South Carolina man accused of holding 4 susceptible adults captive in his basement charged with homicide

A South Carolina man accused of holding 4 susceptible adults captive in his basement – together with one for no less than 10 years – has been charged with homicide after one in all them was discovered useless.

Donnie Birchfield Jr., 36, has been charged with the homicide of 49-year-old Shirley Arnsdorff, one of many 4 folks allegedly held in opposition to her will in his basement.

Police responded to a name on July 25 {that a} lady had died at a house on Churchill Drive within the metropolis of Lancaster, about 50 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Police haven’t revealed how she died.

On the scene, police found Arnsdorff’s physique, together with three different adults allegedly being held within the basement. One in every of them had been held captive for no less than 10 years, police stated.

Birchfield can be accused of stealing his victims’ debit playing cards to make purchases for himself.

Arnsdorff’s sister-in-law, who would solely be recognized by her first title, informed WBTV that her brother, Arnsdorff’s husband, was additionally held captive and had been lacking for the reason that Covid-19 pandemic.

“I’m lastly glad that extra expenses are being placed on him or no matter… however I’m simply prepared for all this to be over with,” Terisa informed the outlet.

“I actually can’t put into phrases. For anyone who lives round Lancaster to pay attention to your environment, to pay attention to who your mates are or supposedly your mates are,” Terisa added.

Lancaster Police Chief Don Roper described the case as “heartbreaking” throughout a information convention final week.

“The Lancaster Police Division is devoted to reaching justice for the sufferer and her household,” Roper stated. “We lengthen our sincerest condolences to the sufferer’s household and hope that we will deliver them some peace by justice. We encourage anybody with additional data to return ahead and help us on this ongoing investigation.”

Birchfield is accused of holding the susceptible married couple and two girls with whom he was concerned romantically locked within the basement.

Every of the victims was allegedly held in opposition to their will and denied entry to meals, water, treatment and the skin world. Birchfield even managed when the victims ate and used the toilet, based on WBTV.

He allegedly had “romantic/intimate relationships” with the 2 of the ladies, one for a yr and the opposite for almost 10 years, based on authorities.

Data, obtained by WBTV, confirmed that one lady reportedly stated Birchfield informed her he was “going to kill her…” and that he “is aware of the right way to eliminate a physique from previous expertise.”

Over the course of three years, starting in September 2022, Birchfield made dozens of purchases for himself utilizing the debit playing cards and checking account numbers related to the victims – even paying off his personal bank card debt with their cash, police stated.

M. Ryan Payne, a lawyer for Birchfield, informed WBTV his workplace is investigating the matter.

“My consumer maintains his innocence within the case and you will need to bear in mind that he’s presumed harmless of those allegations. We look ahead to litigating this case within the court docket system the place details, proof, and the rule of regulation matter. We can have no additional remark at the moment,” Payne stated.

Birchfield was arrested on August 2 and faces a slew of expenses along with the homicide cost. They embrace:

• 4 counts of exploitation of a susceptible grownup

• 4 counts of false imprisonment

• Two counts of home violence excessive and aggravated nature

• Two counts of abuse of a susceptible grownup

• Two counts of monetary transaction card theft

• One rely of transaction card fraud

• One rely of monetary identification fraud