If you’ve ever heard of the Whittaker family from Odd, West Virginia, then you already know the reputation that surrounds them.
Often referred to as America’s most inbred family, the Whittakers have been the subject of filmmaker Mark Laita’s work for nearly two decades. Recently, he revealed the wildest thing he ever saw during his visits.
A Strange Way of Communicating
Unlike most families, the Whittakers don’t primarily use words. Instead, they grunt, bark, and rely heavily on gestures — something Laita first noticed back in 2004 when he met members such as Ray, Betty, Kenneth, Timmy, and Lorene.
But gaining access to the family wasn’t easy. Laita remembers his first encounter being tense:
“When I first arrived, neighbors armed with shotguns made it clear they didn’t want outsiders making fun of the family.”
Despite the rocky start, he eventually earned their trust and included them in his book Created Equal, which showcases America’s cultural diversity.
On the Koncrete KLIPS Podcast, Laita recalled his surreal first impressions:
“It felt like something out of Deliverance. We drove down this dirt road, and suddenly there were people wandering around, eyes pointing in different directions, barking at us.
One man, if you looked at him or said something, would scream, run off with his pants falling down, and then kick a garbage can. It happened over and over — absolutely out of control. The craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”
While Laita can’t prove the family’s exact lineage, he strongly suspects inbreeding has contributed to their severe physical and mental challenges:
“I can’t say for sure the parents were related, but in this region it’s common, and the Whittakers are the most extreme case I’ve come across.”
Fundraising Conflicts and Scandals
Laita’s documentation sparked several fundraising campaigns to support the Whittakers, though things became complicated. At one point, Betty Whittaker said she didn’t know what happened to the money raised — an accusation that left Laita furious.
He insisted he had always helped:
“Look at their lives — they’ve improved since I came around because I’ve always come through for them.”
Still, he revealed the family frequently asked for large sums of money, with little clarity on how it was used. After showing proof of his transfers online, Laita stopped running fundraisers.
In 2024, confusion deepened when relatives claimed that Larry Whittaker had died of a heart attack. Laita later discovered Larry was very much alive — the false rumor was spread by Larry’s daughter to scam $1,000 for a “funeral.” She later admitted, cigarette in hand, that she had lied because of her drug addiction.
Despite everything, Laita gave Larry $700 to help his daughter move to North Carolina, though Larry allegedly pocketed the money instead. Frustrated, Laita confessed:
“I don’t know what else to do with them but walk away.”
Later, Larry apologized publicly:
“I’m sorry for what they’ve done to you, and I want to tell the world I’m sorry.”
Laita accepted, saying he forgives easily and had missed the family — though he now warns outsiders to stay away, as protective neighbors are quick to defend them from ridicule.
The Family Tree
Pastor William Plumley summed up the mixed impact of the attention:
“The documentary helped them in some ways, but it’s also brought unwanted visitors who just want to make fun.”
Research into the Whittaker family’s ancestry reveals just how deep the inbreeding runs. The current generation — siblings Lorene, Ray, Timmy, and cousin Freddie (who died of a heart attack) — are direct descendants of identical twin brothers Henry and John Whittaker.
Generations of cousins marrying cousins followed. John Isom Whittaker (born in 1882) married his cousin Ada Rigg, and they had nine children. Their daughter, Gracie Irene, later married her double cousin John Emory Whittaker in 1935, producing 15 children.
Over time, these close intermarriages compounded genetic issues, leaving many descendants with severe disabilities — a haunting legacy that still affects the Whittakers today.