Pastor's son accused of imprisoning four people in basement until death exposed the case
Lancaster, S.C., man faces 16 counts including false imprisonment and exploitation of a vulnerable adult, authorities say
A South Carolina man faces 16 charges after authorities say he kept four people—including a married couple—in his basement for years until the death of one woman exposed the alleged abuse. Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr., 35, is charged with four counts of false imprisonment, four counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, two counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult, two counts of domestic violence, and four counts of financial fraud, according to the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. Prosecutors say Birchfield lived at a residence on Churchill Drive in Lancaster, a city about 50 miles from the Charlotte metro area.
Police opened the investigation July 25 after a woman died at the home in Lancaster. Responding officers found evidence that she had been physically abused and had been denied food and medical care; authorities determined she died one day earlier. The other occupants of the basement were her husband and two women who were romantically involved with Birchfield. Court records describe the home as a 3,751-square-foot house built in 1996 and last sold for $200,000 in 2022.
Birchfield is the son of a local pastor and is accused of keeping the four people captive in his basement for years, allowing them to leave only when he desired. Authorities allege he physically abused the victims, determined when they would use the bathroom, controlled their cellphones and stole their money.
The woman who died and the husband were described as vulnerable adults, and warrants indicate Birchfield was their sole caregiver, though it is not known how he came to know the couple. A neighbor told WSOC-TV that Birchfield’s conduct was “sick.”
In addition to the confinement and abuse allegations, police claim Birchfield used the couple’s money for personal expenses, paying off more than $11,800 in credit cards and charging at least $2,000 in Walmart purchases with their cards. The total charges against Birchfield span four counts of false imprisonment, four counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, two counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult, two counts of domestic violence, and four counts of financial fraud.
Birchfield was arrested August 1 and booked into jail the following day. He is being held without bail at the Lancaster County Detention Center, and police say the investigation remains ongoing. Officials with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office said they are continuing to review evidence related to the case.