The West Virginia Supreme Court has dismissed the appeals of a Sissonville couple convicted in what prosecutors called a historic child abuse and human trafficking case.
Donald Lantz and Jeanne Whitefeather were sentenced earlier this year to a combined 70 to more than 370 years in prison for abusing and exploiting their four adopted children. The couple was arrested in 2023 after two of the children were found locked in a shed on their property.
Their attorneys argued for a new trial, claiming unfair proceedings and constitutional issues, but missed multiple filing deadlines. The Supreme Court dismissed both appeals for failure to meet the final deadline.