By ADF Newsdesk – 

In a shocking case that has rocked the community of West Virginia in the United States, a white American couple, Donald Ray Lantz, 63, and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, are facing serious charges after being accused of locking their five adopted Black children in a barn and forcing them to work as enslaved people.

The couple has pleaded not guilty to charges including the use of a minor child in forced labour, human trafficking of a minor child, and child neglect, creating a substantial risk of severe bodily injury or death. The allegations came to light following a welfare check last October, where two teenagers were discovered locked in appalling conditions in a shed on the couple’s property on Cheyanne Lane.

All of the adopted children, aged 6, 9, 11, 14, and 16, were reported to be Black and were allegedly targeted by the couple based on their race. The indictment paints a disturbing picture of human rights violations and forced labour, shocking even seasoned officials like Judge Maryclaire Akers.

The teenagers were found in the shed with no running water, dirty clothes, and no proper bedding, sleeping on the concrete floor. The conditions described by the children were harrowing, with reports of open sores on their feet and being deprived of food for hours.

Despite the serious allegations, Lantz and Whitefeather deny the charges. Their bail has been increased to $500,000 each, up from the previous $200,000 amount. Whitefeather attempted to downplay the severity of the situation by referring to the shed as a “teenage clubhouse,” but the evidence presented paints a much darker picture.

The couple is set to go on trial on September 9, facing a community that is stunned by the heinous accusations and standing in support of the young victims of this disturbing case.

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