CHARLESTON, West Virginia – Testimony from a teenager revealed disturbing details of mistreatment and neglect in the trial of Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Ray Lantz, who are accused of ill-treating their five adopted children. The teenager, now 18 years old, described living in substandard conditions with her siblings, forced to endure sleepless nights standing in their rooms and using buckets as toilets. The couple, who are white, adopted all five Black siblings while residing in Minnesota before moving to a farm in Washington state and ultimately relocating to West Virginia.
During the trial, the teenager testified about the harsh treatment they endured, including being cursed at, racially derogatory language, and physical abuse. She recounted instances of being sprayed with pepper spray and forced to stand with their hands on their heads for extended periods. The children were given a limited diet of peanut butter sandwiches, were rarely allowed to bathe, and had to endure grueling physical labor, such as carrying supplies, gardening, and clearing land on the farm.
The financial exploitation of the children was also revealed during the trial, with evidence showing that Whitefeather and Lantz pocketed a significant amount of child assistance from the state of Minnesota. Neighbors called the police in October 2023 after witnessing Lantz lock two of the children in a shed before leaving the property, leading to the couple’s arrest. All five children were placed under the care of Child Protective Services.
The teenager shared heartbreaking details of the conditions they lived in, including sleeping on the floor with minimal bedding, minimal access to hygiene products, and being subjected to constant verbal abuse. The oldest sibling mentioned that they were prevented from seeking help or escaping the situation, with the shed they were kept in being locked and under surveillance to prevent any attempts to run away.
Throughout the trial, revelations of the severe mistreatment and neglect suffered by the children painted a grim picture of their lives under the care of Whitefeather and Lantz. The teenager’s testimony shed light on the systemic abuse they endured, highlighting the need for justice and accountability for those responsible for their suffering. The trial continues to uncover the extent of the trauma inflicted upon these vulnerable children, seeking to bring them a sense of closure and healing.