The banging was the first thing they heard. It wasn't loud at first, just a rhythmic, desperate thudding echoing against the corrugated metal of a shipping container in the middle of a 95-acre field in Woodruff, South Carolina. When investigators finally cut the locks on November 3, 2016, they didn't just find a missing person. They found a nightmare. Kala Brown was inside, chained by the neck like a dog.
She had been there for 65 days.
Most people remember the headlines from back then. The "Amazon Serial Killer" who left creepy reviews for shovels and padlocks. But the story of how Kala Brown and Todd Kohlhepp became linked is much more than a viral true crime factoid. It’s a story of survival that exposed a decade-long spree of violence that a "successful" real estate agent managed to hide in plain sight.
The Disappearance of Kala and Charlie
It started with a job. Kala Brown and her boyfriend, Charles David Carver, were just looking to make some extra cash. Kohlhepp, a high-earning Realtor with his own firm, hired them to clear brush on his massive property. They went there on August 31, 2016.
They didn't come back.
For weeks, family and friends were frantic. The weirdest part? Charlie’s Facebook page stayed active. Someone was posting bizarre updates, almost mocking the search. It was psychological warfare. Honestly, it's one of the most chilling details of the case—the idea of a killer sitting at a computer, pretending to be the man he just murdered while his girlfriend was locked in a box a few yards away.
Life Inside the Container
Kala’s survival is nothing short of a miracle. The container was pitch black. It was hot. Kohlhepp had it stocked with some food and water, but it wasn't for her comfort. It was to keep her alive for his own use. She later told investigators and Dr. Phil that he raped her daily. He told her if she tried to run, he’d kill her just like he killed Charlie.
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She had to watch it happen.
The second they arrived at the property, Kohlhepp shot Charlie three times in the chest. No warning. No argument. Just cold-blooded execution. He then wrapped the body in a tarp and moved it with a tractor while Kala watched, paralyzed by what was happening.
Why Todd Kohlhepp Wasn't Caught Sooner
This is the part that still makes people angry. Kohlhepp wasn't some drifter. He was a "power broker." He had a pilot’s license. He had a dozen agents working under him. But he also had a history.
As a 15-year-old in Arizona, he kidnapped a neighbor at gunpoint, tied her up, and raped her. He served 14 years for that. When he got out and moved to South Carolina, he managed to get a real estate license by lying about his past.
Wait, how?
Basically, the background check systems back then weren't nearly as rigorous as they are now. He slipped through the cracks. Once he had that "successful professional" veneer, he was invisible to law enforcement. He was the guy you’d call to buy a house, not the guy you'd suspect of being a mass murderer.
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The Superbike Connection
After he was caught, the floodgates opened. Kohlhepp confessed to the "Superbike Motorsports" murders from 2003. For 13 years, the families of Scott Ponder, Beverly Guy, Brian Lucas, and Chris Sherbert had no answers. It was a cold case that had stumped everyone.
Kohlhepp told police he did it because the staff at the shop had "embarrassed" him. He felt they were mocking him because he didn't know how to ride the motorcycle he bought. So, he went back and killed them all. Just like that.
Then there were the others. Johnny Joe Coxie and Meagan Leigh McCraw-Coxie. They were a young couple Kohlhepp hired for "work" in 2015. Their bodies were also found on the property. Meagan had been kept alive for days, chained just like Kala, before being killed on Christmas Day.
Recent Developments: The 2025-2026 Profit Investigation
You'd think being behind bars for seven consecutive life sentences would be the end of it. It wasn't. As of early 2026, Kohlhepp has been back in the news for trying to "monetize" his crimes from inside prison.
Investigators recently discovered he was using prison tablets to communicate with people on the outside to sell "merch" and artwork. There were even rumors of him trying to coordinate a documentary that he would profit from.
South Carolina authorities didn't take it lightly.
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- He was moved to the Kirkland Correctional Institution, a maximum-security facility.
- He lost his tablet and visitation privileges.
- A full investigation by the State Inspector General was launched to ensure not a dime of profit reaches him.
It’s a slap in the face to the victims' families, who are still dealing with the trauma a decade later. The "Notoriety" he seeks is exactly what the state is trying to strip away.
Actionable Takeaways and Safety Lessons
While the Kala Brown and Todd Kohlhepp case is extreme, it highlights some terrifyingly practical safety gaps that still exist today.
Check the Registry, Even for Professionals
Kohlhepp was a licensed Realtor. People trusted him because of his job. Never assume a professional license means a clean record. Most states now have public sex offender registries that are easily searchable. Use them.
The "Job Offer" Red Flag
Kohlhepp lured his victims with "odd jobs" on remote property. If you are meeting someone for a gig from a site like Craigslist or even a referral, always:
- Share your GPS location with a friend.
- Tell someone exactly who you are meeting and where.
- Never go to a secondary, isolated location without someone knowing the specific address.
Digital Footprints Matter
Kala was found because of cell phone pings. If you’re ever in a situation where you feel unsafe, keep your phone on. Even if you can’t make a call, the towers are logging your location. It was those "last pings" near Kohlhepp’s Woodruff property that gave the police the probable cause they needed to enter the land.
Kala Brown is a survivor. She’s spent years reclaiming her life, appearing on talk shows and advocating for other victims. Todd Kohlhepp will die in prison. But the case remains a sobering reminder that sometimes, the monster isn't hiding in the woods—he's the guy selling the house next door.