A successful real estate agent in South Carolina led a chilling double life as a serial killer, leaving behind a trail of murders and disturbing online reviews.
At a Glance
- Todd Kohlhepp, known as the “Amazon Review Killer,” murdered seven people in South Carolina
- He left chilling reviews on Amazon about weapons used in his crimes
- Kohlhepp’s crimes were uncovered when police rescued a woman chained in a storage container on his property
- He is now serving seven consecutive life sentences without parole
- A new documentary series explores his crimes and disturbing past
A Killer Hiding in Plain Sight
Todd Kohlhepp, a successful real estate businessman in South Carolina, harbored a dark secret. Behind the facade of a prosperous professional lay a serial killer responsible for the deaths of seven people. Kohlhepp’s crimes, which spanned years, remained hidden until a shocking discovery in 2016 led to his arrest and eventual conviction.
Kohlhepp’s criminal behavior began early in life. At age nine, mental health issues were identified, and by 15, he was convicted of kidnapping and sexual assault. He served time from 1987 to 2001 and was placed on the sex offender registry in Arizona. Despite this troubled past, Kohlhepp managed to build a successful career in real estate after his release, using this veneer of normalcy to conceal his continued criminal activities.
The Amazon Review Killer
Kohlhepp earned the moniker “Amazon Review Killer” due to his chilling habit of leaving reviews on Amazon for products he used in his crimes. These reviews, seemingly innocuous to the unsuspecting eye, took on a sinister tone when connected to his brutal acts. One particularly disturbing review for a knife read, “Haven’t stabbed anyone yet. When I do, it will be with a quality tool like this,” Todd Kohlhepp said.
His crimes came to light in 2016 when police rescued Kala Brown, who had been chained inside a storage container on Kohlhepp’s property for two months. This discovery led investigators to uncover a series of murders dating back to 2003, including the deaths of Brown’s boyfriend and four people at a motorcycle shop in Chesnee, South Carolina.
A Trail of Victims
As the investigation unfolded, the full extent of Kohlhepp’s crimes became apparent. In addition to Brown’s rescue, police found two more bodies on his property, identified as Johnny Joe Coxie and Meagan Leigh McCraw-Coxie. Kohlhepp confessed to these murders as well as the 2003 motorcycle shop killings, revealing a pattern of violence that had gone undetected for years.
In 2017, Kohlhepp pleaded guilty to seven counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of criminal sexual assault. The court sentenced him to seven consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would spend the rest of his life behind bars at the Broad River Correctional Facility in Columbia.
A Disturbing Legacy
The case of Todd Kohlhepp serves as a chilling reminder of the potential for evil to hide in plain sight. His ability to maintain a successful professional life while committing heinous crimes highlights the complexities of criminal psychology and the challenges faced by law enforcement in identifying and apprehending such individuals.
