Daijiworld Media Network - Lancaster

Lancaster, Oct 18: A South Carolina man accused of keeping four vulnerable adults captive in his basement and stealing thousands of dollars from some of them has now been charged with murder and first-degree criminal sexual conduct, officials said.

Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr., 35, was charged on Friday, October 17, in connection with the death of 49-year-old Shirley Arnsdorff, the Lancaster Police Department announced. Arnsdorff died on July 24, and her death, reported the following day, prompted a deeper investigation that led to Birchfield being charged in August with offenses including false imprisonment, aggravated domestic violence, financial fraud, and abuse of a vulnerable adult. Birchfield was arrested on August 1 and is currently held without bond at the Lancaster County Detention Center.

Birchfield’s defense attorney, Ryan Payne, said the accused maintains his innocence. “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,” Payne stated.

According to Lancaster police, a 911 call around 11:45 a.m. on July 25 reported an “unattended death” at a home in Lancaster, approximately 66 miles north of Columbia. Officers found Arnsdorff unresponsive on the floor, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators soon discovered evidence of criminal activity.

Court documents indicate Birchfield’s alleged crimes date back to May 2021. His victims included two women he was dating, a man under his care, and Arnsdorff, the man’s wife. Authorities discovered that Birchfield had been the sole caretaker for multiple adults considered “vulnerable,” as defined under South Carolina law—persons aged 18 and above with physical or mental conditions preventing self-care.

Birchfield is accused of confining the four victims in the basement against their will, assaulting the two women, controlling their restroom access, and threatening one woman with death and harm to her family. He is also alleged to have stolen at least $12,881 from one victim, making over 30 transactions with the money.

Lancaster Police Chief Don Roper described the case as “heartbreaking” and assured that the department is committed to achieving justice for the victim and her family. Authorities continue to investigate, with involvement from Lancaster Police, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit, and the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.