Man Who Allegedly Kept 4 Vulnerable Adults Locked in His Basement for Years Is Accused of Murdering 1 Victim By KC Baker

A South Carolina man accused of holding four vulnerable adults in his basement for years and spending their money is now charged with murder in connection with the death of one of his alleged captives, authorities say.

On Friday, Oct. 17, Lancaster Police Chief Don Roper announced at a news conference streamed on Facebook that Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr., 35, is charged with murder in connection with the death of Shirley Arnsdorff, 49, of Lancaster.

He is also charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The case is being prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, NBC News reports.

The charges stem from July 25, when police were called to Birchfield’s home in Lancaster for a report of a death and found Arnsdorff lying on the floor and unresponsive, Roper said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Arnsdorff died on July 24, but her death was reported the following day, police allege.

During the follow-up investigation, detectives “developed evidence of a crime” and obtained warrants for Birchfield’s arrest, Roper alleged.

Birchfield was taken into custody on Aug. 1 and charged with two counts neglect of a vulnerable adult and four counts of false imprisonment.

He was also charged with four counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, financial fraud, false imprisonment and domestic violence, per the Lancaster County Detention Center. 

Detectives continued investigating, and on Friday, Oct. 17, obtained warrants for the new charges, Roper said.

When authorities came to Birchfield’s home on July 25, they learned he was allegedly the sole caregiver to Arnsdorff and her husband, police said, WSOC-TV 9, WBTV and Local 12 reported. 

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Investigators allegedly found evidence of physical abuse and a lack of adequate medical treatment, according to warrants obtained by WSOC-TV.

Authorities soon discovered other people they believed were being held against their will at Birchfield’s home, where he allegedly controlled their eating, bathroom habits, and communications, according to the warrants.

Arnsdorff and her husband were above the age of 18, but, as vulnerable adults, were unable to take care of themselves, according to Local 12. Two other captives were women who had allegedly been romantically involved with Birchfield, the outlet reported. 

One of the women is believed to have been at the house since September 2024 and the other since 2015.

Police allege that he would use his victims’ money to shop at Walmart and pay down his debts. In 2025, he allegedly spent $11,800 from the vulnerable couple’s bank account to pay off credit card loans, per Local 12.

He remains held without bond at the Lancaster County Detention Center on these charges.

His attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.