Couple Sentenced to Life for Keeping Adopted Black Children as 'Slaves'.
In a case that has shocked the nation, Gianne White Feather and Donald Lance, a couple from West Virginia, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the abuse and exploitation of their five adopted black children.
The trial uncovered harrowing details of forced labor, physical abuse, and racial discrimination, leading to convictions on multiple charges.
The couple’s actions were so extreme that the court handed down sentences ensuring they will spend the remainder of their lives behind bars.
How They Obtained the Children
Gianne White Feather and Donald Lance’s story began when they decided to adopt children through the foster care system. In 2017, they were approved to adopt children and subsequently adopted five children from a Minnesota homeless shelter.
The children, who were between the ages of 5 and 16, were placed with White Feather and Lance in what was supposed to be a loving home.
However, rather than providing the children with care, love, and protection, the couple subjected them to horrific conditions. The children were not given a safe, nurturing environment but instead were treated as property to be exploited. After bringing the children to their home in Sissonville, West Virginia, White Feather and Lance further isolated them by moving them to a rural property where they forced the children to work long hours in inhumane conditions. They adopted the children with the intention of using them for their own labor, rather than offering them the comfort and care they deserved.
Convictions and Sentences
In January 2024, after a trial that exposed the full extent of the couple's abuse, White Feather and Lance were convicted on 31 out of 35 charges, including human trafficking, child abuse, forced labor, and civil rights violations. These charges stemmed from their systemic abuse, exploitation, and racially motivated mistreatment of the children they adopted.
White Feather was sentenced to 215 years in prison, and Lance was sentenced to 160 years. Both were ordered to pay restitution totaling $560,000 to cover the children's future therapy and medical expenses. The sentences reflect the severity of their crimes, ensuring that both will spend the rest of their lives incarcerated, with little chance of parole. The court's ruling sent a strong message that such cruelty would not be tolerated, and the verdict was welcomed by child welfare advocates across the country.
“You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know is ‘almost heaven,’ and you put them in hell,” Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Maryclaire Akers said during sentencing. “This court will now put you in yours. And may God have mercy on your souls, because this court will not.”
Specific Crimes Committed by White Feather and Lance
The specific crimes committed by Gianne White Feather and Donald Lance were both shocking and devastating. The couple subjected their five adopted children to a range of abuses that included:
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Human Trafficking: The couple exploited the children for forced labor, treating them as property. They were made to work on the farm and were not allowed to attend school or have any freedom outside of the household. The children were forced to perform grueling farm labor for long hours, receiving little to no rest, food, or adequate shelter.
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Child Torture: The children were subjected to extreme physical and psychological abuse. They were locked in a shed, deprived of food, water, and sanitation. The couple took pleasure in humiliating and degrading the children, forcing them to stand motionless for hours with their hands on their heads as punishment. The children were often beaten for perceived infractions, and their emotional well-being was systematically destroyed.
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Racial Abuse: The couple's abuse was not just physical but racially motivated. They referred to the children using derogatory and racist slurs, calling them "monkeys" and other offensive terms. This racial abuse compounded the trauma the children suffered, further highlighting the systemic nature of the mistreatment.
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Forced Labor: Beyond the abuse, the children were forced to work for long hours on the farm, performing tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and maintaining the property. This forced labor took place under harsh conditions, with little to no regard for the children's well-being.
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Neglect: The children were denied basic human rights and needs, including proper food, clean clothes, and access to a bathroom. They were locked in rooms and sheds without access to proper sanitation or medical care, which left them vulnerable to disease and malnutrition.
Details of the Trial
The trial, which began in late 2023, presented chilling evidence of the couple’s abuse. Surveillance footage was shown to the jury, depicting the children locked in the shed, where they were found by deputies. The video footage, along with testimonies from witnesses and experts, exposed the cruel and unusual punishment the children were subjected to. The jury also saw text messages between White Feather and Lance, where they discussed their abuse of the children in graphic detail, calling them names like “monkeys” and planning physical punishments.
