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Todd Kohlhepp

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Todd Kohlhepp
Born
Todd Christopher Kohlhepp

(1971-03-07) March 7, 1971 (age 53)
Florida, United States
NationalityAmerican
Other namesTodd Sampsell[1]
Occupation(s)Realtor, pilot
Criminal statusGuilty (1987)
Criminal chargeKidnapping (1987)
Murder, kidnapping, weapons charges (2016)
Penalty15 years imprisonment (kidnapping)
Details
Victims7 (confessed)
Span of crimes
2003–2016
CountryUnited States
State(s)South Carolina
Date apprehended
November 3, 2016

Todd Christopher Kohlhepp (born March 7, 1971) is a suspected American serial killer who confessed to having murdered seven people in the state of South Carolina since 2003.

Early life

Todd Christopher Kohlhepp was born on March 7, 1971[2] in Florida, and was raised in South Carolina and Georgia.[3][4] His parents divorced when he was two years old, and his mother, who got custody of him, remarried to another man the following year.[4][5] Later psychological reports found that Kohlhepp had an unhealthy relationship with his stepfather and often wanted to live with his biological father, who he had not seen in eight years.[1][5]

Kohlhepp was described as a troublesome child. In nursery school, he was known to be aggressive towards other children and would destroy their property.[6] At the age of nine, when he started undergoing counseling, Kohlhepp was described as being "explosive" and "preoccupied with sexual content".[3] He also displayed cruelty to animals, shooting a dog with a BB gun and killing a goldfish with Clorox.[6] His father said the only emotion his son was capable of was anger.[4][7] Kohlhepp spent three-and-a-half months in a Georgia mental hospital as an inpatient because of his inability to get along with other children.[1]

Eventually, in 1983, Kohlhepp was sent to live with his biological father in Arizona after his mother and stepfather split up. He took his father's surname and began working a number of local jobs. He also inherited his father's hobby of collecting weapons and was taught by him to "blow things up and make bombs". Despite this, their relationship deteriorated due to his father's absence with a number of girlfriends, and Kohlhepp expressed desires to return to his mother, though she reportedly made excuses to extend his stay.[1][8]

1987 kidnapping conviction

While living with his father in Arizona in 1986, Kohlhepp kidnapped a fourteen-year-old girl in Tempe on November 25. He threatened her with a .22-caliber revolver, brought her back to his home, tied her up, taped her mouth shut, and raped her. Afterwards, he walked her home and threatened to kill her younger siblings if she told anyone what happened. Kohlhepp, who was fifteen at the time of the crime, was charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, and committing a dangerous crime against children. In 1987, he pleaded guilty to the kidnapping charge, and the other charges were dropped; he was sentenced to fifteen years in prison, and registered as a sex offender.[1][3][7][9][10] According to court records, Kohlhepp was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and had an IQ of 118, which was considered "above average".[1]

The judge in the case said he was "very bright and should be advanced academically," but "behaviorally and emotionally dangerous" and likely could not be rehabilitated.[3][7][9] Kohlhepp's chief probation officer wrote a similar description in court papers and added that Kohlhepp "felt the world owed him something".[11] Kohlhepp's attorney in that case later went on to say that, while defending him, "he did not believe his client would go on to harm others" in the future.[12] During his imprisonment, Kohlhepp was initially cited for violations that include some violent behavior, but after turning twenty, he had no other records of disobedience.[1]

Release

In August 2001, Kohlhepp was released from prison after serving fourteen years and moved to South Carolina, where his mother was living.[3][7][13][14] During his imprisonment, he attended and graduated from Central Arizona College with a bachelor's degree in computer science. From January 2002 to November 2003, he worked as a graphic designer for a company in Spartanburg. He began studying in Greenville Technical College in 2003. Kohlhepp then transferred to the University of South Carolina Upstate during the following year, and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration-marketing.[14][15]

