Lancaster man accused of keeping vulnerable adults in his basement, using their money

LANCASTER, S.C. (WBTV) - A South Carolina man was arrested after police said he allegedly kept four vulnerable adults in his basement and used their money for personal gain.

Donnie Birchfield Jr., 36, was arrested after Lancaster police responded to an unattended death on July 25 at a home on Churchill Drive. According to an incident report, officers learned that Birchfield had cared for multiple people in his basement and allegedly had been using at least two of their debit cards and one bank account.

Officers alleged Birchfield financially exploited four people, identified as vulnerable adults, starting in September 2022. For almost three years, Birchfield allegedly made dozens of purchases using the debit cards and the bank account number to pay for services for himself and to pay his