Neighbors who had long suspected abuse took the stand, recounting how they had witnessed disturbing behavior and had tried to intervene. One neighbor described how they saw the children looking malnourished and miserable when they arrived in the neighborhood, and they had contacted Child Protective Services multiple times but were ignored.
Defense and Public Testimony
The couple's defense tried to justify their actions, with White Feather’s lawyer claiming that the shed was just a “teen clubhouse,” but this defense collapsed under scrutiny. A 911 caller testified that she had seen Lance lock the children in the shed and had heard their cries for help. Neighbors, who had been concerned for the children’s safety for months, testified about what they witnessed after the family moved in.
When White Feather and Lance took the stand, they attempted to paint themselves as loving and overwhelmed parents. White Feather claimed she was a devoted mother who did everything to care for the children, denying all allegations of abuse. Lance similarly portrayed himself as an overworked father struggling to manage a child with mental health issues. However, the evidence showed that their claims were nothing more than a cover-up for their horrific actions.
Community Impact
The case has had a profound impact on the local community in Sissonville, West Virginia. Neighbors who had long suspected the abuse felt vindicated by the verdict. Many expressed relief that the children were now in safe foster care and would no longer be subjected to the couple's cruelty. The case has also sparked a broader conversation about the need for more stringent vetting in the adoption process and better oversight of foster and adoptive parents to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
Restitution and Future Care for the Children
In addition to their lengthy prison sentences, White Feather and Lance were ordered to pay restitution for the children’s future care, including therapy and medical expenses. The court recognized the psychological and physical toll their abuse had on the children and ensured that funds would be available to help them heal. Though the children’s road to recovery will be long and difficult, they now have a chance to rebuild their lives with the proper care and support.
Legal and Civil Rights Implications
This case raises serious questions about civil rights violations and how the agencies tasked with protecting children failed to prevent the abuse. Civil rights attorney Joe Richardson pointed out that the couple's actions were not only criminal but also violated the children’s basic human rights. Despite previous investigations into the couple, the system failed to protect the children. This case highlights the need for better training and more robust oversight of agencies responsible for child welfare.
Impact on the Children’s Future
While the children will carry the emotional scars of their abuse for the rest of their lives, many have shown remarkable resilience. One child, in a victim impact statement, declared, “I will be something amazing. I will be strong and beautiful,” demonstrating their determination to overcome the trauma they endured. With ongoing therapy and support, these children have a chance at a new life, free from the horrors of their past.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of children in the foster care and adoption system and the need to ensure that no child is subjected to such abuse in the future.
FAQs: People Also Ask
1. What were the charges against White Feather and Lance?
White Feather and Lance were convicted of 31 out of 35 charges, including human trafficking, child abuse, forced labor, and civil rights violations.
2. How did the abuse come to light?
The abuse was uncovered when a home health worker made an urgent 911 call, alerting authorities to the conditions in which the children were living. Deputies found two children locked in a barn without food, water, or proper hygiene.
3. What was the couple’s defense in court?
The couple’s defense claimed the shed was merely a "teen clubhouse," but this was contradicted by witness testimony and evidence. White Feather denied the abuse allegations, stating she loved the children.
4. What sentences did White Feather and Lance receive?
White Feather was sentenced to 215 years in prison, and Lance was sentenced to 160 years. Both were also ordered to pay restitution for the children’s future therapy.
5. What is the current status of the children?
The children are now safe in foster care and are receiving therapy and medical care to recover from the abuse they suffered.
Biography of Gianne White Feather
Early Life and Background
Gianne White Feather was born and raised in the rural hills of West Virginia. She grew up in a tight-knit community where life was simple but marked by personal struggles. Her family wasn't affluent, and it seems she faced many challenges early on—challenges that, over time, seemed to shape her worldview and decisions. Not much is known about her schooling, but it's believed that she attended local schools. However, her environment, full of hardship, may have left a lasting impact, potentially influencing the choices she would later make in life.
