By Lyn Riddle
The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina inmate who killed seven people tried to sell tee shirts with SK TK emblazoned on them, which stands for serial killer Todd Kohlhepp, messages The State received through the Freedom of Information Act show.
He was also in communication with a producer about telling his story.
Both are against South Carolina law that prohibits inmates from profiting from their crimes.
Fox Carolina first reported the existence of the messages between Kohlhepp, 54, and several people who were identified only with their first name and last name first letter.
FOX Carolina also reported someone sent them hundreds of documents, including artwork, photos and autopsy reports for his victims, that Kohlhepp signed. The Greenville television station did not reveal the name of the person who sent them.
The South Carolina Inspector General’s Office is investigating whether Kohlhepp should be charged for trying to profit from the deaths of his victims.
He has since lost tablet, visitiation and canteen privileges and has been moved to a more secure location, Corrections officials said.
The documents, as shown on the Fox Carolina website, are an expansive look at the case against Kohlhepp, once a prosperous Spartanburg County Realtor. Kohlhepp’s history in SC
He pleaded guilty in 2017 to killing seven people over more than a decade and was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences.
Kohlhepp claimed in a letter he wrote to the Herald Journal after he was arrested he had killed more.
The FBI’s Columbia office provided technical and other investigative assistance during the investigation, spokesman Kevin Wheeler said, adding “We do not have new information to provide about allegations of additional potential victims.”
“Leaves the state and leaves the country. Thank you private pilot’s license,” Kohlhepp wrote the newspaper.
Kohlhepp’s crimes came to light after a woman was found chained in a storage container on his property in 2016. Kala Brown had been there for more than two months after Kohlhepp hired her and her boyfriend to clean up his property.
She told police she saw Kohlhepp shoot and kill her boyfriend, Charles Carver. Carver’s body was later found in a shallow grave on Kohlhepp’s almost 100-acre property in Spartanburg County.
After Kohlhepp was arrested, he confessed to the long unsolved murders of four people at Superbike Motorsports, a high-performance motorcycle shop in Chesnee.
On Nov. 6, 2003, Superbike owner Scott Ponder, his mother Beverly Guy, and employees Brian Lucas and Chris Sherbert were shot to death. He said in his confession he killed them because he believed they were involved in stealing a motorcycle he bought from them, had embarrassed him and refused to give him a refund.
Kohlhepp also confessed to killing Johnny and Meagan Coxie, a couple who disappeared in December 2015 and whose bodies were also found on his land.
Kohlhepp was convicted of rape and kidnapping as a teenager and spent 14 years in an Arizona prison before moving to South Carolina to live with his mother. Kohlhepp messages
The messages released by the Department of Corrections also indicate Kohlhepp has written a book.
“As far as the book, yes it shows your childhood, perhaps if people actually read a book instead of believing in other people’s jarble usually copied over and over, they would see a different side of you,” Cheryl W. wrote him April.
“Well, get busy making the TK SK T-shirt line as I have buyers interested,” Kohlhepp wrote in one message. In another, “bunch of ideas for TK SK T-shirt line, make that money for my transfer. I have to pay my way and two guards with them having return trip, still think its price gouging at 3800. Even first class tickets wouldn’t cost all that. Whatever, beats this dungeon,” Kohlhepp wrote to Cheryl.
In several messages he makes reference to asking for a transfer and in one says he doesn’t want to go to Texas or California.
Chrysti Shain, spokesperson for the Department of Corrections, said she was not aware he had asked for a transfer and the process does not work the way he described.
In April, Kohlhepp heard from someone identified as Bill K., who says he may be able to help Kohlhepp, that he has helped others and appears on podcasts and radio and speaks at colleges.
“I still have to be careful what I say because of being in the process of filming a huge production on locations of other victims from a Different sk I’ve worked with for many years now. I can only imagine what it’s like for you there, especially since that prison has been in the news so much lately due to the executions there. For whatever reason, people love that stuff.”
Bill K. says he listed himself as a friend on the form to visit Kohlhepp.
“I don’t come in as media because of the restrictions,” he said.
“I’m sure i will get this figured out yet because I do think I can help you like I’ve helped a few others,” Bill K. said. “Including getting them better privileges and even transfers. Hopefully we can figure out some positive things for you.”
Other Kohlhepp emails provide a look at life in prison as well as his own mindset. He talks about how he got around Internal Revenue Service regulations, his fondness for his pets and recent inmate executions.
“Tax code was written to be taken advantage of if you are willing to get creative on where you classify stuff. As long as I rolled money over instead of take money, no fraud so no problem. Worst they will do is yell and say this doesn’t apply. Red flags are large client gifts and client meals. Ammo was company security,” he said.
“I love my pets and yes, they are family. Taz was my favorite, total daddy’s girl, she just had to stay near me even when I slept.”
On the death penalty, which Kohlhepp pleaded guilty to avoid: “SC has firing squad, lethal injection and electric chair, you pick two weeks out. Probably a vegan option in the works. I agree with guillotine, you won’t feel it, just second or two of confusion when head falls in basket. And I believe should be carried out in week, not 20 years.”
In another he said, “Lethal injection can burn like crazy in your veins if the first drug administered to knock you out doesn’t work, which is 50-50 shot. No violence to you, but you will feel serious pain in your veins and Convulsions. So lethal injection is best for those viewing, but not for the person its happening to. I would prefer firing squad, although just to be spiteful I would almost ask for electric chair since while brutal, it will leave one hell of a nightmare in most who watch it, so I would live forever in their minds. Come for the show, leave with PTSD and night tremors. Condemned clothing and area around him is all black, so no one even registers the blood since curtain is closed once shots are made.”
In another email, Kohlhepp says, “playtime is over. This one is also taking the firing squad, protest against lethal injection, not that anyone’s cares. Not sure who is next, but I’m sure it won’t be long before another one is up to bat. Each one before had protesters out front and at statehouse, why oh why does kohlhepp get life for 7 and everyone else had only one or two and they get death? Because I’m a Todd (expletive).
On life in prison: “Everyone hard core gangsta badasses until someone says you get to bunk with a SK, then the crying begins. Of the 18, they put some real trash in with me ( sacrificial goat anyone? ) just to see what would happen. I never touched one, mostly their own fears got the best of them. Self proclaimed Killas suddenly all about telling me how they are not about “that life”, is it safe for me to sleep here? Life isn’t safe, but that bunk is as safe as any other, all depends on you cupcake. No tats, no gang affiliation, no prison name to inspire fear, no angry man attitude. I’m a realtor who doesn’t put up with thieves and slimeballs, nothing more than that.”
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