White Couple Arrested for Human Trafficking: Police Find 5 Adoptive Black Children Locked in Shed, Forced into Labor

A West Virginia couple, Donald Ray Lantz (63) and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather (62) are back behind bars facing a slew of new charges, including human trafficking and forced labor, after initially being arrested for child neglect last October.

According to Metro News, the horrific details of the case began to unfold when authorities conducted a welfare check on the couple’s residence in Sissonville. Upon arrival, officers discovered two malnourished teenagers, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, locked inside a filthy shed on the property. The teens reported being deprived of basic necessities, including food and running water, and forced to sleep on the hard concrete floor. Medical examinations later confirmed open sores on the boy’s feet from this treatment.

The investigation expanded later that day, leading to the recovery of three more children, ages 6, 9, and 11. All five adopted children, who are Black, were reportedly in a visibly neglected state. Despite initially claiming financial hardship, the couple surprisingly managed to post their $250,000 bond each in February.

This seemingly inexplicable ability to raise such a large sum triggered suspicion from prosecutors. Further investigation revealed disturbing new details. Neighbors and the children themselves painted a picture of systematic abuse, with allegations that the couple forced the children to perform labor based solely on their race. The “clubhouse” story offered by the couple as an explanation for the shed was dismissed by investigators and neighbors alike.

With the weight of the new evidence, the judge overseeing the case has significantly increased the couple’s bond to $500,000 each. The charges have also been expanded to include human trafficking of a minor child and use of a minor child in forced labor. Lantz and Whitefeather have pleaded not guilty to all charges.