A West Virginia couple has been accused of adopting five Black children and exploiting them for forced labor, treating them as if they were “slaves,” according to a 17-count indictment. Jeanne Whitefeather, 62, and Donald Lantz, 63, face severe charges including human trafficking of a minor child, use of a minor child in forced labor, and child neglect creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death.
Allegations of Human Trafficking and Forced Labor
The indictment alleges gross neglect and human rights violations, particularly highlighting that the children were targeted because of their race. “It alleges human trafficking, human rights violations, the use of forced labor,” stated Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers during a hearing. Akers doubled the couple’s bond from $250,000 to $500,000 each, emphasizing the severity of the charges. Whitefeather and Lantz remain in the South Central Regional Jail, awaiting their trial scheduled for September 9.
Disturbing Conditions Uncovered by Authorities
The investigation began on October 2, 2023, when Kanawha County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call at the couple’s residence. They discovered two children locked inside a barn with no means of escape, no running water, and inadequate hygienic care. The deputies found a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl in a 20×14-foot room, deprived of necessities.
Deputy H.K. Burdette, who responded to the scene, testified about the appalling conditions: “As soon as the door was open, the heat from inside hit us. The smell made my eyes water. It was terrible without running water, circulating air, or beds.” At the main residence, another small child was found locked inside an unprotected loft 15 feet high, further highlighting the neglect and endangerment of the children.
Whitefeather’s attorney, Mark Plants, described the barn as a “teenage clubhouse” and claimed the situation was a misunderstanding, asserting that a key was available in the shed. However, this explanation was not sufficient to dismiss the severe charges the couple faces.
Legal Proceedings and Background of the Case
Whitefeather and Lantz had recently moved to West Virginia from Washington State, bringing the five adopted children with them. The children, aged 6, 9, 11, 14, and 16, were all home-schooled. Despite the absence of prior criminal history in West Virginia, the couple had two complaints filed against them in 2023, one in May and another in September, although no charges were brought at the time.
Neighbors reported that the children were forced to perform farm labor and were not allowed inside the main house. The teens found in the barn revealed they had been locked inside for about 12 hours, forced to sleep on the bare concrete floor. They were dirty, emitted a strong body odor, and the 14-year-old had open sores on his feet.
The case against Whitefeather and Lantz underscores serious allegations of child abuse and exploitation, prompting legal action to ensure the safety and well-being of the children involved. The couple’s defense attorneys have not yet responded to requests for comment, and the upcoming trial will determine the outcome of these grave accusations.