West Virginia couple convicted of forced labor, human trafficking of adopted kids

West Virginia (AP)- A Kanawha County couple accused of neglect and forced labor involving their adopted children have been convicted by a jury after eight hours of deliberation. 

Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Ray Lantz, who are white, were accused of mistreating their four children — all of whom are black — by locking them in a shed, forcing them to sleep on the floor, using buckets as toilets, and more.  

The discovery of the abuse came to light in October 2023. 

Deputies had to force entry into the couple’s barn and found two juveniles locked inside a small room. 

Wednesday’s verdict comes two weeks after the couple went on trial on more than a dozen felony counts, each including forced labor, civil rights violations, human trafficking, and child neglect.  

Whitefeather faces a maximum of 215 years in prison, while Lantz could receive up to 75 years.  

The couple will return to court for sentencing on March 19.