A West Virginia couple has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of subjecting their five adopted Black children to horrific abuse, described by prosecutors as modern-day slavery. Gianne White Feather and Donald Lance adopted the children from a Minnesota homeless shelter but instead of providing a loving home, they subjected the children to severe mistreatment and exploitation.

The case, which has garnered national attention for its brutality, began when a home health worker made a 911 call in October 2023, revealing alarming conditions in the couple’s home. Responding deputies discovered two children locked in a shed without access to food, water, or sanitation. Further investigation uncovered additional children confined in similarly dire circumstances within the house. The children, who were between the ages of 5 and 16, were reportedly forced to perform grueling labor on the couple’s rural property.

As the investigation unfolded, authorities charged White Feather and Lance with gross child neglect, human trafficking, and multiple counts of child abuse. Their trial revealed a disturbing pattern of racial targeting and psychological torture, including surveillance footage demonstrating the children being punished by standing motionless for hours. Testimonies from neighbors and a 911 caller further corroborated the allegations, painting a picture of a household rife with fear and oppression.

In January 2024, the couple was convicted on 31 of the 35 counts against them, including severe child abuse and civil rights violations. During sentencing on March 19, Judge Mary Cla Aers delivered a scathing rebuke of the couple’s defense, which attempted to downplay the severity of their actions. Instead of expressing remorse, the couple exhibited a disturbing lack of accountability, with White Feather absurdly referring to the shed as a “teen clubhouse.”

The judge sentenced White Feather to 215 years in prison and Lance to 160 years, emphasizing the egregious nature of their crimes. The court also mandated that both pay restitution of $280,000 each for the children’s future therapy and medical care. In a poignant moment during sentencing, one child addressed the court, requesting not to be referred to as White Feather’s child, while another expressed determination to rise above the trauma inflicted upon them.

Legal experts, including civil rights attorney Joe Richardson, noted that the case highlighted significant failures in the child welfare system, questioning the vetting processes that allowed such abuses to occur. The children’s plight underscores the critical importance of vigilance and accountability in foster care and adoption systems.

As the community absorbs the shocking details of this case, it serves as a grim reminder of the responsibilities inherent in adoption and the need for ongoing oversight to protect vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse. With the couple now behind bars for life, the focus shifts to the long-term recovery and well-being of the children, who are now safe and in foster care, as they begin to heal from the scars of their traumatic upbringing.