West Virginia – In a harrowing case of cruelty and racial abuse in West Virginia, a judge has delivered a landmark ruling against a 63-year-old woman, identified as J. Whitefeather, and her 61-year-old husband, identified as D. Lantz, accused of using their five adopted Black children as slaves and subjecting them to inhumane conditions. The couple was sentenced to extensive prison terms for their crimes, highlighting the severity of their actions and the court’s commitment to justice.
Judge M. Akers sentenced the couple to the maximum allowable terms, reflecting the gravity of their offenses. Whitefeather, found guilty on all 19 counts brought against her, received a sentence of up to 215 years in prison, with eligibility for parole after 40 years. Her husband, Lantz, convicted on 12 of 16 counts, was sentenced to 160 years and will be eligible for parole after 30 years. The sentencing occurred on Wednesday, and each defendant was also ordered to pay $280,000 in restitution, signaling the court’s intent to seek comprehensive redress for the victims.
The case first came to public attention in October 2023 when authorities received a distressing 911 call reporting children trapped inside a shed on the couple’s property. Responding officers had to pry open the shed, where they discovered two of the children in dire conditions, lacking basic necessities and showing signs of physical neglect. According to the responding officers, the shed had no running water and lights. Inside the house, another scene of despair unfolded as officers found a 9-year-old girl crying alone. The living conditions were squalid, with no proper sanitation facilities, forcing the children to use a makeshift toilet from a detached toilet seat.
During the investigation, it emerged that the children were routinely locked in the shed for up to 12 hours without food, water, or bathroom facilities. They described their living conditions as deplorable, with no proper sleeping arrangements and minimal protection against the elements. Authorities learned that Whitefeather and Lantz had targeted Black children from a shelter, relocating them to West Virginia under the guise of providing a loving home. Instead, the children were coerced into performing strenuous labor, carrying heavy loads such as propane tanks and buckets of water, which neighbors witnessed and reported.
Judge Akers, in her ruling, did not mince words, condemning the couple’s actions as turning a child’s expected sanctuary into a living hell. “You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know as ‘Almost Heaven,’ and you put them in hell. This court will now put you in yours,” Judge Akers stated during the sentencing, underscoring the betrayal of parental responsibilities. The emotional toll on the community and especially on the children was palpable, with one of the eldest children expressing disbelief and anger in court, directly addressing Whitefeather as a “monster.”
This case has deeply affected the community and has raised serious questions about child welfare practices, particularly concerning race-based targeting and the adequacy of oversight in foster and adoptive placements. The court’s decision serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and reform in child protection policies. As Whitefeather and Lantz begin their lengthy sentences, the community continues to heal from the atrocities uncovered, hoping such severe abuse never occurs again. The children, now removed from that environment, face a long road to recovery, supported by social services and the community’s continued care and attention.
