A couple from West Virginia will continue to be held in custody as they await trial for allegedly exploiting their adopted black children as “slaves,” according to a judge.
Donald Ray Lantz, 63, and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, are facing charges of human trafficking and other offenses, with their bond totaling $1 million after a judge raised it last week.
The husband and wife, both white, have pleaded not guilty to charges including human trafficking of a minor child, use of a minor child in forced labor, child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death, and false swearing.
Concerns about the welfare of the couple’s adopted children were first raised by a neighbor in October 2023. Law enforcement discovered a teenage boy and girl locked in a shed without running water or bathrooms at their Sissonville home near Charleston. The children were also found to be lacking adequate food.
A 9-year-old girl was found crying inside the main residence, and a fourth child returned home with Mr. Lantz. A fifth child, a 6-year-old girl, was located at another residence with acquaintances from the couple’s church.
Following their arrest, the husband and wife were taken into custody, and all the children were placed under the care of Child Protective Services.
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A grand jury handed down indictments against the couple in May.
During a court session, Ms. Whitefeather’s attorney, Mark Plants, described the shed as a “teenage clubhouse” with a key inside, suggesting it was a “simple misunderstanding.”
According to the indictment, the couple allegedly forced, threatened, and interfered with the rights and privileges of the children. The young victims were only identified by their initials in the indictment.
Neighbors reported that the children were compelled to do farm labor and were not allowed inside the residence, the filing revealed.
Judge Maryclaire Akers remarked during a June 11 court hearing, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an indictment like this in all of my time.” She highlighted the allegations of human trafficking, human rights violations, forced labor, and neglect targeting the children because of their race.
The judge decided to increase their bonds to $500,000 each, deeming their previous cash bonds insufficient.
Kanawha County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Krivonyak argued that the $200,000 cash bonds posted for their release were allegedly obtained from trafficking profits and should be transferred into a trust for the children.
The couple remains in custody at South Central Regional Jail, with their trial scheduled for September 9.
