"Good Will Triumph Over Evil": Todd Kohlhepp Pleads Guilty, WSPA 7 News at Noon, 2017
WSPA's noon newscast from May 26, 2017, as Todd Kohlhepp's plea hearing ended in seven consecutive life sentences, including Melissa Ponder's statement to the court. Kohlhepp is not heard.
- Subject
- Todd Kohlhepp
- Recorded
- May 26, 2017
- Runtime
- 3:19
Content warning: Concerns seven murders, a kidnapping and a sexual assault; no graphic detail.
The Report
This is a 3-minute-19-second segment of WSPA's "7 News at Noon," posted by the Spartanburg, South Carolina, station on its own channel on May 26, 2017, as Todd Kohlhepp's plea hearing was ending. Kohlhepp is not heard. The speakers are the WSPA anchor, Rachelle Spence, reporter Vanessa (surname not verified), live outside the courthouse, and Melissa Ponder, whose husband Scott was one of the four people killed at Superbike Motorsports in 2003, in a recorded excerpt of her statement in court.
Historical Context
On November 3, 2016, Kala Brown was found chained inside a storage container on Todd Kohlhepp's property in Spartanburg County; he was arrested the same day. He admitted to the 2003 killings of four people at Superbike Motorsports in Chesnee, and the bodies of Charlie Carver, Brown's boyfriend, and of Johnny and Meagan Coxie were found on his land.
Circumstances
On May 26, 2017, under a plea agreement in which the death penalty was withdrawn, Kohlhepp pleaded guilty to seven murders, two kidnappings, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and weapons charges, and was sentenced to seven consecutive life terms plus 60 years, waiving appeal and parole. Victims' relatives addressed him in court before sentence.
What the Report Covers
The anchor reports the plea over a live courtroom view: seven consecutive life sentences "without the possibility of parole or possibility of appeal." The reporter describes the morning's statements: some relatives said they would never forgive Kohlhepp, and one called him evil. Melissa Ponder tells the court, "There truly isn't justice when an individual is murdered," says she is grateful that Kala Brown was found alive, "for without that, I would still be in the dark," and closes, "Ultimately, good will triumph over evil." The anchor recaps the sentence as seven life terms plus 30 years for sexual assault and 30 years for kidnapping.
What Makes the Recording Significant
It is same-day local coverage of the plea, with in-court audio of a victim impact statement by the widow of one of the Superbike Motorsports victims, whose case had gone unsolved for 13 years.
Archival Importance
It is one of two WSPA records from May 26, 2017, with the station's raw news conference after the sentencing.
Important Caveats
Kohlhepp is not heard. The reporter's surname is not verified. One phrase in Melissa Ponder's statement is unclear in both machine sources. The YouTube title misspells the name as "Kohlehepp."
Wspa Anchor: Now at noon, Todd Kohlhepp pleads guilty to killing seven people. We have team coverage with reporters inside and outside the courtroom. Our Vanessa [unclear: "de la Vina" / "deia"] has been there all morning. She has reaction from the victims' families.
Announcer: Live from the news station, this is 7 News at Noon.
Rachelle Spence: Thanks for joining us. I'm Rachelle Spence. Breaking news: this is a live look from inside the Spartanburg County courtroom. That's where Todd Kohlhepp has pleaded guilty to killing seven people. This was all part of a plea deal, taking the death penalty off the table. Instead, he now faces seven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole or possibility of appeal. 7 News reporter Vanessa [unclear: "de la Vina" / "deia"] has been outside that courtroom all morning. She joins us now live with the latest. Vanessa?
Vanessa: Yeah, Rachelle, we are outside the courthouse here, where you can see behind me. This is where we're expecting them to bring Todd Kohlhepp out of that courtroom in just a few minutes here, now that that hearing is wrapping up. But it was an emotional day for the families of Kohlhepp's victims as they finally saw justice served for their loved ones. Let's give you a look inside that courtroom from earlier this morning. It was a packed courtroom as they finally got the chance to tell Kohlhepp how he changed their lives forever. Mothers and fathers shared tearful stories of never seeing their loved ones again, and children whose parents would never see them grow up. And some said they would never forgive Kohlhepp. Others said they hated him, and one even called him evil. Melissa Ponder, the widow of Scott Ponder, who was killed at Superbike Motorsports, said she's been through, quote, "a living hell" since the brutal murders in 2003.
Melissa Ponder Brackman: There truly isn't justice when an individual is murdered, due to the finality of such an act. I'm grateful that Kala Brown was found alive, for without that, I would still be in the dark. At least now we can semi-close this chapter of our lives and truly start healing. There is no closure when you lose a loved one, or loved ones in my case, but I do feel peace in knowing that we have an answer and [unclear: "you can show me" / "we consider me"] the individual responsible for the tremendous amount of damage. Ultimately, good will triumph over evil. I thank God for a nation who does not allow evil to walk the streets. God has put his finger on this. God has put [a] period on it.
Vanessa: Now, while nothing can bring back the loved ones that these families have lost, they say they're thankful that Kala Brown survived and brought them the answers that they have been desperate for for a long time. [unclear: "Live in Spartanburg" / "In Lyman, Spartanburg"], Vanessa [unclear: "de la Vina" / "deavia"], 7 News.
Rachelle Spence: So powerful, hearing those victims' loved ones at the stand. Vanessa, thank you. One more time, here's what we know so far: Todd Kohlhepp has pleaded guilty to seven counts of murder, plus 30 years for sexual assault and an additional 30 years for kidnapping. That means he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. He accepted a plea deal, taking the death penalty off the table. We will, of course, continue our team coverage on WSPA.com and also through the 7 News app that is available [clip ends mid-sentence]. [03:19: clip ends.] ---