A West Virginia couple, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz, were convicted of forced labor, human trafficking, and child abuse and neglect. They adopted five Black siblings and moved them to multiple states, where they mistreated them by locking them in sheds, forcing them to do difficult yard work, and subjecting them to harsh living conditions. The children were found in dirty clothes, with some barefoot and with sores on their feet. Whitefeather also faced civil rights violations based on race.
During the trial, neighbors testified to seeing the children being mistreated, and the oldest daughter, now an adult, filed a lawsuit alleging severe abuse and neglect. The defense argued that the couple was overwhelmed trying to address the children’s mental health issues and trauma, and that they sought help from the state’s child welfare agency multiple times.
However, a forensic psychologist testified that the couple’s treatment of the children exacerbated their conditions, and the prosecution pointed out that they failed to seek help for the oldest boy who is now in full-time psychiatric care. Whitefeather’s attorney argued that the couple was only guilty of poor parenting decisions, not intentional abuse.
The sentencing for Whitefeather and Lantz could result in Whitefeather receiving up to 215 years in prison and Lantz up to 160 years. The case highlights the severity of child abuse and neglect and the responsibility of caregivers to seek appropriate help for children in their care.
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