West Virginia Court Sentences Couple to 375 Years in Prison for Severe Abuse of Adopted Black Children
A West Virginia couple who subjected their adopted Black children to severe abuse, including forced labor and racial discrimination, have been sentenced to decades in prison, marking the conclusion of a disturbing child abuse case that shocked the local community.
The Abuse and Sentencing
Jeanne Whitefeather, 63, and Donald Lantz, 62, of Sissonville, West Virginia, were handed lengthy prison sentences on Wednesday after a jury found them guilty of multiple serious charges in January. The couple, who are white, adopted five Black children and subsequently subjected them to horrific conditions, prosecutors said.
The court convicted the couple on numerous charges including:
- Human trafficking of a minor child
- Use of a minor in forced labor
- Gross child neglect
- Child abuse by a parent causing bodily injury
Additionally, Whitefeather was convicted of civil rights violations for using racially derogatory language toward the children.
Judge Maryclaire Akers delivered a powerful statement during sentencing, saying the couple had moved to West Virginia seeking isolation to continue their abuse. “You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know is ‘almost heaven,’ and you put them in hell,” Judge Akers told the defendants. “This court will now put you in yours.”
Severity of Punishment
The sentences reflect the grave nature of the crimes:
- Whitefeather received up to 215 years in prison with eligibility for parole after 49 years
- Lantz was sentenced to up to 160 years with parole eligibility after 36 years
Details of the Abuse
The abuse came to light in October 2023 when neighbors alerted authorities. Kanawha County sheriff’s deputies discovered two of the children—ages 14 and 16—locked in an outbuilding with inadequate provisions:
- No running water
- Only a small portable toilet
- Forced to sleep on concrete floors
- Limited to peanut butter sandwiches and water
- Deprived of food for extended periods
- Forced to perform heavy outdoor labor
Home security footage revealed additional cruelty, showing children forced to stand for hours with their hands on their heads to prevent sleeping. The children, now aged 18, 16, 13, 10, and 9, were adopted by the couple in Minnesota in 2018 before the family moved to Washington State and eventually West Virginia in May 2023.
Legal Defense and Victim Impact
The defense team claimed the couple was overwhelmed by the children’s pre-existing mental health issues and trauma from their biological home. Lantz’s attorney, John J. Balenovich, stated his client “maintains his innocence” and is considering an appeal.
Whitefeather’s lawyer argued that the couple were “farm people that do farm chores” and claimed the case “wasn’t about race” or “forced labor,” but merely “poor parenting decisions.”
The impact on the victims was profound. At sentencing, the 18-year-old survivor confronted Whitefeather directly, stating: “I’ll never understand how you can sleep at night. I want you to know that you are a monster.”
Prosecutorial Response
Prosecutors praised the children’s remarkable resilience despite their ordeal. Madison Tuck, a Kanawha County prosecutor, expressed admiration for the survivors at a news conference: “They are so wonderful, so smart, so funny. They are going to do amazing things in this world, and I’m so grateful to be a part of getting them some semblance of justice.”
The case highlights the importance of community vigilance and prompt reporting of suspected child abuse, as it was concerned neighbors who ultimately alerted authorities to the situation.
Further Resources
For those concerned about child welfare and adoption oversight, numerous organizations provide education and support services aimed at preventing abuse and ensuring proper placement monitoring for adopted children.
