US Man Holds 4 Adults Captive For 10 Years, Steals Their Life Savings, Arrested

A 35-year-old South Carolina man has been arrested for allegedly holding four adults captive in his Lancaster home's basement for more than ten years.

Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr reportedly controlled every aspect of his victims' lives, including when they could eat, sleep, and communicate, while simultaneously exploiting their finances for personal gain. The case came to light after authorities discovered one victim had died in his residence.

Police began investigating Birchfield Jr after finding an unreported death at his Lancaster property in July. While authorities confirmed he was the sole caretaker for the deceased woman and her husband, they remain uncertain about how he initially connected with his victims.

Local residents expressed shock at the revelations, with one neighbor describing Birchfield as "a sick person" for committing such acts.

Investigators are still determining the full duration of the captivity and how such prolonged abuse escaped detection.

The victims included two women who had previously dated Birchfield and a married couple classified as "vulnerable adults." One woman had reportedly been at the property since 2015, while another had been there since September 2024.

The woman who died on July 25 had allegedly suffered neglect, physical violence, and denied medical care for an extended period. Her death prompted the police investigation that uncovered the situation.

When officers arrived at Birchfield's residence, they discovered the remaining three victims still in captivity. The survivors described highly restrictive conditions where Birchfield dictated their daily activities and prevented any outside communication.

Beyond physical and psychological abuse, Birchfield allegedly stole his victims' financial resources. According to the indictment, he misappropriated approximately $12,000 from the couple's bank account over eight months to pay his personal bills. He also reportedly made numerous unauthorized transactions worth thousands of dollars at Walmart using their funds.

Birchfield Jr was taken into custody on August 1 and faces numerous charges including financial fraud, false imprisonment, domestic abuse, and exploitation of a vulnerable adult, according to Lancaster County Detention Centre records.

He is currently being held on $150,000 bond while authorities await additional medical and pathology test results that could lead to further charges.