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Crime & Justice • Serial Killer

Todd Kohlhepp

Todd Christopher Kohlhepp is an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and convicted murderer from South Carolina.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Todd Christopher Kohlhepp is an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and convicted murderer from South Carolina. He was convicted of killing seven people between 2003 and 2016 and received seven consecutive life sentences without parole in 2017. His case drew wider attention after a kidnapped woman was found alive on his property in 2016.

Criminal history

Kohlhepp was convicted in 2017 for a series of murders committed over more than a decade in South Carolina. The case included the Superbike Motorsports killings and later murders connected to his arrest in 2016.

Arrest and investigation

Police arrested Kohlhepp after finding Kala Brown alive on his property in November 2016. Investigators then uncovered evidence that led to additional homicide charges and his eventual guilty plea.

Sentence and imprisonment

In May 2017, Kohlhepp received seven consecutive life sentences without parole, along with additional prison time for kidnapping and sexual assault. The plea bargain spared him from capital punishment.

Public notoriety

The case attracted broad media coverage because of the scale of the crimes, the discovery of a captive victim, and Kohlhepp's claims that he had killed more people than those confirmed in court.

Key facts

  • Kohlhepp was convicted of murdering seven people in South Carolina between 2003 and 2016
  • He pleaded guilty in May 2017 in a deal that avoided the death penalty
  • A major break in the case came when Kala Brown was found chained on his property in November 2016
  • Authorities linked him to the long-unsolved Superbike Motorsports murders in Chesnee, South Carolina
  • He has claimed responsibility for additional killings beyond the seven for which he was convicted

Frequently asked questions

Who is Todd Kohlhepp?
Todd Kohlhepp is an American serial killer and kidnapper convicted of murdering seven people in South Carolina.
How many people was Todd Kohlhepp convicted of killing?
He was convicted of seven murders.
When was Todd Kohlhepp sentenced?
He was sentenced in May 2017 after pleading guilty.
What sentence did Todd Kohlhepp receive?
He received seven consecutive life sentences without parole, plus additional prison time for other crimes.
Why is the Todd Kohlhepp case well known?
It became widely known after a kidnapped woman was found alive on his property and investigators linked him to multiple killings.
Did Todd Kohlhepp claim more victims?
Yes. He has claimed to have killed more people than the seven murders for which he was convicted.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Kohlhepp
    Supports: Birth name, date of birth, crimes, convictions, and sentence.
  2. NPR — https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/26/530226948/confessed-killer-pleads-guilty-to-7-murders-over-a-dozen-years-in-south-carolina
    Supports: Guilty plea, seven murders, and seven consecutive life sentences.
  3. ABC News — https://abcnews.com/US/convicted-serial-killer-todd-kohlhepp-reportedly-claims-victims/story?id=51709128
    Supports: Claims of additional victims and arrest after Kala Brown was found on his property.
  4. CBS News — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/todd-kohlhepp-case-48-hours-confessions-of-a-suspected-serial-killer-buried-truth/
    Supports: Kala Brown case and Kohlhepp's connection to the Superbike murders.