Pastor and wife under scrutiny as son faces 16 charges after four held in basement in Lancaster, S.C.

A Lancaster, S.C., investigation has unveiled a case authorities describe as long-running and, to some relatives, unthinkable: a son living in the same residence as his parents allegedly kept four people captive in a basement for years, culminating in the death of one of the captives.

Donnie Birchfield Jr., 35, was arrested after police found four people confined in the basement of a 3,751-square-foot home on a tree-lined street in Lancaster. He faces 16 charges, including exploitation of a vulnerable adult, false imprisonment, abuse of a vulnerable adult, domestic violence and related financial offenses. Police say two younger women — each described in warrants as being in romantic relationships with Birchfield — were also living in the basement with him. The home is occupied by Birchfield Jr.’s father, Donnie Birchfield Sr., who is the pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church in Lancaster, and his wife Wynette. The family’s living arrangements and the allegations against Birchfield Jr. have prompted questions about how much the parents may have known about conditions inside their home.

The four victims reportedly endured extreme deprivation and isolation. Terisa Hinson, the sister of one of the emaciated victims, described Alvin Arnsdoff, 55, and his wife Shirley, 49, as being kept in deplorable conditions for years, with Shirley dying in July during the period under investigation. Arnsdoff, who was adopted into Hinson’s family, was found in an advanced state of emaciation, weighing about 70 pounds when officers located him shortly after his wife’s death. Hinson told the Daily Mail that the victims were kept in a tent inside the basement, forced to use a bucket for a bathroom, denied medical care, and deprived of food and money. She said Birchfield Jr. “denied them food” and “stole their money,” and that she would use any legal means to seek accountability for all involved, including Birchfield Sr. and Wynette.

The arrestee’s family members publicly disputed the allegations. Pastor Birchfield told the Daily Mail that the accusations are “not true” and suggested that the reporting had twisted facts. He declined further comment, saying only that the information in arrest warrants was partially distorted by the press. Wynette Birchfield similarly offered a cautious public stance, reposting a social-media message urging readers to consider that “not everything you read or hear – even in the news – is always the full truth.” The statements reflect a family effort to frame the proceedings as an ongoing dispute over incomplete or misrepresented information, even as investigators pursue a wide-ranging inquiry.

The warrants outline a pattern of control and abuse. Birchfield Jr. is alleged to have forced the victims to stay in the residence at all times, accompany him when they left, and forego basic needs such as sanitation and medical care. In one account, a victim was told she could leave only if Birchfield Jr. accompanied her; in another, he controlled phone usage and often prevented communications with friends or family. The warrants also allege violent assaults and daily or near-daily abuse directed at the younger women, including threats to harm them or their families and statements implying that Birchfield Jr. knew how to dispose of a body based on past experience.

In addition to the confinement and abuse charges, Birchfield Jr. faces four counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, four counts of false imprisonment, two counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult, two counts of domestic violence, and four financial charges related to alleged misuse of the victims’ finances. Prosecutors say it was possible the four captives’ funds were diverted to cover debts and purchases, with police reporting withdrawals and charges executed in the victims’ names. Investigators have not released a timeline for when the alleged victim deaths occurred relative to the initial confinement, but the death of Shirley Arnsdoff is cited in available materials as a key turning point in the investigation.

Birchfield Sr. and Wynette have not been charged, and authorities say the investigation remains active. Lancaster Police Department spokeswoman Erin Tindal said investigators are not releasing additional information beyond incident reports at this time and that authorities will coordinate any forthcoming updates with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. The Office has indicated that a formal release will be issued as investigations progress, but no timetable was provided.

The allegations have drawn immediate scrutiny from relatives and community members who knew the Birchfield family in the small city of Lancaster. Terisa Hinson said she is seeking accountability from the entire family and emphasized that “you cannot have four people in your house for years and not know something.” She also voiced concern that the home’s clergy figure and his spouse may have had knowledge of, or responsibility for, the environment that allowed the alleged crimes to occur.

Local neighbors described the home as a long-standing fixture on the block, with the property occupying a lot that slopes to a potential additional living area and with a side of the house that suggested a separate living space beyond the main residence. The home’s size and layout appear to have accommodated the shared living arrangements described by Hinson and other relatives, though investigators have not disclosed whether the basement area functioned as a separate dwelling or simply as a concealed living space for the four captives.

The case has intensified questions about oversight of private residences and the role of family and church networks in safeguarding vulnerable adults. While the investigation continues, authorities have underscored that no conclusions have been drawn regarding the parents’ knowledge or involvement beyond what is already documented in arrest warrants and witness statements. Prosecutors and law enforcement officials said they will provide updates as new evidence becomes available and as the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office coordinates any public disclosures.

For now, Birchfield Jr. remains in custody at the Lancaster County Detention Center on a $150,000 bond, according to the sheriff’s office. The broader case, including the potential involvement of cohabiting family members and others connected to the residence, remains under active investigation as authorities seek to determine what happened, who was involved, and what steps should be taken to ensure such a situation cannot recur in the community.