South Carolina Army Recruiter Convicted of Wife’s Murder After Teen Lover Helped Him Flee
SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — A former U.S. Army recruiter who once held a respected role in the Upstate community is now serving life without parole after being convicted of murdering his wife and going on the run with a teenage girl.
From Recruiter to Abuser
In 2014, John Blauvelt was known around Simpsonville schools as a recruiter who wore his uniform proudly and spoke of deployments in Iraq. That same year he married Catherine “Cati” Boyter, a 20-year-old with a bright personality who dreamed of starting a family.
The marriage unraveled quickly. Within months, Boyter confided to her mother that Blauvelt had pulled a gun on her and threatened her family. She moved back home and sought a restraining order.
Murder in Honea Path
On October 23, 2016, Boyter, then 22, left her job at a pet store but never made it home. The next day, her body was found in the basement of an abandoned farmhouse. She had been stabbed multiple times, her body shoved into a concrete box.
A knife blade was still lodged in her neck. Investigators quickly turned suspicion toward Blauvelt, who showed little concern when told of her death.
Teen Lover Involved
By then, Blauvelt had been secretly involved with 17-year-old Hannah Thompson, a girl he met through recruiting work. She was discovered staying at his home earlier that year, leading to charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
When police moved to question him after Boyter’s murder, Blauvelt fled with Thompson in his red GMC Yukon. They were spotted on CCTV across Texas and New Mexico, evading capture for weeks. Thompson later admitted Blauvelt told her he killed Cati “for them.”
Arrest and Trial
Blauvelt lived under the alias Ben Klein in Oregon for nearly six years until U.S. Marshals arrested him in July 2022. A distinctive pirate tattoo and fingerprints confirmed his identity.
At his 2024 trial, Thompson testified against him, saying he confessed to stabbing Cati in the neck and covering her blood with dirt. The jury convicted him of murder, and he was sentenced to life without parole.
Awaiting Accountability
Thompson faces her own trial on five felony counts, including obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact. Prosecutors said she received no leniency deal, despite testifying against Blauvelt.
This tragic case highlights how domestic violence, manipulation, and abuse of power can spiral into deadly consequences — leaving families searching for justice years later.
Do you think South Carolina should expand early-warning protections for domestic violence victims to prevent tragedies like this? Share your thoughts with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
