White Couple Who Adopted Five Black Children And Forced Them To Work As Slaves Sentenced To A Combined 375 Years In Prison

A white couple from West Virginia, Donald Lantz, 62, and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 63, were sentenced to 160 and 215 years in prison, respectively, for abusing their adopted Black children. The couple was convicted in January 2025 of charges including forced labor, human trafficking, child abuse, and neglect, with Whitefeather also found guilty of violating the children’s civil rights. The abuse involved forcing the children, aged 6 to 16, to perform heavy farm labor under slave-like conditions, locking them in a shed with no running water or proper sanitation, and subjecting them to deplorable living conditions. The case came to light in October 2023 after a neighbor reported the situation to Child Protective Services, leading to the couple’s arrest. During the trial, the eldest daughter testified about the severe mistreatment, including being forced to stand for hours with hands on their heads and being denied basic hygiene. Judge Maryclaire Akers condemned the couple, stating they had put the children “in hell” and showed no mercy in sentencing. Lantz’s attorney maintains his client’s innocence, while Whitefeather’s attorney was unavailable for comment.