tragic stories. Her series airs Mondays on Freeform and streams on Hulu. “She would’ve said, ‘I knew it,'” Chamberlain remarks about her younger self’s awareness of her future path.