Gary Charles Evans was born on October 7, 1954, in Troy, New York, to Roy and Flora Mae Evans (née Lee). His childhood was marked by violence, instability, and psychological trauma. Evans and his sister, Robbie, endured repeated physical abuse at the hands of their father, who also targeted their mother. Their home was further disturbed by Flora’s suicide attempts, which added layers of emotional instability and despair to the household. In later years, Gary claimed that he had been sexually assaulted by his father when he was only eight years old — a trauma that, if true, would later shape much of his antisocial behavior and lack of trust toward authority figures.

Evans displayed early signs of criminal behavior. At age eight, he was caught stealing jewelry valued at $1,000, and throughout his adolescence he engaged in petty theft, shoplifting, and burglary. Following his parents’ divorce in 1968, Gary lived with his mother in Cohoes, New York. He attended high school there but struggled to adapt, often clashing with peers and authority figures. By 1970, he had been arrested for breaking and entering and was sent to a juvenile detention center for three months. During his incarceration, his mother remarried several times, and her ongoing struggles with alcohol and her eventual coming out as a lesbian strained their already fragile relationship. After being released, Evans dropped out of school and became a drifter, living by theft and manipulation.

In the mid-1970s, Evans returned to Troy and shared an apartment with two childhood friends, Michael Falco and Timothy “Tim” Rysedorph. This trio would soon turn to organized theft, focusing primarily on antiques and art objects. Their activities were motivated not only by financial desperation but also by Evans’s growing fascination with valuable collectibles and the thrill of illegal acquisition.

Evans’s early adulthood became a revolving door of arrests and imprisonments. He was arrested in January 1977 for trespassing and theft in Lake Placid and sentenced to four years at Clinton Correctional Facility. During his incarceration, his father died of throat cancer, and Gary was transferred between several prisons before finally being paroled in March 1980. However, he quickly returned to a life of crime with Falco and Rysedorph, who acted as partners in burglary rings throughout the Capital District.

By the early 1980s, Evans had built a reputation as a skilled thief and escape artist. He managed to escape from jail in June 1980 with help from members of the Hells Angels, though he was quickly recaptured. His cycles of arrest, release, and recidivism became habitual. After multiple transfers through New York’s prison system — including a stint at Attica Correctional Facility — he emerged in the mid-1980s with a hardened attitude, less empathy, and greater precision in his crimes. 

Gary started his life of crime early. He first got into trouble for stealing things. But as he grew older, his crimes became worse. He began to target people who were close to him or those he had worked with.

Gary's method was simple but very wrong. He would gain the trust of people who dealt in antiques. Then, he would betray them horribly. This pattern of behavior continued for many years without him getting caught.

Gary was very clever in avoiding the police. He often moved from place to place, never staying long enough to raise suspicion. This lifestyle kept him hidden from the law for a long time.

However, everything changed in 1997. The police were starting to connect the missing persons to Gary. They noticed that people who had been close to Gary were disappearing. This led them to suspect him more.

On August 13, 1998, Gary was finally caught by the police. He had been trying to sell stolen items, which led the police right to him. When they arrested him, they found evidence that linked him to many terrible acts.

During his time in police custody, Gary made several confessions. He admitted to hurting many people. He revealed details that only the person responsible would know. This shocked the officers and confirmed their suspicions.

Gary explained to the police that his actions were driven by anger and the bad experiences he had in his life. He felt that the world had been unfair to him, and he took it out on others.

In a surprising twist, Gary escaped from police custody on August 14, 1998. He managed to jump from the police vehicle while it was moving. This escape showed how desperate he was to avoid facing his actions.

The police chased Gary after his escape. It was a tense and urgent hunt. They knew they had to catch him before he could hurt anyone else.

The chase ended tragically. Gary, knowing he was about to be caught again, made a heartbreaking decision. He chose to end his own life to avoid going back to jail. He jumped off a bridge on August 14, 1998.