A couple from West Virginia, accused of treating their adopted children like “slaves” and forcing them to live in deplorable conditions, have been convicted.
The case, which shocked the community, has finally come to a conclusion after a lengthy trial.
The Trial and Convictions
Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, and Donald Ray Lantz, 61, faced a series of child neglect charges stemming from their treatment of five adopted children.
After a week-long trial, the Kanawha County Circuit Court jury deliberated for more than eight hours before delivering their verdict.
Whitefeather was convicted on all 19 counts against her, including forced labor, human trafficking, and child neglect.
Lantz was found guilty of 12 out of the 16 charges he faced.
While Lantz was acquitted of civil rights violations, Whitefeather was found guilty of these as well.
Both defendants remained emotionless as the verdict was read.
Prosecuting Attorney Debra Rusnak, however, was visibly moved, expressing the deep personal impact the case had on the local community.
“These cases mean a lot to us,” she stated, adding, “If we’re not going to fight for them, then who will?”
The Shocking Discovery
The couple was arrested in October 2023 after two of their adoptive children were discovered in a locked shed.
The children, found without food, light, or running water, were living in a small, 20 by 14-foot building.
Disturbingly, the shed contained a hidden camera and had no means of escape in case of an emergency.
The children, suffering from sores and in a state of severe neglect, had been forced to live in these dire conditions.
The family, which had previously lived in Minnesota before relocating to West Virginia, had a history of troubling reports.
The children had allegedly been subjected to hard labor on the couple’s farm, where they were treated as unpaid workers.
Kanawha County prosecutors argued that the children, aged between 6 and 16, were essentially enslaved by the couple, citing racial discrimination as a motive.
Testimonies and Evidence
In a heart-wrenching testimony, one of the children described the forced labor they had to endure, revealing the brutal physical tasks they were made to perform.
Neighbor Joyce Bailey, who witnessed the abuse firsthand, recalled seeing the children carrying heavy loads like propane tanks and water, while Lantz stood by without intervening.
She also shared video footage of the children doing manual labor under duress.
Other testimonies highlighted the emotional and physical toll on the children.
The eldest, now 18, testified about the cruelty, including being forced to dig with their hands and enduring extreme restrictions on food.
The children were reportedly fed only peanut butter sandwiches and had to use a single bucket for their bathroom needs.
Whitefeather tried to downplay the severity of the situation, claiming that the shed was a “teenager hangout” and that the children could leave whenever they wanted.
However, it was revealed that the children had no access to the shed’s key, and the authorities found it hidden in a cabinet.
Racism and Further Allegations
The case also involved allegations of racism.
Racist text messages were presented in court, with the eldest child recounting how she and her siblings were frequently subjected to racial slurs.
Whitefeather was accused of calling the oldest daughter “dirty” and refusing to eat off the same plates as the children.
The prosecution pointed to this behavior as clear evidence of the couple’s racism.
During the trial, Lantz’s defense attorney argued that the children had come from traumatic backgrounds and that the couple was merely trying to help them.
However, experts testified that the couple’s treatment only worsened the children’s mental health, with the oldest boy now receiving psychiatric care.
What’s Next?
The couple will return to court for sentencing on March 19.
Whitefeather faces a potential 215 years in prison, while Lantz could be sentenced to up to 75 years.
The community, shaken by the case, continues to grapple with the horrors revealed during the trial, while the children begin their long road to recovery.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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