They subjected the children they adopted to a nightmare in the United States! A double sentence of 215 and 160 years in prison.

The incident that occurred in West Virginia, USA, came to light in October 2023 after a neighbor's tip. Police teams that raided the home of Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz, who had adopted five black siblings, uncovered the abuse the children had suffered.

Officers found two of the siblings locked in a storage unit. By opening the door and rescuing the children, the teams also placed all five siblings under protection.

Following the investigation, the couple was charged with child abuse, human trafficking, forced labor and other offenses.

Details that emerged in court shocked the courtroom.

During the trial, evidence and witness statements presented to the court exposed the conditions the children endured. It was described that the siblings were forced to carry heavy loads, some had to lie on the floor, and were compelled to use buckets to relieve themselves.

Details about the children being deprived of basic necessities also surfaced in the hearings. The eldest sibling recounted in court that they were constantly subjected to racist insults at home.

Double Prison Sentences of 215 and 160 Years

In the case, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz were convicted of forced labor, human trafficking, child abuse, and neglect. Whitefeather was also found guilty of racially based human rights violations.

By the ruling announced in March 2025, Whitefeather was sentenced to 215 years, while Lantz received a 160-year prison term.

The children's letters read in court also revealed the impact of the events on the siblings. The case entered the record as one of the notable cases in terms of protecting adopted children and the fight against child abuse.