West Virginia Couple Sentenced to 375 Years for Enslaving Adopted Black Children

Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz were convicted of forced labor, human trafficking, and child abuse after targeting five Black siblings for severe racial and physical exploitation.

Jeanne Kay Whitefeather received a 215-year sentence, and Donald Lantz was sentenced to 160 years for crimes including forced labor, human trafficking, and child abuse.
The couple adopted five Black siblings in 2018, subjecting them to forced labor, verbal abuse, and deplorable living conditions across multiple states.
Two teenagers were found locked in a shed without running water or sanitation during a 2023 welfare check that led to the couple's arrest.
Prosecutors emphasized the racial targeting of the children, describing their treatment as akin to slavery, with evidence of physical and emotional abuse.
The eldest daughter, now 18, has filed a lawsuit against the couple, citing lasting trauma and severe physical and emotional harm.

One America News Network