Nationwide — Five black children adopted by white couple Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz have been awarded a $4.4 million settlement from West Virginia after state child welfare officials failed to protect them from years of abuse and neglect. The siblings were between 6 and 16 years old when authorities found them living in harsh conditions at the couple’s property in Sissonville, where they were also forced to perform farm work.
Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers approved the settlement last week, making it the largest amount the state can pay in a case of this type. According to the New York Post, the five siblings will divide the money among themselves. Some of the children have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the abuse they experienced while living with their adoptive parents. Their attorney, Dante diTrapano, said the settlement will give the siblings a chance to rebuild their lives and experience parts of childhood that they lost.
The lawsuit against the West Virginia Department of Human Services accused Child Protective Services of failing to respond to repeated warnings about the children. Records reportedly contained concerns about their living conditions, but the agency could not provide documentation showing that CPS had properly followed up. Neighbors had also made several reports. DiTrapano said there appeared to have been only one visit to the property before authorities finally removed the children.
Police discovered the conditions after a neighbor reported that two teenagers were being kept inside a shed. Officers found a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl locked inside the building, which had no lights or running water. The only toilet was a small RV-style portable unit. One teenager told police they had gone about 12 hours without food. The children wore dirty clothing, had a strong odor, and said they had been forced to sleep on the concrete floor without mattresses. Prosecutors later presented evidence that the couple forced the siblings to work and treated them differently because they were Black.
The handling of the case also raised questions about how CPS responded to the reports. During the couple’s criminal trial, evidence showed that a CPS worker left a card at the home. The children were later interviewed, but DiTrapano said their adoptive parents were close enough to hear what they told investigators. At least one Department of Human Services employee involved in the case was later fired, said state officials. DiTrapano has also said he plans to pursue legal action involving Washington state officials because the family previously lived there and had already faced child abuse reports before moving to West Virginia.
Whitefeather and Lantz were eventually arrested and received combined prison sentences totaling 375 years. The children were placed with new families after authorities removed them from the home. Two of their new adoptive mothers later appeared in court and described the changes in their lives, including a trip to the beach. A spokesperson for Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the governor has taken steps to strengthen the state’s child welfare system since taking office. The $4.4 million settlement will now provide the siblings with financial support as they continue recovering from years of abuse and neglect.