Nationwide — Donald Lantz and his wife, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, a white couple from West Virginia, have been given a combined sentence of almost 400 years in prison for abusing their adopted Black children and forcing them to perform heavy labor. Donald, 62, was sentenced to 160 years, while his wife, Jeanne Kay, 63, received 215 years.
According to People, Lantz was found guilty of forced labor, human trafficking, child abuse, and neglect. Whitefeather was convicted on the same charges, plus violating the children’s civil rights. Their convictions were finalized in January 2024.
The couple adopted five children in 2018 and moved to Kanawha County in May 2023. They were arrested in October 2023 after a neighbor reported that two teenagers, aged 14 and 16, were locked in a shed at their home in Sissonville. Court documents revealed that the children were forced to perform farm labor and denied entry to the house.
When authorities responded, they found the teens confined in the shed for 12 hours with a portable toilet and no running water. The children were dressed in dirty clothes, and the oldest boy had visible sores on his feet. Neighbors confirmed that the children were frequently mistreated and not allowed inside the house.
The couple faced a 16-count indictment, which included charges of human trafficking, civil rights violations, and using the children as laborers. Prosecutors emphasized that the abuse was racially motivated. During the trial, the oldest daughter testified that the children were verbally abused and sometimes made to stand for hours with their hands on their heads.
Judge Maryclaire Akers condemned the couple’s actions, stating that the children were brought to West Virginia to live in “hell.” She assured the couple they would now face the consequences of their actions.
Source: BlackNews.com
