West Virginia mother on trial for locking adopted teenagers in shed denies allegations

A West Virginia mother, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, is facing allegations of mistreating her adopted children, two of whom were found locked in a shed behind a locked door. Despite police discovering the teenagers in the shed, Whitefeather denied forcing them to stay there during her testimony in the ongoing trial against her and her husband, Donald Ray Lantz.

The couple, who are white, adopted five black children while living in Minnesota before moving to a farm in Washington state in 2018. In 2023, they relocated to Sissonville, West Virginia, where the alleged mistreatment took place when the children were between the ages of five and 16.

Neighbors reported seeing Lantz locking the two teenagers, a girl, and a boy, in the shed, leading to the couple’s arrest on multiple felony charges, including forced labor, civil rights violations, human trafficking, and gross child neglect. The children were subsequently placed under the care of Child Protective Services.

During the trial, Whitefeather claimed that the shed was a “teenager hangout” and that the children had a key to come and go as they pleased. However, the oldest daughter, now 18, testified that she was unaware of the key’s existence. Additionally, she mentioned that they were only allowed to eat peanut butter sandwiches at scheduled times and were not permitted to eat outside of those designated times, regardless of hunger.

Despite Whitefeather’s assertions that the children had access to the refrigerator and that she cooked for them every night, the allegations of mistreatment and neglect remain. The oldest boy is currently receiving full-time care in a psychiatric facility.

The trial continues, with the prosecution presenting evidence of the alleged mistreatment, while the defense maintains their innocence. The case has garnered significant attention due to the serious nature of the charges and the racial dynamics between the adoptive parents and their children.

As the trial unfolds, the community waits for justice to be served and for the truth to come to light regarding the treatment of the vulnerable children in this complex and troubling case.