It’s a horror story straight from a scary movie — A woman missing since August was found “chained up like a dog” inside a storage container, a South Carolina sheriff said Thursday.
And the victim is suggesting she isn’t the only victim.
Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said she had a chain around her neck and told deputies she had been kept in the container for two months.
She’s likely not the only victim. The women told authorities there could be four bodies buried on the property.
Deputies, acting on a tip, found the victim after hearing her banging on the container from the inside Thursday in the town of Woodruff, 80 miles northwest of the state capital of Columbia.
The sheriff said the container measured 30 feet by 15 feet by 10 or 12 feet. It was chained and locked.
Anderson Police Chief Jim Stewart said his department’s investigation into the disappearance of the woman and Charles Carver, her 32-year-old boyfriend, led authorities to the property near Woodruff where the woman was found. Carver is still missing.
Stewart said more than a dozen search warrants were issued.
“We got computer and cellphone records that ultimately led us to the area in Woodruff,” Stewart said. “We knew that was the last place that a cellphone tied to this case pinged.”
The sheriff said a registered sex offender identified as Todd Christopher Kohlhepp has been arrested in connection with the incident. A hearing was expected Friday afternoon.
Wright said the woman worked for Kohlhepp, and was, “in good spirits and looked good.”
“We’re trying to make sure that we don’t have a serial killer on our hands,” he said.
Records indicate Kohlhepp is a licensed real estate agent as well as a licensed pilot. In 1986, he was convicted and sentenced to prison for kidnapping and dangerous crimes against children.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
If Kohlhepp was arrested & convicted in ’86, how in Hell is he now loose to wreak more havoc?
Because of our screwed up justice system who think people like this can be cured. They CAN NOT.
Because our laws are designed to protect the criminals rights that’s why! They screw the law abiding citizens and allow the thugs free roam. Sickening!!!!!
I’m glad this woman was found. Hopefully the captor will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This guy should be kept caged up in a prison for the rest of his life.
These men will never change. They must be locked up for good with no chance of a parole. Sex is their addictions with out respect. They just have to have it no matter what.
This is way more than sex – in fact, it’s just a form of control.
We sure seem to have a lot of people who just have to control others these days, including powerful “leaders.”
As a licensed real estate agent, I was put through all sorts of fingerprinting and background checks from the state. I don’t understand how this guy was able to practice real estate with a criminal record like this as it is unsafe for the public. How did he pull this off? Imagine looking at homes with a Broker like this? Yikes!
Obama will probably pardon him along with all the others!!