SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Federal agents want to know how a convicted kidnapper who became a serial killer in South Carolina managed to collect an arsenal of weapons.
[ORIGINAL STORY: Body found on SC property where woman chained inside container for 2 months]
Todd Kohlhepp was convicted as a teenager of raping his 14-year-old neighbor at gunpoint in Arizona. That made it illegal for him to buy guns after he got out of prison.
(NOTE: Channel 9 has made the decision to not show video of Kala Brown rescued, chained to the wall)
He was arrested last fall after deputies rescued a missing woman chained up inside a shipping container on his rural property. In exchange for a life sentence, he ultimately pleaded guilty to killing seven people as well as kidnapping and raping the woman.
Now The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg is reporting, based on documents and video released by prosecutors, that agents with the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are investigating a trove of weapons on his properties, including dozens of guns and pallets full of ammunition.
Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said investigators think Kohlhepp illegally acquired most of the weapons through straw purchases.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Inmate details 4 SC prison killings: 'I did it for nothing'
- Suspect arrested after overnight shooting at south Charlotte motel
- Man accused of holding Charlotte teen captive denied bond
- VIDEO: Keith Monday's Tuesday forecast outlook
- Review board to hear Keith Scott family's appeal in deadly shooting
- EXCLUSIVE: It's a miracle, Hailey Burns' parents say