Inside Todd Kohlhepp's storage container used for torture

2022-06-15 17:32:46 By : Ms. Helen Peng

News that South Carolina real estate broker Todd Kohlhepp kept a woman chained inside a shipping container shocked even the most hardened investigators. Evidence photos show the small space where Kala Brown was chained inside for two months, as well as the stockpile of weapons and supplies investigators found on Kohlhepp's rural S.C. property

"48 Hours" has more on how the kidnapping case led to even more revelations about Kohlhepp's double life as a serial killer in "Serial Confessions" 

Kala Brown and Charlie Carver went missing at the end of August 2016. The young couple's disappearance shocked their small South Carolina community and left investigators with few leads to help find them.

On Nov. 3, 2016, after about two months, pings from Kala Brown and Charlie Carver's cell phones, as well as Facebook messages mentioning local realtor Todd Kohlhepp, led investigators to Kohlhepp's rural, 99-acre property. They heard cries for help from inside a storage container located there.

Chilling video shows rescue of missing woman "chained like a dog"

Authorities were forced to cut through these five locks to gain access to the container and the captive crying for help inside.

Chilling video shows rescue of missing woman "chained like a dog"

Once the locks were broken, investigators had a first-hand look inside the dark prison created by Todd Kohlhepp.

Kala Brown was found in the back of the 30' by 15' metal container, chained around the neck "like a dog." When asked about her boyfriend, Charlie Carver, Brown replied "He shot him." 

Brown explained that Todd Kohlhepp shot Carver to death, and then kept her as a sex slave on the property.

VIDEO: Kala Brown's chilling account of her time as Todd Kohlhepp's hostage

Kala Brown's legs were bound at the ankles and she had a chain around her neck connecting her to the container.

VIDEO: Kala Brown's chilling account of her time as Todd Kohlhepp's hostage

Kala Brown was forced to sit virtually all day, as well as sleep on dog beds provided by Todd Kohlhepp.

Todd Kohlhepp provided Kala Brown with nourishment, such as these crackers, and supplied books, adult coloring books, and a MP3 player -- among other forms of entertainment -- during her captivity. 

A stockpile of food items and other supplies were also found inside Todd Kohlhepp's shipping container. 

Among the supplies found in the container were firearms and a virtual treasure trove of ammunition.

VIDEO: Todd Kohlhepp on collecting guns

Among the supplies located inside the container were guns and virtual a treasure trove of ammunition.

VIDEO: Todd Kohlhepp on collecting guns

Also on Todd Kohlhepp's property was another structure. Kala Brown told authorities that her captor would transport her there, always bound in some way, from time-to-time.

In the building's garage was a tractor. Kala Brown says that after Todd Kohlhepp shot Charlie Carver, she saw Carver's body wrapped in a tarp, and that Kohlhepp buried him somewhere on the property.

Also located inside the building's garage were numerous firearms. Some were located inside cabinet drawers.

VIDEO: Todd Kohlhepp on collecting guns

Also located inside the building's garage were numerous firearms. Some were located inside cabinet drawers.

VIDEO: Todd Kohlhepp on collecting guns

Other firearms were found in plain sight, like this one discovered on a shelf in the garage.

VIDEO: Todd Kohlhepp on collecting guns

Additional concealed weapons were found attached to the underside of a work counter.

VIDEO: Todd Kohlhepp on collecting guns

Additional concealed weapons were found attached to the underside of a work counter.

VIDEO: Todd Kohlhepp on collecting guns

A gun safe was also found. Authorities would have to break in to gain access.

VIDEO: Todd Kohlhepp on collecting guns

Todd Kohlhepp built a living area for himself on the second floor of the structure. 

Todd Kohlhepp built a living area for himself on the second floor of the structure. 

Handcuffs were found in the top drawer of a dresser in the living area.

Kala Brown told investigators that Todd Kohlhepp would sometimes bring her to this building, as evidenced by the chains he used to bind her.

Kala Brown told investigators that Todd Kohlhepp would sometimes bring her to this building, as evidenced by the chains he used to bind her.

Todd Kohlhepp admitted to Kala Brown that he disposed of Charlie Carver's car after murdering him and taking her captive. He spray-painted the white sedan brown and covered it with tree branches and other debris in an attempt to conceal it. 

Todd Kohlhepp confessed to authorities that he murdered Charlie Carver, as well as six others over the years. The serial killer pleaded guilty to all seven murders, along with kidnapping and rape charges for Kala Brown on March 29, 2017.

First published on June 23, 2017 / 10:31 PM

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