SC - Man kept 4 vulnerable adults captive in his basement for 10 years while he spent their money - Lancaster, 2015

[scapa]

Apologies if already posted -- did a few site searches but nothing came up. Just read this in my early-morning Guardian. Not many details yet, but charges have been upgraded from the original arrest date in August:

Birchfield was arrested on 1 August, and initially charged with multiple counts of false imprisonment, exploitation of a vulnerable adult, domestic violence, neglect of a vulnerable adult, financial transaction card theft and financial identity fraud. Authorities have now added the murder charge and one count of criminal sexual conduct.

Edit: Should have said "kept captive" but followed original article...

US man accused of keeping four adults in basement also faces murder charges

South Carolina man is now charged with murder of 49-year-old woman, as well as criminal sexual conduct

www.theguardian.com

 

[angelainwi]

Apologies if already posted -- did a few site searches but nothing came up. Just read this in my early-morning Guardian. Not many details yet, but charges have been upgraded from the original arrest date in August:

Birchfield was arrested on 1 August, and initially charged with multiple counts of false imprisonment, exploitation of a vulnerable adult, domestic violence, neglect of a vulnerable adult, financial transaction card theft and financial identity fraud. Authorities have now added the murder charge and one count of criminal sexual conduct.

Edit: Should have said "kept captive" but followed original article...

US man accused of keeping four adults in basement also faces murder charges

South Carolina man is now charged with murder of 49-year-old woman, as well as criminal sexual conduct

www.theguardian.com

There is a thread on this already. Let me see if I can find it...

E

Post in thread 'SC - Man kept 4 vulnerable adults captive in his basement for 10 years while he spent their money - Lancaster, 2015'

Sep 26, 2025

Interesting article.

Who is Donnie Birchfield Jr? Pastor’s son accused over captives in basement

A South Carolina pastor’s son has been charged with imprisoning four adults in his basement.

www.newsweek.com

• Eli9

• 

 

[arielilane]

A South Carolina man previously accused of holding four adults in his basement for years and stealing their money is now accused of murder in connection with the death of one of the women this year.

Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr., 35, faces the additional charge in the killing of Shirley Arnsdorff, 49, after investigators discovered what the Lancaster Police Department described as unspecified “evidence.”

Man accused of holding 4 people captive in his S.C. basement is now accused of murder

Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr. was previously charged with multiple counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult and other crimes. He is now accused of killing one of the alleged victims.

www.nbcnews.com

10/21/2025


The warrants say Birchfield denied the alleged victims food and medical treatment, controlled their cellphones and bathroom access and cut them off from the outside world.

 

[arielilane]

Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr. is facing 16 more charges, including multiple counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult and false imprisonment.

In addition to 16 other counts, Birchfield is now being charged with the murder of 49-year-old Shirley Arnsdorff. WBTV spoke to people in Lancaster who said they want to see all four victims get justice.

Sister of 1 of 4 adults held captive in basement in Lancaster County says her brother was missing since COVID

The sister of one of the four adults held captive in a basement in Lancaster County said her brother as been missing since COVID.

www.wbtv.com

10/21/2025

 

[arielilane]

“My client maintains his innocence in the case and it is important to remember that he is presumed innocent of these allegations. We look forward to litigating this case in the court system where facts, evidence, and the rule of law matter. We will have no further comment at this time,” Payne said.

Birchfield was arrested on August 2 and faces a slew of charges in addition to the murder charge. They include:

• Four counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult
• Four counts of false imprisonment
• Two counts of domestic violence high and aggravated nature
• Two counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult
• Two counts of financial transaction card theft
• One count of transaction card fraud
• One count of financial identity fraud

South Carolina man accused of keeping 4 vulnerable adults captive charged with murder

Donnie Birchfield Jr. has been charged with the murder of 49-year-old Shirley Arnsdorff

www.the-independent.com

Oct. 21

 

[NervousNellie]

A South Carolina man previously accused of holding four adults in his basement for years and stealing their money is now accused of murder in connection with the death of one of the women this year.

Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr., 35, faces the additional charge in the killing of Shirley Arnsdorff, 49, after investigators discovered what the Lancaster Police Department described as unspecified “evidence.”

Man accused of holding 4 people captive in his S.C. basement is now accused of murder

Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr. was previously charged with multiple counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult and other crimes. He is now accused of killing one of the alleged victims.

www.nbcnews.com

10/21/2025


The warrants say Birchfield denied the alleged victims food and medical treatment, controlled their cellphones and bathroom access and cut them off from the outside world.

I wonder why the NBC article here doesn’t also mention the additional charge that dropped with the murder charge? It was criminal sexual conduct. The other charge added at the same time as the murder charge is criminal sexual conduct. Why does NBC ignore that?

 

[arielilane]

Interesting article.

Who is Donnie Birchfield Jr? Pastor’s son accused over captives in basement

A South Carolina pastor’s son has been charged with imprisoning four adults in his basement.

www.newsweek.com

Two quotes from the article:

He reportedly lived in his family home on Churchill Drive with his parents, according to the Daily Mail.

-- With his parents! Seriously?
-- A victim weighed around 70 lbs.


Terisa Hinson, the sister of the man found in the basement, told WSOC-TV her brother was emaciated and weighed around 70 pounds when he was discovered.

 

[arielilane]

I wonder why the NBC article here doesn’t also mention the additional charge that dropped with the murder charge? It was criminal sexual conduct. The other charge added at the same time as the murder charge is criminal sexual conduct. Why does NBC ignore that?