Despite being registered as a sex offender, however, Kohlhepp was able to get a real estate license on June 30, 2006, after lying about the felony charge on his application. From this, he managed to build a firm that had a dozen agents in its employment.[11][13][14] He had been recognized as a top-selling agent for a region spanning parts of the Carolinas.[15] A customer who sold her home to Kohlhepp remembered him as extremely outgoing and professional, but noted that he would often talk about his firearms and sometimes subtly placed sexual innuendo in their conversations. Conversely, a woman who assisted one of Kohlhepp's employees described him as angry and condescending towards her partner.[16] A banker who worked with Kohlhepp said he would often watch pornographic videos, even at work.[15] The firm was closed down following Kohlhepp's arrest.[17]

Kohlhepp also acquired a private pilot license[11] and several properties out of the state.[18] In May 2014, he purchased nearly 100 acres of land, located in an area 9 miles (14 km) from Moore, for $305,632. He then set a fence around the property, which cost $80,000.[1][11][19]

Kohlhepp began frequenting a Waffle House restaurant in Roebuck. He allegedly had a habit of inviting the waitresses to his home and leaving large tips for his meals. His behavior disturbed the waitresses to the point where a male cook who also worked at the restaurant began to take Kohlhepp's orders for them. According to this employee, one of the waitresses was Meagan Leigh McCraw-Coxie, one of Kohlhepp's alleged victims.[20]

Suspected victims

On November 6, 2003,[14] four people were found shot to death inside Superbike Motorsports, a motorcycle shop in Chesnee, South Carolina, by a regular customer.[5] The victims were identified as owner Scott Ponder, 30; service manager Brian Lucas, 30; mechanic Chris Sherbert, 26; and bookkeeper Beverly Guy, 52, who was Ponder's mother. All four died from multiple gunshot wounds. Before Kohlhepp confessed to the shootings in 2016, investigators believed that the gunman, armed with a pistol, entered the shop from the back and killed Sherbert as he worked. He then killed Guy outside the bathroom in the middle of the showroom, Lucas at the main doorway, and Ponder in the parking lot. According to Ponder's wife, Kohlhepp was a disgruntled customer who had been in the shop several times.[13][21][22] According to Kohlhepp's mother, he attempted to return a motorcycle there, but the employees laughed at him, would not return the money he had paid for the motorcycle, and embarrassed him for not knowing how to ride a motorcycle.[23][24][25]

On August 31, 2016, Kala Brown, 30, and her boyfriend Charles David Carver, 32, went missing after they went to do cleaning at Kohlhepp's residence. Carver was later found dead of multiple gunshots on Kohlhepp's property.[5][7][11][13] On November 3, Brown was found by authorities, chained up in a shark cage inside a metal storage container on Kohlhepp's property. Investigators had tracked her down after tracing Brown and Carver's last known cellphone signals, after which they heard banging noises coming from inside the container. A search of Kohlhepp's property recovered Carver's vehicle, which was found in a ravine covered in brush.[5][11][18][26] According to Brown, she witnessed Carver being shot.[5] According to Kohlhepp's mother, Kohlhepp said Carver was killed for having a "really smart mouth", which Kohlhepp did not like. Kohlhepp also said he kept Brown captive because she did not do anything wrong and that he did not want to hurt her.[25] During her captivity, Brown was fed once a day. She was intimidated into not escaping after being shown the graves of Kohlhepp's other victims.[27][28]

Two bodies were discovered on Kohlhepp's property following his arrest, on November 6–7.[17][29] They were later identified as husband and wife Johnny Joe Coxie, 29, and Meagan Leigh McCraw-Coxie, 26, residents of Spartanburg who were reported missing on December 22, 2015. They were allegedly hired by Kohlhepp to work on his property.[23][30][31] Meagan McCraw-Coxie had been killed by a gunshot wound to the head on December 25 or 26, while Johnny Coxie had been killed a week earlier by a gunshot wound to the torso. According to the county coroner, they were identified through their extensive tattoos.[31][32][33]

