CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An emotional witness recounted distressing scenes of children struggling as they navigated uneven terrain while carrying heavy items at the residence of a West Virginia couple, who were subsequently arrested. This couple, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Ray Lantz, faces numerous serious charges which include forced labor, civil rights violations, human trafficking, and severe child neglect. The trial commenced yesterday.
During the initial statements, assistant prosecutor Madison Tuck indicated that the evidence would demonstrate the couple coerced the children into labor and manipulated them physically, emotionally, and psychologically to ensure compliance. Allegations include messages exchanged between Lantz and Whitefeather that detailed making the children stand for prolonged periods and confining two older teens in an outbuilding.
In defense, Whitefeather’s lawyer, Mark Plants, contended that the case revolves around adoptive parents grappling with their children’s substantial past traumas and mental health challenges. He mentioned that testimonies from friends and family would highlight that four of the children faced various forms of abuse at the hands of their biological mother, including substance use during pregnancy.
“This is a typical family,” Plants asserted, emphasizing their celebrations and family activities, such as Christmas gatherings and vacations. He painted a picture of their home life, suggesting normalcy despite the allegations.
The couple are white, while the adopted children—siblings aged between 5 and 16—are Black. Initially adopting the five siblings in Minnesota, they relocated to a farm in Washington state in 2018, before moving again to West Virginia earlier in 2023.
Neighbor Joyce Bailey testified that upon the family’s arrival in Sissonville in 2023, the conditions appeared troubling. She noted that it was raining at the time and the children were instructed to stand outside. “You never see them talk to each other,” she remarked. “They never played and hardly spoke among themselves.”
Bailey was visibly shaken while detailing her observations of the children’s struggles with physical tasks such as moving fencing, propane tanks, and buckets of water, often under Lantz’s supervision. Video evidence captured by Bailey was presented in court, showing the demanding nature of the labor imposed on the children.
“It was heartbreaking to see them carry all that heavy fencing,” Bailey stated, noting how they would wait for Lantz to give them instructions. She described an instance where the oldest boy appeared to struggle with a propane tank, barely able to walk as he dragged his feet while Lantz stood by, offering no assistance.
Concerned about the situation, Bailey began recording the incidents, defying her husband’s suggestion to stop. She later recounted how Lantz locked two teenagers in the outbuilding shortly after the couple purchased a larger home in Beckley, which they were in the process of moving into. After someone alerted the authorities, deputies arrived and managed to rescue the children from the outbuilding, where they had been confined.
In a criminal report, it was noted that the children were in dirty clothing, with the oldest boy appearing barefoot and having sores on his feet. A 9-year-old girl was discovered alone in a loft, signifying troubling conditions within the home. Other siblings were also located by law enforcement, and they were subsequently placed into protective services.
The accusations outlined in the complaint indicated a severe lack of adequate food and hygiene for the children, and the outbuilding was devoid of necessary amenities like running water and proper bathroom facilities. Although Plants described the outbuilding as a “teenage clubhouse” and claimed there was a key inside, Tuck countered that the children were never informed about any key.
In a concerning turn, Plants mentioned that the oldest boy had previously attempted to escape from the home, which led to the decision to lock him in the outbuilding to prevent recurring attempts. He is currently receiving intensive care at a psychiatric facility, underscoring the distressing circumstances surrounding this case.
