Man accused of holding 4 people captive in his S.C. basement is now accused of murder

A South Carolina man previously accused of holding four adults in his basement for years and stealing their money is now accused of murder in connection with the death of one of the women this year

A South Carolina man previously accused of holding four adults in his basement for years and stealing their money is now accused of murder in connection with the death of one of the women this year.

Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr., 35, faces the additional charge in the killing of Shirley Arnsdorff, 49, after investigators discovered what the Lancaster Police Department described as unspecified “evidence.”

“This is a heartbreaking case that has profoundly impacted our community,” Lancaster Police Chief Don Roper said in a statement last week. “The Lancaster Police Department is dedicated to achieving justice for the victim and her family. We extend our sincerest condolences to the victim’s family and hope that we can bring them some peace through justice.”

Birchfield, who was previously charged with multiple counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, false imprisonment, abuse of a vulnerable adult, domestic violence and financial crimes, is being held without bond at the Lancaster County Detention Center, jail records show.

His lawyer, Ryan Payne, said in an email Tuesday that Birchfield maintains his innocence and looks “forward to litigating this case in the court system where facts, evidence, and the rule of law matter.”