SEQUESTERED Podcast

Shenandoah Park Murders | Episode 3: The Pattern Begins

Original Release: October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This gripping episode of SEQUESTERED focuses on the aftermath of the 1996 Shenandoah murders of Julie Williams and Lollie Winans. It details the chillingly similar attack on cyclist Yvonne Malbasha in Shenandoah National Park a year later and how this incident connects to Darrell David Rice, a suspect whose violent history toward women set off alarm bells for the FBI. The episode unpacks how Rice became the prime suspect, how hate crime legislation played a role, and explores the theory that another, even more sinister predator, Richard Marc Evonitz, may have been involved. It’s an episode about patterns—of violence, of investigation, and of doubt.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Attack on Yvonne Malbasha (July 9, 1997)

• Introduction to Yvonne Malbasha

  • 40-year-old endurance athlete and mother from Ontario, celebrated for her grit and humor.
  • Known accomplishments: Double Ironman champion, Pacific Atlantic Cycling Tour finisher.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “‘I slept for about half an hour at the 200 kilometer mark of the bike ride and in between the two marathons I stopped and showered for 20 minutes.’ … Then she laughed, realizing how impossible it must have sounded, and simply ended with, ‘I’ve always been an endurance athlete.’” (04:10–04:24)

• Description of the Attack

  • Malbasha was harassed and intentionally targeted by a man in a red Ford pickup as she cycled alone through Skyline Drive.
  • The assailant attempted to abduct her, making multiple passes and using his truck as a weapon.
  • She survived and managed to report the attack.

• Arrest of Darrell David Rice

  • Park rangers identified and arrested Rice, 29, from Columbia, Maryland, within hours.
  • Rice pleaded guilty to attempted abduction, admitting to being “angry at women” and wanting “to scare her.”
    (06:49–08:27)
  • Sentenced to 11 years in federal prison (medium security, Petersburg, VA).

2. Darrell David Rice: Pattern of Violence

• Character Profile & Community Testimonies

  • Former coworkers and neighbors described Rice as “moody, volatile and prone to outbursts,” with a history of harassing and intimidating women (08:55–09:47).
  • Notable Quote:
    • “‘He said he hates gays and likes to intimidate and assault women because, ‘they’re more vulnerable than men.’” — from indictment filings (14:34–14:42, read by John Ashcroft).

• Investigative Breakthrough: Rice’s Presence in Shenandoah

  • Vehicle logs: Rice entered Shenandoah the very weekend Julie and Lollie disappeared (May 25–26, 1996).
  • The similarities between the attacks on Malbasha and the murdered women pointed to a possible pattern.

3. Federal Hate Crime Indictment

• Indictment Announcement (April 10, 2002) and Its Significance

  • Then-Attorney General John Ashcroft announced Rice’s indictment for four counts of capital murder, alleging he targeted the women for their gender and sexual orientation.
    • “On June 1, 1996 … bound and gagged with their throats cut. Today, I’m announcing the indictment … against Darrell David Rice for these brutal killings.” (16:19)
    • “This indictment specifically invokes a federal sentencing enhancement enacted to ensure justice for victims of hate crimes. If convicted, Rice could face the death penalty.” (16:56)
  • First application of hate crime sentencing enhancement to a homicide on national park land.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “Just as the United States will pursue and punish terrorists who attack America out of hatred for what we believe, we will pursue and punish those who attack law abiding Americans out of hatred for who they are.” — John Ashcroft (17:22)

• Media Reaction & Family Responses

  • National coverage framed Rice as a man consumed by hatred.
  • Emotional statements from victims’ families were read at the press conference, and LGBTQ advocacy groups responded with cautious relief.
    • “We’re very pleased the indictment has come down. After five years, we finally have justice for Julianne and Lolli.” (20:22)

• Underlying Doubts in the Prosecution

  • Prosecutors and investigators privately admitted the forensic evidence tying Rice to the murders was thin—no direct DNA links, and the crime scene was compromised (20:29–21:02).

4. The Shadow of Richard Marc Evonitz

• Introduction of a New Suspect

  • Richard Marc Evonitz, suicide in 2002, linked to multiple Virginia kidnappings and murders (Sophia Silva, Kristen and Katie Lisk).
  • His crimes were organized, highly methodical, paralleling the brutality and staging of the Shenandoah murders.

• Defense Response

  • Rice’s defense attorneys pointed to Evonitz as a stronger suspect: “Evenitz’s organized, sexualized violence matched the Shenandoah murders far more closely than Rice’s impulsive rage ever could.” (21:46–22:49)
  • Noted that between 1996–97, eight women were murdered or disappeared in the area, further complicating the case.

• Lingering Uncertainty

  • Without definitive connective DNA or evidence, the possibility of Evonitz’s involvement hung over the case—leaving room for doubt.

5. Setting the Stage for Next Episode

• Cliffhanger Ending
  • The apparent certainty of Rice’s guilt is undermined: “Inside the evidence files, cracks were forming, and the story everyone thought they knew was about to change. Next time on Sequestered: The case against Darrell David Rice begins to fall apart and a single DNA test will change everything.” (23:38–24:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I slept for about half an hour at the 200 kilometer mark … showered for 20 minutes … I’ve always been an endurance athlete.” — Yvonne Malbasha, on her approach to athleticism (04:10–04:24)
• “He said he hates gays and likes to intimidate and assault women because, ‘they’re more vulnerable than men.’” — Department of Justice Indictment/John Ashcroft (14:34–14:42)
• “Today, I’m announcing the indictment returned … against Darrell David Rice for these brutal killings.” — John Ashcroft (16:19)
• “Just as the United States will pursue and punish terrorists … we will pursue and punish those who attack law abiding Americans out of hatred for who they are.” — John Ashcroft (17:22)
• “For the FBI, Rice’s arrest set off alarm bells … because this attack … hadn’t happened somewhere far from their murders. It happened on Skyline Drive, that same narrow, scenic stretch of road that cuts through the spine of Shenandoah … It was too close, too similar.” — Narrator (09:31–10:10)
• “The crimes of Richard Mark Evonitz were so organized, so methodical, that some investigators began to wonder whether the wrong suspect might already be behind bars.” — Narrator (21:25–21:46)

Segment Timestamps

• Yvonne Malbasha’s profile and endurance achievements: 03:20–05:29
• Attack and arrest of Darrell David Rice: 05:29–09:30
• Descriptions of Rice’s pattern of aggression: 08:55–10:15
• Indictment details and press conference: 16:19–19:39
• Introduction of Richard Marc Evonitz: 21:36–22:49
• Cliffhanger and preview of next episode: 23:38–24:13

Conclusion

This episode paints a harrowing picture of escalating violence in Shenandoah National Park and the painstaking (and at times uncertain) quest for justice. Through meticulous reporting and powerful storytelling, SEQUESTERED not only connects the dots of a pattern, but also exposes the complexities—both legal and emotional—of prosecuting hate crimes and confronting the possibility of grave investigative mistakes. The shadow of the Shenandoah murders still lingers, and with the promise of a game-changing DNA test to come, this season’s true mystery is just beginning to unravel.