In 2004, the spotlight shone brightly on Mark Laita after he introduced the world to the Whittakers, who boldly claimed the title of “America’s most inbred family.” The documentary he created struck a chord and spread widely, but not without a shadow of controversy. Laita later unveiled that the family had been misleading him for quite some time.
The Whittaker family’s story began in the small, quaint town of Odd, West Virginia. Mark Laita’s documentary captured this unique family dynamic, highlighting siblings Ray, Betty, Larry, and Lorene, along with Lorene’s son, Timmy. Known for their complex heritage, the Whittakers were descendants of two generations of first cousins. Remarkably, this included a pair of identical twin brothers, John and Henry Whittaker, born in 1897. John had wed his first cousin, Ada, and together they had nine children, one of whom was Gracie Irene Whittaker, born in 1920. Meanwhile, Henry married Sally and fathered seven children, including a boy named John in 1913. By 1935, cousins John and Gracie were bound in marriage, giving life to 15 children, each carrying unique mental and physical traits.
America’s Fascination with “The Most Inbred Family”
The documentary nudged America to glance curiously at the Whittakers. Though faced with inquiries on the topic of inbreeding, they seemed oblivious to its implications. When asked why some family members’ eyes weren’t aligned, Kenneth whimsically suggested it might be due to “coal mining.” Mark Laita, eventually warming to the family, once faced a startling greeting from John’s brother who threatened him with a gun. Despite such tense beginnings, Laita confessed later to discovering the myriad of untruths the Whittakers spun.
Fast forward to March 2024, Laita shared tragic news about one of the Whittakers, Larry, who purportedly died from a heart attack. “There’s some news with the Whittaker family. Sadly, Larry Whittaker passed away last week. I think he had a heart attack,” Mark confided. Mark remembered Larry fondly, “Larry was always a great dude to me. He was always really nice. Larry was always a standup guy and he and Betty really ran the show very well. Larry will be greatly missed. It’s going to be hard on Betty now.” Aware of the family’s needs, he generously contributed $1,000 toward Larry’s funeral. Yet, a surprising twist unraveled; Larry, very much alive, appeared in a YouTube video titled “The Death of Larry Whittaker,” seen lounging outside his West Virginia home.
The Unfolding of Deception and Apologies
Laita stumbled across the deception when the video surfaced, revealing the truth. “They had been lying to me all this time,” he expressed. The funeral fund had been misused, pocketed by Larry’s daughter, BJ. Deeply regretful, BJ later owned up to her actions, confessing, “I’m very sorry for what I done. I mean, it was because I was on drugs, and you’ll do anything to get it. Yep…I was on heroin and crack cocaine.”
Despite the deceit, Mark Laita, undeterred, continued extending his support to the Whittakers. Through a GoFundMe campaign, he managed to generate considerable financial aid, which significantly benefited the family.
