“May God have mercy on your souls, because this court will not,” declared Circuit Court Judge MaryClaire Akers as she sentenced Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 63, to 215 years in prison and her husband, Donald Lantz, 64, to 160 years.
West Virginia Couple Found Guilty of Human Trafficking
A white West Virginia couple was sentenced to hundreds of years behind bars after being convicted of forcing their five adopted Black children to work as “slaves” on their farm.
Whitefeather and Lantz adopted the children from a shelter for homeless and vulnerable youths. Initially living in Minnesota, they moved the children to Washington state in 2018 before settling in West Virginia in 2023, according to The Associated Press.
Children Rescued from Horrific Conditions
Authorities discovered the children in October 2023 when Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a welfare check at the couple’s Sissonville home. A neighbor had reported seeing Lantz lock a girl and her teenage brother inside a shed before leaving.
Inside the shed, deputies found the children without running water or a bathroom. They had been locked inside for 12 hours, sleeping on a concrete floor without adequate food or hygiene. Another girl was found inside the home, while Lantz later led officers to a friend’s house where the fifth child was staying.
Convicted of Forced Labor and Abuse
An indictment revealed that the couple deliberately targeted the children for forced labor because of their race. They were found guilty of human trafficking, forced labor, child neglect, and other crimes.
Judge Akers condemned their actions, stating, “You brought these kids to West Virginia, a place I know as almost heaven, and put them in hell. The court will now put you in yours.”
