Five Black Children Adopted and Forced into Slavery... Made to Live in a Warehouse with Only a Toilet

Forced to stay locked in a warehouse and perform labor
"Children claimed they liked being in the warehouse"

A white couple in the United States was found to have adopted several Black children and forced them into slavery.

Donald Ray Lantz (63, top left) and Jean Kay Whitepeter (62, bottom left), a couple charged with child abuse for adopting five Black children, confining them in a warehouse, and forcing them to work like slaves on their farm. The photo on the right shows the warehouse where the children were confined. [Image source=Capture from X (formerly Twitter)]

On the 27th (local time), NBC News and others reported that Donald Ray Lantz (63) and Jean Kay Whitefeather (62), a couple living in Sissonville, West Virginia, were arrested by police last October on charges including child abuse. At that time, a neighbor reportedly called the local child welfare department, reporting that "two teenage children were locked in a warehouse."

When the child welfare department inspected the scene, it was revealed that the white couple’s five adopted Black children were left in poor conditions. Two children aged 11 and 14 were locked inside the warehouse, while the others, aged 6, 9, and 16, were found at the residence and other locations. Neighbors testified that "the children were forced to work on the farm" and "the children were forbidden from entering the house."

At the time of discovery, the children had not been washed and reportedly emitted a strong odor. The warehouse where the children lived only had a small portable toilet. There were no water supply facilities or lighting installed inside the warehouse. It was confirmed that the children had to sleep on the concrete floor without even a mattress. Furthermore, it was reported that the children had no way to leave the warehouse on their own.

The couple currently faces 16 charges, including trafficking of minors, using minors for forced labor, and child neglect that could cause serious physical injury or death. However, the couple denies all charges. In particular, Whitefeather claimed in court documents that "the children liked calling the warehouse their 'clubhouse'" and insisted that the child abuse allegations were "a simple misunderstanding."

The Kanawha County Prosecutor’s Office also revealed evidence that the couple moved from Washington state after being investigated by police for child abuse and neglect. Initially, the couple was each set a bail of $200,000 (approximately 277 million KRW). The wealthy couple sold their house and ranch to raise bail money, but the prosecution requested an increase, arguing that "these funds were made through the forced labor of the children." The court accepted this and raised the couple’s bail to $500,000 (approximately 700 million KRW) each. The judge expressed anger, stating, "The children were enslaved because of their race," and "This is a charge I have never seen during my time as a judge." The trial for the couple is scheduled for September 9.