Posted on 03/21/2025 7:22:48 AM PDT by Libloather
A white couple from West Virginia were collectively sentenced to 375 years in prison for forcing their five adopted black children to work on their farm as “slaves” while being berated with racial slurs.
Jeanne Kay Whitefeather received up to 215 years in prison and her husband, Donald Lantz, will serve up to 160 years — the maximum sentence — after the pair were convicted of forced labor, human trafficking and child abuse and neglect in January.
“You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know as ‘Almost Heaven,’ and you put them in hell. This court will now put you in yours,” Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers barked at the defendants on Wednesday.
“And may God have mercy on your souls. Because this court will not.”
The four oldest children penned emotional letters to their adoptive parents, which were read aloud in the courtroom. The children said in the letters that they have endured life-changing trauma that’s left them scarred with trust issues and nightmares.
“I’ll never understand how you can sleep at night. I want you to know that you are a monster,” the eldest daughter, now 18, told the court.
Last month, the 18-year-old sued the couple, alleging severe physical and emotional abuse and neglect that has scarred her permanently.
The couple adopted the five black siblings in Minnesota, then moved to a farm in Washington state in 2018 before picking up and moving to Sissonville, West Virginia, in May 2023, when the children were between 5 and 16 years old.
Whitefeather and Lantz were arrested months later in October 2023 after a child welfare call led to the discovery of two teenagers — the eldest daughter and her teenage brother — locked in a shed at the couple’s home.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Doesn’t matter how long they were in WV. They were forced to live like animals, locked in rooms with nothing to eat but peanut butter sandwiches and a bucket to relieve themselves. Verbally and physically abused, probably in all of the locations.
After more than 10 years, my children still appreciate they graduated from college without student loans.
I have questions too. It seems they are originally from Minnesota, not West Virginia.
....and running a family farm can be very much like forced labor. My dad forced us 5 kids to plant, weed, harvest, and can every summer. It was called SURVIVING hand to mouth!
I tend to agree with your post in that how were the children treated prior to moving to WV?
As a kid I worked hard and got paid nothing, which was how I developed a work ethic and learned good spending and saving ethics. Considering some of the things I did, my parents would be up for child abuse if today’s standards were used.
My friends were farm kids, and they worked very hard too, and bragged about it. In my youth era being a hard worker was something to be proud of.
To me there are not enough facts in these poorly written stories that emphasize the left’s view on child abuse.
The part that is certainly wrong is if they were called racist names and locked in a shed.
Digging with your hands? This couple is demonic.
Maybe she is in touch with her Cherokee roots. Claiming that owning slaves is part of Cherokee heritage which should not be impinged upon by the Civil War amendments would be an interesting defense.
When our kids were little we had a full time dairy farm. They helped with cattle chores, drove tractor, baled hay, all kinds of stuff.
We never locked anybody in a closet.
Altho these kids might have been a handful, the adults should have reached out for help. Part of adulting is being responsible.
Is the wife Native American?
Don’t give them ammo. Play into their hands and this is what you expect.
Did your parents shackle and lock you in a shed at night without food or drink?
But it is a valid question to the story... did the abuse begin in WV, and if so, why? If it began years earlier, why wasn’t it caught in MINN? An ACTUAL journalist would have answers, or at least mention the questions.
Quoting trial sentences by att9rnies designed to sway a jury are hardly neutral details.
More like dem/republican talking poibts designed to obfuscate the truth in order to win.
Who knows what the heck the truth really is. Doesn’t matter to our legal system. Even judges say unprofessional things at judgement.
God knows, and God’s mercy and justice work perfectly.
Being locked in a shed and berated with racial slurs is definitely not typical farm life for any kid...
You can’t get much work done while locked in a shed.
So, they are actually yankees from Minnesota and aren’t truly from West Virginia.
Same here!
Am surprised that I didn't suffer irreparable neurological damage from spraying 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T (vulgo: Agent Orange) on acres and acres of tansy ragwort - without any protective gear.
I was ten years old. My little brother was 7. This was sometimes in 100 °F weather, when your pores really open up.
Regards,
“”Donald Lantz, will serve up to 160 years “”
Want to bet?
“”The couple adopted the five black siblings in Minnesota, then moved to a farm in Washington state in 2018 before picking up and moving to Sissonville, West Virginia, in May 2023, when the children were between 5 and 16 years old. “”
As always - it pays to READ the article..above is for you and everyone else who didn’t read it either....
MN - WA - WVA
Why not just hang people who commit atrocious crimes?
Because the prison time is going to be pure entertainment. I highly doubt the male has 9 months to live.
Yes
A point lost prolly everywhere
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