West Virginia Couple Faces Charges of Human Trafficking and Child Neglect

In a shocking case that has sparked outrage, a West Virginia couple is facing a litany of charges including human trafficking, child neglect, and forced labor. The couple, Jeanne Whitefeather, 62, and Donald Lantz, 63, allegedly adopted five Black children, ages 6 to 16, from a shelter for homeless and vulnerable youth. According to reports, they targeted the children specifically because of their race, subjecting them to forced labor and living in deplorable conditions.

The 16-count indictment against the couple includes allegations of human trafficking, human rights violations, and the use of forced labor. Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers highlighted that the children were targeted because of their race and were essentially used as slaves, as per the indictment.

Legal Proceedings

Whitefeather and Lantz are currently being held at South Central Regional Jail in Kanawha County on $500,000 bail, as per jail records. Despite the charges, both have pleaded not guilty. While Whitefeather's attorney did not provide an immediate response to NBC News, Lantz, on the other hand, is representing himself and could not be reached for comment.

The shocking discovery of the children was made during a welfare check at the couple’s Sissonville home in October. Kanawha County sheriff’s deputies found two children in a small room inside a barn on the property, with no means to exit the barn on their own, no running water, no bathroom facilities, and obviously deprived of adequate hygienic care and food. Additionally, a small child was found locked inside the main home alone.

The two children found in the barn, aged 14 and 16, reported being locked inside for about 12 hours, forced to sleep on the bare concrete floor. Court documents stated that the children were dirty, had a strong body odor, and one of them had open sores on his bare feet. Furthermore, neighbors reported that the children were forced to perform farm labor and were not allowed inside the residence.

Legal Defense and Response

During the hearing, Whitefeather’s attorney claimed that there was a key inside the shed where the teens were found, and there had been a "plain and simple misunderstanding about what is going on here." Meanwhile, Lantz arrived home later with an 11-year-old boy and led deputies to a 6-year-old girl who was staying with friends of the couple.

The couple is accused of abusing the children initially at their 80-acre ranch in Washington state and then in West Virginia, where they relocated after learning they were under investigation. Prosecutors believe the initial bond posted by the couple was funded through money they made from human trafficking at their Washington and West Virginia homes, which have since been sold.

Prosecution's Claims

Kanawha County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Krivonyak stated that they believe the family lived at the residences while committing the crimes, effectively turning the properties into contraband. As a result, the judge raised their bonds to $500,000 each, and the prosecution is seeking to have the money go to the children if their claims are validated.