Jeanne Whitefeather, 62, and Donald Lantz, 63, of West Virginia, are now facing a lot of new charges because they severely abused their adopted Black children. The couple is accused of locking their kids in a barn and making them work for free, which has shocked the community and caused major concerns about child welfare and human rights violations.
In October 2023, the couple was arrested after two of their adopted children, a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, were found locked in a padlocked barn with no power or running water. A third child, a girl who was 9 years old, was found alone in a loft inside the house, away from her brothers and the adults. There were reports that the couple had adopted five kids in total.
Whitefeather and Lantz recently pleaded not guilty to new charges that include multiple counts of child abuse that caused bodily harm. Whitefeather is accused of setting off bear spray and repellent on her kids, and Lantz is accused of hitting one of the kids. They are already being charged with human trafficking, racial discrimination civil rights violations, and neglecting children. These new accusations are on top of those.
People have said that the kids’ living situations are horrible. After being rescued, the kids were found in terrible conditions. It was said that they had to sleep on the concrete floor without any clothing. The 16-year-old girl said she was locked in the barn for about 12 hours. Police said the smell and heat inside the barn were unbearable because there was no airflow.
A small toilet seat torn from an RV was given to the kids to use in the bathroom. Several people, including neighbors, said that the kids were not allowed in the main house and were made to work on the farm. It was said that the kids were dirty and wild when they were found; one boy had open sores on his feet.
Whitefeather and Lantz have been held without bail since they were first arrested because the charges against them are so serious. The couple had been released on bail in February 2023, but they were caught again after being charged with more than a dozen new crimes. Maryclaire Akers, the judge in charge of the case, said it was a first-of-its-kind case that involved human trafficking and violations of human rights.
Assistant prosecuting attorney Debra Rusnak talked about how terrible things were. “You heard in the testimony what these children were going through, and it’s horrifying and disgusting,” she told Metro News Television. People in the community have come together to support the kids and stress the importance of justice and responsibility in cases of child abuse.
The case of Whitefeather and Lantz is a stark reminder of how child abuse and trafficking of people are still big problems, especially in areas that are already struggling. The main concern during the ongoing legal process is still the safety of the children and the need to make systematic changes to shield weak people from such horrible crimes. The couple’s accusations not only bring to light the terrible things that happened to the children, but they also bring up bigger issues of race, adoption, and the duties of guardians.
It is very important for the community and the officials to keep an eye on this case to make sure that justice is done and that all children’s rights are respected.
