A PASTOR’S son held four people captive in his “basement of horrors” with no access to food or water for up to 10 years, police say.
Donnie Birchfield Jr., 36, is accused of keeping a vulnerable married couple and two women in his terrifying basement in South Carolina.
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The two women who were allegedly held hostage were reportedly romantically involved with Birchfield before the relationship spiralled.
He was arrested on August 1 after cops raided his Lancaster home on Churchill Drive following reports a woman had died in the property.
Authorities discovered that the woman, who died one day before they arrived at the scene, had faced neglect and abuse.
Police probed the dead woman and the three other victims – before revealing one of them had been inside the basement for 10 years.
They were all held against their will and denied access to food, water, medication and the outside world, police say.
Birchfield even oversaw what times each alleged hostage ate at, and controlled when they were allowed to use the bathroom.
One of the women he was romantically involved with had a “relationship” with him for one year, with the other lasting nearly 10 years.
Birchfield allegedly assaulted the victims routinely – controlling their movements and trapping them in the basement.
The accused captor also regularly policed their phone use.
One woman said Birchfield told her he was “going to kill her” and boasted how he “knows how to get rid of a body from past experience”, WBTV reported.
From September 2022, Birchfield made a slew of purchases for himself using the credit cards owned by the victims.
He even paying off his own debt with their money, police said.
Birchfield’s laywer told WBTV he is currently investigating the matter.
He said: “My client maintains his innocence in the case and it is important to remember that 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.”
Birchfield faces charges including but not limited to exploitation of a vulnerable adult, false imprisonment, domestic violence and financial identity fraud.
He was placed under a $150,000 bond.
Local police said more charges were possible as the case continues to be investigated.