Summary

A West Virginia couple, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz, received prison sentences of 215 and 160 years, respectively, for forcing their five adopted Black children into slave labor.

Authorities discovered the abuse after a welfare check revealed children locked in a shed without water or sanitation.

The couple, charged with human trafficking, child neglect, and forced labor, targeted the children because of their race.

The court ordered them to pay $280,000 in restitution each.

  • Mog_fanatic@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    “You brought these kids to West Virginia, a place as I know as almost heaven and put them in hell. The court will now put you in yours. May God have mercy on your souls, because this court will not."

    Circuit Court Judge MaryClaire Akers

    That’s kinda fire actually

    • Mirshe@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Reminder that West Virginia exists exclusively because of slavery. Especially that part of Appalachia was a HUGE haven for self emancipated people and free black people alike, because if you get deep enough into the mountains, you basically cease to exist as a legal entity unless people want to put a significant amount of effort into reaching you and the same amount in extricating you.

      • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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        5 days ago

        It was also arguably the heart of Ol’ John Browns crusade against twisted institution of slavery. I usually find Evangelicals both living and dead to be morally reprehensible weaklings who take their own gods name in vain, John Brown is one of the few I would be willing to shake the hand of.

      • Schadrach@lemmy.sdf.org
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        5 days ago

        I always find the people here with Confederate flags claiming it’s about heritage to be the most ridiculous. The state was founded during the Civil War and is the part of Virginia that stayed with the Union, how in the everloving fuck is a Confederate flag part of our heritage?