West Virginia Couple Charged with Child Trafficking and Slavery
In a case shocking the nation, Donald Ray Lantz, 63, and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, of West Virginia, have been charged with horrific child neglect and forced labour crimes. The couple appeared in Kanawha County court on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to multiple serious accusations.
Serious Allegations Unveiled
Prosecutors are hitting the couple with grave allegations, including:
- Human Trafficking of Minors: Accused of trafficking their adopted black children and forcing them into brutal labour.
- Forced Labour: The children were made to work under harsh conditions, described explicitly as being treated like “slaves.”
- Child Neglect Risking Life and Limb: Their neglect allegedly endangered the children’s health, putting them at risk of serious bodily harm or even death.
Adding to the horror, the couple faces accusations of blatantly violating human rights by singling out their black children based on race.
Judge Issues Stark Warning
Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers voiced her alarm in court, saying the children were “used basically as slaves.” The indictment lays bare disturbing details about the couple’s abuse.
Investigation Reveals Disturbing Conditions
The probe started in October 2023 after a routine wellness check led police to the couple’s Sissonville property. There, two of their five adopted children aged six, nine, 11, 14, and 16, were found living in appalling conditions, reportedly locked away in a barn.
Whitefeather tried to dismiss claims of imprisonment, calling the barn a “teenage clubhouse.” But the evidence strongly contradicts her version.
