This is a composite image of Donald Ray Lantz (at left) and his wife Jeanne Kay Whitefeather (at right). On Jan. 29, 2025, they were found guilty in Kanawha County Circuit Court of 31 counts related to the treatment of four of their five adopted children.
Editor's note: This story was updated on Oct. 7, 2025, to correct which children are covered in this lawsuit.
Two children of Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 63, and Donald Ray Lantz, 61, are suing the couple for the abuse the couple inflicted on them. The oldest daughter, now 18, sued them earlier this year.
This is a composite image of Donald Ray Lantz (at left) and his wife Jeanne Kay Whitefeather (at right). On Jan. 29, 2025, they were found guilty in Kanawha County Circuit Court of 31 counts related to the treatment of four of their five adopted children.
Courtesy photos
This lawsuit is being brought by an adoptive parent of the children.
Trial and sentencing
In January, the couple were found guilty on 31 counts relating to the treatment of four of their five adopted Black children. They were charged with 35 counts.
Testimony and video footage showed maltreatment of one of these children, specifically by making her stand alone in a room with her hands on her head for extended periods of time.
The couple was given the maximum sentences for their crimes. Whitefeather is housed at the Lakin Correctional Center in Mason County. Online records do not indicate where Lantz is being held.
Lawsuit allegations
The complaint lists three specific examples of abuse against the children:
Denial of food and/or water for days at a time
“Violently†striking the children for not listening
Not permitting the children to sleep inside the house
The abuse was “severe and outrageous and went beyond all bounds of decency to be tolerated in a civilized community,†the lawsuit says.
Like the lawsuit filed by the oldest daughter, this complaint is asking for compensation for infliction of emotional distress, negligence, battery and false imprisonment. The lawsuit is seeking punitive damages against the couple in addition to damages for medical expenses, physical pain, emotional distress and other factors.
“These children have been failed by everyone at every turn in their young lives. First by their parents, then by Child Protective Services. We intend to hold all those responsible for the horrific acts of abuse accountable,†attorneys Dante’ diTrapano and Ben Salango said in a statement.
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