A 35-year-old South Carolina man, Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr, has been arrested and charged with imprisoning four adults in the basement of his Lancaster home for more than ten years. Authorities say Birchfield controlled the victims’ eating, sleeping, and communication, while exploiting their finances for his own benefit.
The case came to light after police discovered an unreported death at Birchfield’s residence in July. The deceased victim, a woman, had suffered neglect, physical abuse, and denial of medical care over an extended period. Authorities confirmed Birchfield was the sole caregiver for the woman and her husband, although the exact nature of their relationship remains unclear.
Neighbors expressed shock over the revelation, with one calling Birchfield a “sick person” for his actions. Law enforcement continues to investigate how the abuse remained undetected for so long.
Among those held captive were two women who had dated Birchfield and a married couple identified as vulnerable adults. One woman had been living in the property since 2015, while the other arrived in September 2024.
When police arrived at the home, they found the remaining three victims under strict control, with Birchfield dictating their daily routines, including meals and bathroom use, and isolating them from outside contact.
In addition to physical and psychological abuse, Birchfield allegedly misappropriated the victims’ funds. According to court documents, he used approximately $12,000 from a couple’s bank account over eight months to pay his bills and made several large purchases at Walmart using their money.
Birchfield was taken into custody on August 1 and faces multiple charges including false imprisonment, financial fraud, domestic abuse, and exploitation of vulnerable adults. He is currently held at the Lancaster County Detention Centre as the investigation continues.
