{"id":14447,"date":"2025-03-19T08:06:44","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T12:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/?p=14447"},"modified":"2025-03-19T08:06:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T12:06:44","slug":"west-virginia-couple-convicted-of-abusing-adopted-children-due-in-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/2025\/03\/19\/west-virginia-couple-convicted-of-abusing-adopted-children-due-in-court\/","title":{"rendered":"West Virginia Couple Convicted of Abusing Adopted Children Due in Court"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to the Case<\/h2>\n

A West Virginia couple convicted in the mistreatment of their adopted children, including locking some in a shed, is due in court Wednesday for sentencing.
\n
\nA jury on Jan. 29 found Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and her husband, Donald Lantz, guilty on multiple counts of forced labor, human trafficking, and child abuse and neglect. Whitefeather also was convicted of civil rights violations based on race.<\/p>\n

Background of the Couple and the Adopted Children<\/h2>\n

The couple, who are white, adopted the five Black siblings while living in Minnesota, moved to a farm in Washington state in 2018, then brought the family to West Virginia in May 2023, when the children ranged in age from 5 to 16.<\/p>\n

The Discovery of Abuse and Arrest<\/h2>\n

Five months after their arrival in Sissonville, the couple was arrested after neighbors saw Lantz lock the oldest girl and her teenage brother in a shed and leave the property. A deputy used a crowbar to get them out.
\nInside the main residence, a 9-year-old girl was found crying in a loft alone with no protection from falling, according to a criminal complaint. The children were found in dirty clothes and smelling of body odor, deputies said, and the oldest boy was found barefoot with what appeared to be sores on his feet.
\nA fourth child was with Lantz when he eventually returned, and deputies were later led to a 5-year-old girl. All five were turned over to Child Protective Services after the couple’s arrest.<\/p>\n

Testimonies and Allegations<\/h2>\n

Last month the oldest daughter, now an adult, sued the couple, alleging severe physical and emotional abuse and neglect that has scarred her permanently.
\nDuring trial, neighbors testified they never saw the children play and witnessed Lantz make them stand in line or perform difficult chores around the yard, including lifting heavy items. After Lantz noticed the curious neighbors, the children mostly stayed indoors.
\nThe eldest daughter testified the outdoor work occurred mostly in Washington and that some of them were forced to use their hands for digging. She also said the children were cursed at \u201call the time\u201d and that Whitefeather used racist language.
\nThe daughter said Whitefeather gave preferential treatment to the youngest child, who wasn’t involved in any of the charges, and that Whitefeather had told the other children that she wished for a life without them.
\nThe daughter also said the children were fed a steady diet of peanut butter sandwiches at scheduled times, some left over from a previous meal. Some kids were forced to stand in their rooms for hours and keep their hands on their heads. The oldest girl and boy shared a room, were forced to sleep on the floor and used the same bucket for the bathroom while the other held up a sheet for privacy from the home’s security cameras, according to testimony.<\/p>\n

Defense and Prosecution<\/h2>\n

The couple and their attorneys pushed back on the accusations, with Lantz testifying that the chores were assigned to teach the children responsibility.
\nThe defense argued the couple was simply overwhelmed with trying to get help for the children\u2019s mental health issues, abuse and trauma from their biological home. Lantz\u2019s attorney, John Balenovich, said the state\u2019s child welfare agency, which the family requested help from several times, \u201cdropped the ball the most in this case.\u201d
\nA forensic psychologist for the prosecution testified that the couple\u2019s treatment of the children had worsened their conditions.
\nAssistant Prosecutor Madison Tuck said the couple never sought help for the oldest boy despite a behavioral health clinic being just minutes from their home. The boy, whose physical altercation with Whitefeather in 2022 was cited by attorneys as the start of the family\u2019s internal struggles, currently is receiving full-time care in a psychiatric facility.
\nWhitefeather\u2019s attorney, Mark Plants, said during closing argument that the couple was only guilty of making poor parenting decisions.
\n\u201cThese are farm people that do farm chores,\u201d Plants said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t about race. It wasn\u2019t about forced labor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sentencing<\/h2>\n

Whitefeather faces up to 215 years in prison and Lantz up to 160 years when they are sentenced Wednesday in Kanawha County Circuit Court.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The case of Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz serves as a shocking reminder of the horrific abuse and neglect that some children face, even in the care of their adoptive parents. The severity of the allegations and the convictions highlight the need for vigilant oversight and support for adoptive families, as well as the importance of addressing systemic issues that may contribute to such abuse.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n