West Virginia Couple Denies Locking Teens in Shed Amid Child Mistreatment Allegations

A West Virginia couple, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Ray Lantz, is embroiled in a trial over severe allegations of child neglect. The couple allegedly committed gross child neglect, civil rights violations, human trafficking, and forced labor against four of their five adopted children, all of whom are black. The couple, who are white, face multiple felony counts for their alleged mistreatment of the children.

Circumstances Leading to Arrest

The couple's arrest in October 2023 was a result of reports from neighbors who claimed to witness Lantz locking two teenagers—a girl and a boy—inside a shed and leaving the property in Sissonville, West Virginia. In response to these allegations, Whitefeather defended their actions by asserting that the shed was a "teenager hangout." However, the couple's defense did little to quell the suspicions surrounding their treatment of the children.

Testimonies in Court

The trial, now underway, has unveiled a series of testimonies from various parties involved. Whitefeather denied the accusation of forcing the two adopted children to stay in the shed despite the police's findings of the children being locked inside the shed. She testified that the children had access to a key and could come and go from the shed as they pleased. This claim was, however, challenged by the oldest daughter, now 18, who testified that she was unaware of any access to a key. Her account, along with a detective's testimony regarding the discovery of a key in the shed, painted a different picture of the living conditions.

Witness Account of Living Conditions

Adding to the distressing narrative, the oldest daughter provided a harrowing account of their living conditions. She revealed that the children were given peanut butter sandwiches at scheduled times and were prohibited from eating outside these designated times, regardless of their hunger. This revelation starkly contrasted with Whitefeather's claims of the children being allowed access to the refrigerator and receiving daily home-cooked meals.

Background and Adoption of the Children

Whitefeather and Lantz adopted the five siblings while living in Minnesota and subsequently moved to a farm in Washington State before settling in West Virginia in 2023. At the time of their relocation to West Virginia, the children ranged in age from five to sixteen years old. Since the couple's arrest, the five children have been placed under the care of Child Protective Services.

Throughout the trial, Whitefeather maintained her stance that the children had free access to the shed and the refrigerator, and that she prepared nightly meals for them. Despite these claims, the court proceedings have focused on the stark disparities between the couple's assertions and the testimonies provided by the children, raising critical concerns about their well-being during their time in the couple's care.