A pastor’s son kept four people including a married couple in his basement for years and was only exposed after the wife died, authorities said.
Donnie Ray Birchfield, Jr., age 35, has been charged with a total of 16 offenses, including false imprisonment, abuse of a vulnerable adult, and domestic violence according to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
Authorities claim that Birchfield imposed physical abuse on the victims, dictated their bathroom breaks, took control over their cellphones, and stole their money.
The investigation into Birchfield began on July 25 following the death of a woman at his home on Churchill Drive in Lancaster, located about 50 miles from the Charlotte metro area.
The 3,751-square-foot home was built in 1996 and was last sold for $200,000 in 2022.
Police were called to respond to an ‘unattended death’ and, according to court documents, found evidence that the woman had been physically abused.
It is alleged that the woman was also deprived of food and medical attention. Law enforcement officials determined she had died the previous day, as noted in police warrants.
The other occupants of the basement were her husband and two women who were romantically involved with Birchfield, according to the police.
Donnie Ray Birchfield is accused of keeping four people – including a married couple – in his basement for years
Donnie Ray Birchfield, Jr., 35, faces 16 charges in total
The woman who died and her husband were vulnerable adults, warrants said.
Birchfield was allegedly their sole caregiver, but it is unknown how he knew the couple.
Donnie Birchfield, his father, is a pastor at the Friendship Baptist Church in Lancaster.
During the investigation, police found evidence that the deceased woman and three other individuals were held against their will in Birchfield’s basement, according to records referenced by The Post and Courier.
The other two women were allegedly in romantic relationships with Birchfield, per court documents.
One had allegedly lived with him since September 2024, and the other had been at his Lancaster residence since 2015.
Birchfield allegedly only allowed his captives to leave the basement when he desired, per the warrants.
Court records showed Birchfield’s home address as 425 Churchill Drive
Birchfield was arrested on August 1 and booked into jail the following day
He is currently being held without bail at the Lancaster County Detention Center
‘That’s a sick individual right there,’ neighbor Darryl Evans told WSOC-TV.
‘He’s a sick person to do something like that.’
The South Carolina man is also accused of financial crimes.
Police claim that he paid off multiple credit cards using more than $11,800 from the couple’s bank account.
He also allegedly used credit and debit cards to pay for at least $2,000 in Walmart purchases.
The multitude of charges against Birchfield includes four counts of false imprisonment, four counts of exploiting a vulnerable adult, two counts of abusing a vulnerable adult, two counts of domestic violence, and four counts of committing financial fraud.
He was arrested on August 1 – and booked on August 2 at 2.38am, Lancaster County records showed.
Birchfield is being held without bail at the Lancaster County Detention Center. Police are still investigating.