Residence and Employment
White Feather and her partner, Donald Lance, lived in Sissonville, a small town nestled in the heart of West Virginia. The couple ran a modest farm, and though they weren’t wealthy by any means, they appeared to scrape by. It seems their life was a constant cycle of labor—farm work, household duties, and caring for their family. White Feather didn’t seem to have a formal career path, and there are no reports of her having any notable jobs beyond working on the farm. She often claimed to be a devoted mother, taking on the role of caretaker for the five children they adopted. But behind these claims of devotion, the truth was much darker.
Adoption and Family Life
In a decision that was supposed to give five children a chance at a better life, White Feather and Lance adopted five children from a homeless shelter in Minnesota. They brought the children to their home in Sissonville, where, instead of a loving and supportive environment, the children were subjected to months of unimaginable abuse. They were forced into grueling labor, locked in rooms and sheds, and stripped of basic human rights. Instead of love, they received cruelty and neglect. What was supposed to be a family turned into a prison for these children.
Previous Convictions and Legal Troubles
Before the charges in 2023, White Feather had no significant criminal history—she had lived a quiet life in her rural town. However, her life took a drastic turn when investigations into her and Lance's treatment of the adopted children led to her arrest. The couple faced charges of human trafficking, child abuse, forced labor, and civil rights violations. Her once clean record was overshadowed by the extreme nature of the crimes she committed against children entrusted to her care.
Conviction and Sentencing
In January 2024, White Feather was convicted of 31 out of 35 charges, including human trafficking and child abuse. She was sentenced to 215 years in prison, effectively ensuring she would never leave prison. She was also ordered to pay restitution to cover the children’s therapy and medical care, a necessary step in helping the children heal. Her sentencing sent a clear message: the abuse she inflicted would not go unpunished.
Biography of Donald Lance
Early Life and Background
Like White Feather, Donald Lance grew up in West Virginia, surrounded by the mountains and rural landscapes. His upbringing wasn’t easy, and his family faced many of the same struggles as White Feather’s. There’s little to say about his early education, as reports suggest that his schooling was basic and he had no notable academic achievements. Lance came from a working-class family and never seemed to have the opportunity to pursue a different path. He, too, would eventually find himself stuck in a life shaped by hardship, leading to choices that would land him in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Residence and Employment
Lance spent most of his life in Sissonville, West Virginia, where he and White Feather lived and ran their farm. Their lifestyle wasn’t glamorous. It was a simple, rural life, filled with farm work and household chores. There are no records suggesting Lance worked outside the home or pursued any career beyond managing the farm. Like his partner, he didn’t have much formal education or professional experience, which seemed to limit his options in life.
Adoption and Family Life
Lance and White Feather adopted five children from a homeless shelter in Minnesota, hoping to create a larger family. But what was meant to be a fresh start for these children turned into a nightmare. The children were not loved, cared for, or supported as they should have been. Instead, they were forced to work on the farm, living in deplorable conditions. They were subjected to racial abuse, neglected, and pushed into grueling labor for long hours. Lance was heavily involved in the abuse, helping his partner maintain control over the children, and when things went wrong, he justified it as "discipline."
Previous Convictions and Legal Troubles
Lance, like White Feather, had no significant criminal history before 2023. But after the authorities investigated his treatment of the children, he was arrested and charged with human trafficking, child abuse, and civil rights violations. His role in the mistreatment of the children became undeniable when the evidence, including text messages and video footage, surfaced during the trial. Lance's actions were horrifying and irrevocably altered the lives of the children he was meant to care for.
Conviction and Sentencing
In January 2024, Lance was convicted of 31 charges, including human trafficking, forced labor, and civil rights violations. Unlike White Feather, he was acquitted of four charges related to civil rights violations. Nonetheless, Lance was sentenced to 160 years in prison for his role in the abuse. Like White Feather, he was ordered to pay restitution to help with the children's future care and healing. His conviction ensures that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars, with no chance of parole.
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