West Virginia Couple Convicted of Enslaving Adopted Black Children in Horrific Abuse Case

Donald Lantz and Jeanne Whitefeather were convicted of multiple child neglect and forced labor charges. Whitefeather faced all 19 convictions, while Lantz was found guilty on 12 of 16 counts.

West Virginia Couple Convicted of Using Adopted Black Children as Forced Labor

A West Virginia couple has been convicted of subjecting their adopted Black children to unimaginable abuse, forcing them into heavy labor and making them live in deplorable conditions in an outdoor shed.

Donald Lantz, 61, and Jeanne Whitefeather, 62, were found guilty of multiple child neglect and forced labor charges in a case that prosecutors described as modern-day slavery. Whitefeather was convicted on all 19 counts, while Lantz was found guilty on 12 of 16 counts.

Children Forced Into Harsh Labor & Left in Filth

The case came to light after a 911 call led authorities to the couple’s property in Sissonville, about 15 miles north of Charleston. When police arrived, they found two children, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, locked inside a small, filthy shed. Another child, a 9-year-old girl, was discovered inside the home, alone and visibly distressed.

The conditions were horrifying:

• No running water or electricity in the shed

• No bedding or mattresses, just hard concrete floors

• Makeshift toilet made from an old RV seat

• Children smelled of body odor and appeared unbathed

• The 14-year-old boy had open sores on his feet

Neighbor Brenda Bailey testified that she often saw the children carrying heavy propane tanks and buckets of water, appearing exhausted and in pain. She even recorded footage of one child struggling to walk while dragging his feet, which was presented in court.

Disturbing Details of the Alleged Racist Motive

Prosecutors argued that the couple specifically sought out Black children from shelters and trafficked them from an 80-acre ranch in Tonasket, Washington, to their home in West Virginia. Kanawha County Assistant Prosecutor Chris Krivonyak described their treatment as a calculated effort to dehumanize the children and turn them into machines for labor.

“You want to know what racists look like?” Assistant Prosecutor Madison Tuck asked the jury. “Look at them.”

Judge Maryclaire Akers stated that the children were “targeted because of their race” and used as “basically slaves.”

Defense Claims It Was Just “Farm Chores”

Despite the overwhelming evidence, the defense argued that the couple was simply running a farm and making the children help with routine chores.

Whitefeather’s attorney, Mark Plants, denied any racial motivation, saying, “These are farm people that do farm chores.” Meanwhile, Lantz’s lawyer, John Balenovich, shifted blame to the state’s child welfare agency, claiming they failed to provide proper support for the children’s mental health issues.

Whitefeather also tried to downplay the abuse, telling the court that the shed was a “teenage clubhouse” and that the children “liked it.”

Authorities Take Action

When police arrived at the property, they waited three hours before Lantz showed up with an 11-year-old boy. Whitefeather arrived an hour later, later leading officers to a 6-year-old girl who had been visiting with another family.

Now convicted, Lantz and Whitefeather await sentencing for their heinous crimes, marking a crucial step toward justice for the children who endured years of neglect and mistreatment.