A filmmaker working on a documentary about a highly inbred American family has claimed that he was deceived by the family. Mark Laita, who first connected with the Whittakers in 2004, has been providing updates on their lives through YouTube videos like ‘Christmas season with the Whittakers’ and ‘The Whittakers go to the state fair’. However, his interactions with the family have not been without challenges.
The Whittakers, known as “the most popular inbred family in the United States,” have a history of inbreeding that started when descendants of twin brothers Henry and John married each other, leading to generations of offspring with severe disabilities.
Initially wary of Laita, the Whittakers, based in Odd, West Virginia, showed reluctance to engage with him, with one family member reportedly brandishing a gun during an early meeting. Laita described his initial encounter with the family as reminiscent of a scene from the movie “Deliverance,” noting the eccentric behavior of some family members.
Gradually, Laita gained the trust of the Whittakers by learning about their unique lifestyle. However, tensions arose when Laita accused the family of fabricating the death of Larry, a family member, from a heart attack. Laita even made a donation towards Larry’s funeral before discovering that Larry was alive.
In a YouTube video titled ‘The Death of Larry Whittaker,’ Laita revealed footage of Larry discussing his alleged death. Larry denied involvement in the deception, claiming he learned about it from a video the night before.
Despite the initial deception, Laita has continued to visit and support the Whittakers, including contributing when their mobile home was destroyed in a fire. This incident seems to have been resolved, indicating a continued relationship between Laita and the family.