In Charleston, West Virginia, a couple has been handed severe prison sentences for the horrifying abuse and mistreatment of their adoptive children. Jeanne Kay Whitefeather received a sentence of up to 215 years, while her husband, Donald Lantz, was handed a term of up to 160 years. The decision was delivered after a Kanawha County jury found them guilty on multiple charges including forced labor, human trafficking, and child abuse. Whitefeather was also convicted of civil rights violations stemming from racial discrimination. She could be eligible for parole after 40 years, while Lantz after 30.
The presiding judge, Maryclaire Akers, delivered a scathing rebuke to the couple, stating, “You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know as ‘Almost Heaven,’ and you put them in hell. This court will now put you in yours,” underscoring the severity of the couple’s actions. Court letters from four of the children were read aloud in the courtroom, expressing deep trauma, mistrust, and fear. One child, an 18-year-old, directly told Whitefeather, “I’ll never understand how you can sleep at night. I want you to know that you are a monster.” The court had earlier prohibited media from disclosing the children’s identities.
The couple had initially adopted the five Black siblings while residing in Minnesota. They later moved to Washington state in 2018 before finally relocating to West Virginia in May 2023. However, five months after their arrival, they were arrested following a neighbor’s report of Lantz locking two children in a shed and leaving. Authorities found the children living in squalid conditions, leading to their immediate custody by Child Protective Services. Recently, the eldest child filed a lawsuit against the couple, citing severe physical and emotional harm inflicted upon her.
The court noted that the couple refused to accept responsibility for their actions, as evidenced by their attempts to blame their real estate agent for not finding a more isolated property. During the trial, neighbors testified about not seeing the children engaged in play and frequently witnessing them perform gruelling chores. The eldest daughter recounted the harsh treatment, including racial abuse and being forced to dig with their hands. She testified that meals were restricted and often consisted of leftover peanut butter sandwiches.
Despite these accusations, the defense argued that the couple struggled with the children’s pre-existing psychological issues and that their actions were attempts to teach responsibility. Lantz’s attorney highlighted the lack of support from child welfare agencies, stating that the couple repeatedly sought help but were neglected. The prosecution, however, presented testimony from a forensic psychologist who indicated that the couple’s treatment exacerbated the children’s conditions. Additionally, the couple failed to seek psychological help for the oldest boy, despite significant behavioral issues, leading to his current placement in a psychiatric facility.
Ultimately, the defense maintained that their clients were guilty only of poor parenting decisions, insisting the harsh chores and restrictions were not related to racial or forced labor motivations. The court, however, was not swayed, as it delivered what it deemed just punishment for the appalling actions against the vulnerable children under their care.