A South Carolina man who kept a young woman chained inside a metal shipping crate after killing her boyfriend has pleaded guilty to murdering seven people.

According to 11 Alive, Todd Kohlhepp, a former real estate agent, pleaded guilty to 14 charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault, along with the seven murder charges.

As Crime Online previously reported, Kohlhepp held Kala Brown captive after he shot and killed her boyfriend, Chris Carver. The couple had gone to Kohlepp’s property in rural South Carolina in August of last year, believing they were reporting for a cleaning job.

Brown told Dr. Phil that kept her chained inside a dark metal crate, occasionally taking her out for walks. She said that he raped her on a daily basis.

After authorities traced a cell phone signal to Kohlhepp’s property and went there to search for the couple, Brown reportedly banged on the crate to get their attention. After she was rescued, Kohlhepp led authorities to Chris Carver’s body and the bodies of additional victims, telling police that he had killed seven people.

As part of the plea deal, Kohlhepp will avoid the death penalty. He will serve seven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Photo: Spartenburg County Sheriff