In 1991, Evans was arrested in Louisiana for the kidnapping of a 10-year-old girl. He confessed to the killing and led the authorities to the girl’s body. He also confessed to killing more than 70 other people in over 20 different states. Most of the murders and rapes took place at rest stops and public parks. The authorities were originally skeptical of Evans’ claims, but two of his descriptions were perfect matches to unsolved cases across Florida. He successfully escaped the Harrison County Jail, but was recaptured a short time later. In 1993 he was tried and convicted for the kidnapping, rape, strangulation, and murder of 10-year-old Beatrice Routh, and sentenced to death. In 1995, Florida authorities tried and convicted Evans for the strangulation death of Ira Jean Smith.  Evans was stabbed to death in 1999 by a fellow death row inmate at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.