List

Name Sex Age Date of murder/disappearance
Scott Ponder M 30 November 6, 2003
Brian Lucas M 30 November 6, 2003
Chris Sherber M 26 November 6, 2003
Beverly Guy F 52 November 6, 2003
Johnny Joe Coxie M 29 December 19, 2015
Meagan Leigh McCraw-Coxie F 26 December 25 or 26, 2015
Kala Brown (survived) F 30 August 31, 2016
Charles David Carver M 32 August 31, 2016

Arrest and investigation

Kohlhepp was arrested shortly after Brown's discovery. He later confessed to the Chesnee shootings and the murders of the two people whose bodies were found buried on his property,[7] in exchange for allowing him to talk to his mother, give her a photograph, and transfer money to the college fund of a friend's child.[24] While meeting with his mother, he reportedly confessed to the killings and kidnapping.[28] When he confessed to the Chesnee shootings, Kohlhepp said he shot each of the victims once in the forehead, a detail in the investigation that was never released to the public.[5]

A search of Kohlhepp's property also uncovered numerous weapons, including 9mm pistols outfitted with suppressors, assault rifles, and an undetermined amount of ammunition. Because there was no record of a background check under Kohlhepp's name for the purchase of a firearm, investigators believe he likely acquired the weapons illegally.[34]

Following his arrest, Kohlhepp claimed to his mother that there were no victims aside from the aforementioned. However, he claimed to have shot a victim in Arizona during interrogation.[5] On November 18, it was reported that the Tempe Police Department had begun an investigation into Kohlhepp's claim, searching through unsolved homicides in the past three decades.[35] They said they will focus on cases dated from 1983 to 1986, when Kohlhepp was living with his father;[8] and also between August 2001, when Kohlhepp completed his sentence for kidnapping, and November 2001, when he moved back to South Carolina.[36]

On November 25, police in Greer, South Carolina, announced that they have named Kohlhepp as a person of interest in an unsolved 2003 bank robbery and triple homicide at the local Blue Ridge Savings Bank. This crime was separated from the Chesnee shootings by six months.[37]

