A couple from West Virginia has been sentenced to significant prison time for the mistreatment of their adopted children. Donald Lantz, 62, received a sentence of 160 years for charges including forced labor, human trafficking, and child abuse. His wife, 63-year-old Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, was sentenced to 215 years after being found guilty of the same crimes, along with violating her children’s civil rights.
In January, the couple was convicted of mistreatment after it was revealed that they had adopted five children in 2018. They relocated to Kanawha County in May 2023, where they faced serious allegations of abuse.
The case came to light when a neighbor contacted Child Protective Services, stating that two teenagers, aged 14 and 16, were found locked in a shed at the couple’s home. Others in the neighborhood also reported that the children were forced to do farm work and were often not allowed inside the house.
When authorities arrived at the home, they discovered the two children in a shed with only a portable toilet and no running water. The children had reportedly been locked there for around 12 hours and were sleeping on the floor.
Reports revealed that the children were wearing dirty clothes, and the oldest boy had noticeable sores on his feet. A 16-count indictment was issued against the couple, detailing serious allegations of human trafficking and forced labor. The judge in the case, Maryclaire Akers, expressed her outrage during sentencing, stating, “You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know is ‘almost heaven,’ and you put them in hell.”
Testimony during the trial included accounts from one daughter, who described the severe punishments they endured, such as being yelled at and having to stand with their hands on their heads for hours.
While Lantz’s attorney claimed he maintains his innocence on all charges, efforts to reach Whitefeather’s attorney for comment were unsuccessful.
