A filmmaker documenting the lives of a deeply insular American family has revealed feeling betrayed by their actions. Mark Laita, who initiated contact with the Whittaker family back in 2004, has been sharing updates on their unconventional lifestyle through his YouTube channel. Despite titles like ‘Christmas season with the Whittakers’ and ‘The Whittakers go to the state fair’, the relationship hit rough waters.
The Whittakers, deemed by Laita as “the most popular inbred family in the United States,” have a history of inbreeding stemming from marriages between children of identical twin brothers. This practice has resulted in multiple generations of individuals with severe disabilities.
Initially, the Whittakers, residing in Odd, West Virginia, were hesitant to interact with Laita, with one family member reportedly threatening him with a firearm during an early encounter. In a podcast appearance, Laita vividly described his initial impressions of the family, likening the experience to a scene from the unsettling movie, Deliverance.
Despite initial challenges, Laita gradually built rapport with the family, only for relations to sour when he accused them of fabricating the death of a family member named Larry. Laita donated $1,000 to what he thought was Larry’s funeral, only to discover later that Larry was still alive.
In a YouTube video titled ‘The Death of Larry Whittaker’, footage showed Larry discussing his alleged passing while sitting outside his home. Larry denied involvement in the deception, claiming he had only learned about it from a recent video. Laita shared that he had given the donation to Larry’s daughter, BJ, who admitted to the deceit and apologized.
Despite the deception, Laita continued his visits to the Whittakers and even assisted them financially when their mobile home caught fire. The filmmaker’s ongoing interactions with the family suggest that past conflicts have been resolved, paving the way for future collaborations.