Kohlhepp was charged with four counts of murder in relation to the Chesnee shootings, and one count of kidnapping in relation to Brown's abduction.[21] He was later charged with three additional counts of murder for the murders of Carver and the Coxies, along with one additional count of kidnapping and three counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.[32][33][38] Kohlhepp's next court appearance is scheduled for January 19, 2017.[17] According to a report by WLTX, relatives of the Chesnee shooting victims will also file a wrongful death lawsuit against him.[36] On December 1, it was announced that Brown will also file a civil lawsuit against him.[39]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Connor, Eric (November 13, 2016). "Kohlhepp driven by anger". The Greenville News. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  2. ^ Lake, Emma (November 14, 2016). "House of Horrors: Who is Todd Kohlhepp? Suspected South Carolina serial killer – here's what we know". The Sun. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e Hayden, Michael Edison; Schabner, Dean; Winsor, Morgan (November 7, 2016). "What We Know About Todd Kohlhepp's Confession to 2003 Murders in South Carolina". ABC News. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Adcox, Seanna; Drew, Jonathan (November 11, 2016). "Mother of suspect in 7 South Carolina killings says he is 'not a monster'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Associated Press. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Todd Kohlhepp Case: Confessions of a Suspected Serial Killer". CBS 48 Hours. November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Court documents: at 15 years old, Kohlhepp tied up 14-year-old, sexually assaulted her". WBTW. November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Who is suspected serial killer Todd Kohlhepp?". CBS News. November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Smith, Brianna (November 21, 2016). "Cold cases in AZ being reviewed for Kohlhepp connections". WSPA. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Ray, Robert; Carey, Beth; Simon, Darran; Gast, Phil (November 10, 2016). "Todd Kohlhepp: The short fuse of a suspected serial killer". CNN. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  10. ^ MacDonald-Evoy, Jerod (November 5, 2016). "Man accused of enslaving South Carolina woman had Arizona troubles". The Greenville News. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Man accused of kidnapping S.C. woman confesses to 2003 murders, sheriff says". CBS News. Associated Press. November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  12. ^ "Former attorney for Todd Kohlhepp: 'No indication that he was a Bundy'". My FOX 8. November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d Kinnard, Meg; Adcox, Seanna (November 6, 2016). "Captive's Rescue Leads to Break in Grisly Quadruple Slaying". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d Mayo, Nikie; Walters, Elizabeth (November 4, 2016). "Todd Kohlhepp: Timeline of events". The Greenville News. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c Drew, Jonathan; Adcox, Seanna (November 12, 2016). "Successful real-estate firm built between grisly crimes". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  16. ^ Barnett, Ron; Brown, Kirk (November 7, 2016). "Kohlhepp remembered as great salesman with chilling quirks". The Greenville News. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  17. ^ a b c "Third body recovered from Todd Kohlhepp's property". The Greenville News. November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  18. ^ a b Lee, Roger; McCarthy, Kelly (November 11, 2016). "Detectives Who Rescued Woman From Suspected South Carolina Serial Killer Speak Out". Yahoo! GMA. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  19. ^ Shoichet, Catherine E. (November 4, 2016). "Todd Kohlhepp: South Carolina realtor accused in kidnapping, killings". CNN. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  20. ^ "Todd Kohlhepp, accused serial killer, met victim at Waffle House, report says". CBS News. November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  21. ^ a b Almasy, Steve (November 5, 2016). "South Carolina kidnapping suspect charged with 4 killings in cold case". CNN. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  22. ^ Burns, Jennifer (November 5, 2016). "Superbike slayings unsolved for 13 years". The Greenville News. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Mother of Todd Kohlhepp, alleged S.C. serial killer: "Todd was not a monster"". CBS News. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  24. ^ a b Burns, Michael (November 11, 2016). "Mom of accused serial killer Todd Kohlhepp: He 'is not a monster'". USA Today. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  25. ^ a b "Todd Kohlhepp told mom why he kept Kala Brown alive". WBTW. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  26. ^ Almasy, Steve; Allen, Keith (November 3, 2016). "Missing South Carolina woman found chained in metal container". CNN. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  27. ^ "Woman chained inside container fed once per day, shown gravesites". Yahoo7 News. November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  28. ^ a b Rojas, Nicole (November 14, 2016). "Todd Kohlhepp confesses murders to his mother after being arrested for kidnapping Kala Brown". The International Business Times UK. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  29. ^ "Another body found on suspected serial killer's lot where woman found chained". CBS News. November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  30. ^ Kalsi, Dal (November 3, 2016). "Coroner: Missing Spartanburg husband, wife found buried on Kohlhepp property". FOX Carolina. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  31. ^ a b Burns, Michael; Cary, Nathaniel (November 9, 2016). "Spartanburg husband, wife identified as bodies on Todd Kohlhepp land". The Greenville News. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  32. ^ a b "Todd Kohlhepp, suspected S.C. serial killer, faces more murder charges". CBS News. Associated Press. November 28, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  33. ^ a b Dixson, Romando (November 28, 2016). "Todd Kohlhepp formally charged in 3 deaths". The Greenville News. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  34. ^ Smith, Tim (November 8, 2016). "How did Todd Kohlhepp acquire guns? 'Good question'". USA Today. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  35. ^ Burns, Michael (November 18, 2016). "Arizona police eye accused SC serial killer Todd Kohlhepp". The Greenville News. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  36. ^ a b Rojas, Nicole (November 22, 2016). "Arizona police search unsolved murder cases for any connections to Todd Kohlhepp". The International Business Times UK. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  37. ^ Fair, Jim (November 25, 2016). "Greer police trying to connect elusive clue to triple-murder case". Greer Today. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  38. ^ Johnson, Alex (November 28, 2016). "S.C. Suspected Serial Killer Todd Kohlhepp Charged With Three More Murders". NBC News. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  39. ^ Pestano, Andrew V. (December 1, 2016). "Woman chained on S.C. property sues accused serial killer Todd Kohlhepp". UPI. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
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