Boyfriend’s Body Identified, Suspect Confesses to Four Other Murders in Kala Brown Kidnapping Case: Reports
The suspect charged with the kidnapping of Kala Brown, who was found chained alive in a metal shipping container on Thursday, is due in court for a bond hearing on Sunday after confessing to the 2003 cold case murders of four people in Chesnee, South Carolina, according to several reports.
Todd Kohlhepp, 45, has been charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of four individuals at the Superbike Motorsports motorcycle shop in Chesnee, according to The Associate Press. His alleged involvement in the quadruple murder was a revelation after 13 years, as the case remained unsolved until Brown was found on Kohlhepp’s 95-acre property in nearby Woodruff, South Carolina, last week.
Spartanburg County Sheriff’s investigative report said Kohlhepp “confessed to investigators that he killed” the owner, service manager, mechanic and bookkeeper working at the shop 13 years ago, according to the AP. The report stated that Kohlhepp provided details “that only the killer would know” about the 2003 murders, according to the AP.
In addition to the kidnapping and four murder charges, authorities said Kohlhepp — a registered sex offender — is a suspect in at least three other deaths, according to AP. He is expected to be charged in the murder of Brown’s boyfriend, Charles Carver, whose body was found in a shallow grave on Kohlhepp’s property, according to WSPA.
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Prosecutors say Brown allegedly witnessed her accused captor shoot the 32-year-old Carver after her abduction, according to WSPA. The couple vanished months ago on the same day in August, but Carver had not been found until his body was recovered on Friday and identified on Saturday, according to BBC.
In a statement to PEOPLE on Friday — before Carver was positively identified — Carver’s family said, “ would like to begin by saying how wonderful it is Kala has been found and that she is receiving care and is back with family and friends …We ask that you continue to pray for Kala’s healing and for David’s safe return as well.”
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Sheriff Chuck Wright said that on Saturday, Kohlhepp took law enforcement officers to the site where he allegedly buried two other victims on his property, according to AP. Kohlhepp was in handcuffs and dressed in an orange jumpsuit during the hour-long visit. Wright said it is possible more bodies will be uncovered at the former real estate agent’s property.
Kohlhepp previously pleaded guilty to kidnapping, according to TV station FOX Carolina.
Kohlhepp’s appeared in court for bond hearing was scheduled on Sunday, where his bond was denied and he remained in custody. Friends and family members of the various victims could be seen in court on Sunday. The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office was not immediately available for comment.
