Additional Coverage:
- West Virginia mother on trial for locking adopted teenagers in shed denies allegations (foxnews.com)
A West Virginia woman, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, took the stand this week, denying allegations that she and her husband, Donald Ray Lantz, forced two of their adopted children to live in a shed. The couple is currently on trial facing charges including forced labor, civil rights violations, human trafficking, and gross child neglect.
Neighbors reported seeing Lantz lock two teenagers in the shed on their Sissonville property, leading to the couple’s arrest in October 2023. Whitefeather testified that the shed was merely a “teenager hangout” and that the children had a key and could leave as they pleased.
However, the couple’s oldest daughter, now 18, previously testified that she was unaware of any key. A detective also testified that a key was found hidden atop a cabinet inside the shed. The daughter also claimed the children were given peanut butter sandwiches at specific times and were not allowed to eat outside those times.
Whitefeather disputed this, stating she cooked every night and the children had access to the refrigerator.
The couple, who are white, adopted five Black siblings. They lived in Minnesota before moving to Washington state in 2018 and then to West Virginia in 2023.
At the time of the arrest, the children ranged in age from five to 16. The oldest boy is currently receiving full-time care in a psychiatric facility.
All five children are now in the custody of Child Protective Services.