A West Virginia couple has been convicted of human trafficking and forced labor after subjecting their adopted children to brutal abuse, forcing them to work under grueling conditions, and depriving them of basic necessities. The case underscores the dangers faced by children without stable homes, who can be particularly vulnerable to trafficking and forced labor.

Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, and Donald Lantz, 63, had moved the children from Washington state to a rural property in West Virginia, where they exploited them as unpaid laborers under inhumane conditions.

Vulnerable youth at risk of trafficking

An estimated 700,000 children experience homelessness over a single year in the U.S. Children experiencing homelessness are among the most at risk of trafficking and forced labor. Without stable homes, they are more likely to be placed in precarious situations or taken in by individuals who exploit them under the guise of providing care. In fact, in the U.S., nearly one in five homeless youth have been a victim of human trafficking.

Whitefeather and Lantz adopted five children from a shelter, then subjected them to severe abuse.

According to People, the eldest daughter, now 18, testified about the harsh treatment she and her siblings endured:

She said the children had to stand in their rooms for hours ‘to prevent us from falling asleep,’ she testified, and were pepper sprayed when they didn’t obey orders, such as keeping their hands atop their heads for prolonged periods.

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