In November, sheriff’s deputies saved a South Carolina woman held captive by a serial killer. Prosecutors on Friday finally released video of the rescue, which led to the arrest and conviction of Todd Kohlhepp.
Footage shows authorities breaking into a shipping container on Kohlhepp’s property. Once inside, they made their way to the back, where they discovered the victim chained at her neck. As they were freeing her with bolt cutters, she told them that Kohlhepp shot her boyfriend, 32-year-old David Carter, three times in the chest and wrapped his body in a tarp.
“He says he’s dead and buried,” the woman said. “He says there are several bodies dead and buried out here.”
All this, in just over two minutes after Spartanburg County deputies opened the container. And there were more victims. Investigators not only found Carter’s body, but those of a couple, 29-year-old Johnny Joe Coxie, and 26-year-old Meagan Leigh McCraw-Coxie. Kohlhepp killed them in December 2015.
The woman also said Kohlhepp admitted to a 2003 quadruple murder at a motorcycle shop. Four people were killed: 50-year-old bookkeeper Beverly Guy; her son, 30-year-old Scott Ponder; 30-year-old service manager Brian Lucas; and 26-year-old mechanic Chris Sherbert. Prosecutors said he believed that they were making fun of him.
Kohlhepp pleaded guilty on May 26 to charges of murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault. He was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences plus 60 years, and agreed to forego his appeal. There will be no chance at parole.
[Screengrab via 7th Circuit Solicitor]