Thanks for bringing that up. I didnt notice that, getting familiar with this horrible case.

I am going through the dockets right now.

 

[NervousNellie]

Apologies for another post, but IIRC, these latest articles are the first we have learned the decedent‘s name.

 

[NervousNellie]

Thanks for bringing that up. I didnt notice that, getting familiar with this horrible case.

I am going through the dockets right now.

The next article you shared includes that right up front.

Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr. is facing 16 more charges, including multiple counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult and false imprisonment.

In addition to 16 other counts, Birchfield is now being charged with the murder of 49-year-old Shirley Arnsdorff. WBTV spoke to people in Lancaster who said they want to see all four victims get justice.

Sister of 1 of 4 adults held captive in basement in Lancaster County says her brother was missing since COVID

The sister of one of the four adults held captive in a basement in Lancaster County said her brother as been missing since COVID.

www.wbtv.com

10/21/2025

“A Lancaster County man is accused of keeping four vulnerable adults in the basement of a home on Churchill Drive is now facing additional murder and first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges.”

 

[arielilane]

Format does not display properly.
Here is link:

https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Lancaster/PublicIndex/PISearch.aspx

There are several charges.
Pending/initial appearance

The State of South Carolina VS Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr

Birchfield, Donnie Ray Jr

425 Churchill Rd Lancaster SC 29720

White

M

1990

Defendant

08/11/2025

Arrest Date:

08/01/2025

Name	Charge Code - Charge Description	Original Charge Code - Original Charge	Disposition Date
Birchfield, Donnie Ray Jr	2655-Abuse / Abuse of vulnerable adult	2655-Abuse / Abuse of vulnerable adult

 

[arielilane]

-- On August 1, DRB Jr., 35, was arrested on this date in Lancaster, SC, by LE due to a death
investigation of Shirley Arnsdorff, 49, who was found unresponsive at his home on July 25, 2025.

-- Initial charges included:
Four counts each of false imprisonment and exploitation of a vulnerable adult
Two counts each of abuse of a vulnerable adult and domestic violence, plus financial transaction card theft and financial identity fraud.

-- It is alleged he held four vulnerable adults captive in his basement for years; and denied them food, medical care, and access to phones all the while stealing their money.

-- On October 17, 2025, he faced an additional murder charge in SA's death (ruled a homicide), along with 1st degree criminal sexual conduct. He remains held without bond at the Lancaster County Detention Center.

From linked articles and linked Lancaster courthouse docs

 

[nhmemorymaker]

-- On August 1, DRB Jr., 35, was arrested on this date in Lancaster, SC, by LE due to a death
investigation of Shirley Arnsdorff, 49, who was found unresponsive at his home on July 25, 2025.

-- Initial charges included:
Four counts each of false imprisonment and exploitation of a vulnerable adult
Two counts each of abuse of a vulnerable adult and domestic violence, plus financial transaction card theft and financial identity fraud.

-- It is alleged he held four vulnerable adults captive in his basement for years; and denied them food, medical care, and access to phones all the while stealing their money.

-- On October 17, 2025, he faced an additional murder charge in SA's death (ruled a homicide), along with 1st degree criminal sexual conduct. He remains held without bond at the Lancaster County Detention Center.

From linked articles and linked Lancaster courthouse docs

whoa... this is horrible.
I just don't understand the full family connections here...
There seem to be some contentious disagreements of what is being published????
so far, its just confusing me...
Do keep us updated @arielilane !!

 

[Megnut]

“My client maintains his innocence in the case and it is important to remember that he is presumed innocent of these allegations. We look forward to litigating this case in the court system where facts, evidence, and the rule of law matter. We will have no further comment at this time,” Payne said.

Birchfield was arrested on August 2 and faces a slew of charges in addition to the murder charge. They include:

• Four counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult
• Four counts of false imprisonment
• Two counts of domestic violence high and aggravated nature
• Two counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult
• Two counts of financial transaction card theft
• One count of transaction card fraud
• One count of financial identity fraud

South Carolina man accused of keeping 4 vulnerable adults captive charged with murder

Donnie Birchfield Jr. has been charged with the murder of 49-year-old Shirley Arnsdorff

www.the-independent.com

Oct. 21

To his attorney, presumption of it is the only place he's any kind of innocent. Get thee to trial and a verdict yesterday. House of hell and horror. Let him haunt the bowels of some forgotten prison.

JMO

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Woman reunites with brother after he was found held captive in Lancaster basement

“I want to know why. Why them?"

www.wsoctv.com

the above article is heartbreaking..but hopeful.
A sister had been looking for her brother for YEARS.. had put in a missing person report.

“He really didn’t say anything because he was still in trauma and shock,” she said. “(He) walked out the room and busted out crying because it was just so heartbreaking.”

She said her brother has a developmental disability, but he was very independent and lived on his own until a few years ago when he disappeared.

 

[NervousNellie]

To his attorney, presumption of it is the only place he's any kind of innocent. Get thee to trial and a verdict yesterday. House of hell and horror. Let him haunt the bowels of some forgotten prison.

JMO

And his family that lived upstairs.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

MURDER CHARGES!!

Man previously accused of holding 4 adults in Lancaster County basement now facing murder charge

The new charge comes months after a woman was found dead inside a Lancaster house.

www.wbtv.com

Just noticed how this case "jumped a month forward" with the murder charges...
One has to think.... how many of these captive/control situations are out there... getting control of SS payments and bank accounts.