Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

appalachiablue

(42,956 posts)
Mon Oct 14, 2024, 04:37 PM Oct 14

White Couple from Washington State Adopted 5 Black Children to Be Kept As Slaves

Last edited Mon Oct 14, 2024, 05:31 PM - Edit history (1)

- Lynnwood Times, June 26, 2024. - Ed. (Posting in case you didn't see the story when it broke and to add more info).
-----
SISSONVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA—A White couple from Washington state, Donald Ray Lantz, 63, and his partner Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, are being accused of keeping their five adopted children in slave-like conditions and forcing them to perform manual labor on their Sissonville, West Virginia property. The children, who are all Black and range in age from 6 to 16, were specifically targeted and forced to work by the couple because of their race, the indictment alleges.

The couple were originally arrested last October when Kanawha County police officers—in West Virginia—performed a wellness check based on a call from a neighbor who suspected child abuse. Police found two of the children, aged 14, and 16, locked in a dilapidated shed wearing ragged clothing. One of the children did not have shoes and had “open sores” on his feet, court documents state. The children also had not bathed and smelled of body odor.

Neighbors reported that the children were forced to perform manual labor and were not permitted to enter the main residence, the filing states.

A nine-year-old girl was found in the main residence and soon after Deputies arrived, Lantz returned home with the 11-year-old boy. A six-year-old girl was found staying with acquaintances from the couple’s church nearby. One of the teens told police officers they had been locked in the shed for at least 12 hours since they had last been fed. Deputies reported that the shed had only a small RV porta-potty and no running water. The children said they were forced to sleep on the concrete floor with no pillows, blankets, or mattresses.

Lantz and Whitefeather told Deputies that the children liked living in the shed and that they considered it their “clubhouse.”

The couple adopted the children in Washington state, first keeping them on an 80-acre ranch in Tonasket, in Okanogan County. The city is located 27 miles from the Canadian border and has an estimated population of 1,103. Which adoption agency the couple went through, or how they obtained custody of the children is currently under investigation.. Kanawha Co. WV Prosecutor Christopher Krivonyak stated that the couple sold their Tonasket ranch for $725,000 in Feb. and moved to West Virginia amidst investigations of human trafficking and child abuse in Washington state.

Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers said she has never seen an indictment quite like this throughout her entire tenure as a judge... + Photos,

https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2024/06/26/washington-couple/

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
White Couple from Washington State Adopted 5 Black Children to Be Kept As Slaves (Original Post) appalachiablue Oct 14 OP
Trumpsters, the m sure. Note mention of their church. yardwork Oct 14 #1
Yep, and some 'church.' I read this pair left (fled) Wash state where they had appalachiablue Oct 14 #4
Make America Great Again includes bringing back slavery LetMyPeopleVote Oct 14 #2
LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE ArkansasDemocrat1 Oct 14 #3
Yes. The two of them in that little shed. CrispyQ Oct 14 #7
#9 appalachiablue Oct 14 #13
Definitely, work this pair thru old age in prison, like they did the kids, until they drop.. appalachiablue Oct 14 #9
Evil exists out there. Glad someone alerted authorities. brush Oct 14 #5
Yes indeed, and this country needs help and change soon. appalachiablue Oct 14 #11
Horrendous. pandr32 Oct 14 #6
Abdolutely, well said. I hope these kids find loving helpers and recovery. appalachiablue Oct 14 #8
These two monsters attend a church?? Diamond_Dog Oct 14 #10
Agree, wth kind of 'church' ? appalachiablue Oct 14 #12
Jesus' House of Servitude & Slavery magicarpet Oct 14 #14
A church that calls itself 'christian' ArkansasDemocrat1 Oct 15 #16
MAGA no doubt. N/t CousinIT Oct 14 #15

appalachiablue

(42,956 posts)
4. Yep, and some 'church.' I read this pair left (fled) Wash state where they had
Mon Oct 14, 2024, 04:50 PM
Oct 14

the same evil set up. Monsters, creeps.

magicarpet

(16,626 posts)
14. Jesus' House of Servitude & Slavery
Mon Oct 14, 2024, 06:10 PM
Oct 14

You do all our labor. We treat you worse than a dog. And feed you table scraps if we are in the mood.

Amen,... in Jebuzzes name.

ArkansasDemocrat1

(3,213 posts)
16. A church that calls itself 'christian'
Tue Oct 15, 2024, 10:36 AM
Oct 15

That they were not smited into little puddles of grease for that speaks volumes.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»West Virginia»White Couple from Washing...