Camilla Jessen
Filmmaker Mark Laita spent two decades documenting the Whittaker family of West Virginia.
When filmmaker and photographer Mark Laita first drove down a dirt road in Odd, West Virginia in 2004, he had no idea he was about to encounter a family whose story would challenge his understanding of isolation, poverty, and inherited trauma.
Known as the Whittakers, this family would later gain viral fame as “America’s most inbred family”—a label both sensational and tragic.
The Whittakers became the subject of Laita’s long-term project Created Equal, which sought to document the spectrum of American life.
But unlike other subjects, the Whittakers stood apart due to their unusual behavior and manner of communication.
As reported by Newsner, some members grunt or bark instead of speaking and show signs of severe cognitive and physical impairments.
“It Was Out of Control”
Speaking on the Koncrete KLIPS podcast, Laita described one of his early visits as “the craziest thing I have ever seen.”
He recounted how one male family member would scream and flee in panic, his pants falling down, before kicking a trash can—an event that repeated multiple times during their meeting.
“It was like that little scene from Deliverance, only real,” Laita recalled. “You’re driving deeper and deeper into rural America, and then you arrive, and everything just defies explanation.”
While Laita is careful to note that he cannot conclusively confirm the degree of inbreeding within the family, he strongly suspects it played a significant role in their health conditions.
A Tangled Family Tree
Through interviews and historical research, Laita pieced together a disturbing genealogical trail.
The family tree reveals repeated intermarriage among cousins, including a union between Gracie Irene Whittaker and her double cousin John Emory Whittaker, which resulted in 15 children.
Many of their descendants, such as Lorene, Timmy, and Ray, exhibit signs of congenital mental and physical disabilities.
Online Fame, Fundraising, and Fallout
Laita’s videos on his Soft White Underbelly YouTube channel amassed millions of views, sparking intense public interest—and controversy.
Fundraising campaigns raised thousands to help the family, but questions arose when family members, including Betty Whittaker, claimed they didn’t know where the money had gone.
Laita, in response, released evidence of fund transfers and later shut down the fundraisers entirely.
The saga took another twist when a relative falsely claimed Larry Whittaker had died, allegedly to solicit funeral money. Larry later appeared alive in a video, and his daughter admitted to fabricating the story, citing a struggle with drug addiction.
Despite the challenges, Laita remains committed to the family’s well-being.
In a recent visit, he accepted an apology from Larry, signaling a tentative return to documenting their story—with caution.
“They’re Protected Now”
Laita now warns others not to approach the Whittakers without understanding the risks.
Local residents and extended family, weary of outsiders, have taken protective measures to shield the family from ridicule and exploitation.
“There’s a history here,” local pastor William Plumley told the Daily Mail. “The documentary has helped them, but it’s also attracted people who just want to gawk or cause trouble.”