America’s ‘most inbred family’ have issued an apology to the man who uncovered them.
Photographer Mark Laita discovered the Whittaker family about 20 years ago, but he didn’t start filming their lives right away.
He stayed in contact with them and went back to their home in Odd, West Virginia, to begin filming in 2020.
\The family consists of three siblings named Lorraine, Timmy, and Ray. Their parents were reportedly first cousins.
After the Whittaker family appeared on Mark Laita’s Soft White Underbelly YouTube channel, they got a lot of attention and were labeled as “the most inbred family” in the U.S.
Although Mark had a good relationship with them, he decided to end it after discovering they had been lying to him.
The family told Mark that 67-year-old Larry Whittaker had died earlier this year. Mark helped them raise money for the funeral and even gave $1,000 of his own money.
However, Larry wasn’t actually dead. When Mark found out, the family apologized for lying, but they went on to deceive him again.
The photographer, Mark Laita, gave Larry Whittaker $700 to help him take his daughter BJ to North Carolina to start a new life. But Larry didn’t do that and kept the money for himself.
Even though Mark said he wasn’t going to see the Whittakers anymore, he visited them over the summer. He filmed the visit and posted it on YouTube this month. In the video, Larry shakes Mark’s hand and apologizes for everything that happened.
“It’s been a long time,” Larry says to Mark. “I’m sorry for what they did to you, and I want to tell the world that I’m sorry.”
Mark accepts the apology and says he missed them. “I’m very good at forgiving and understanding,” Mark shared. “I’ve missed you guys, and I think my viewers have missed you too.” He even joked that the Whittakers probably missed the money they made from being on his YouTube channel.
Now that they’re on speaking terms again, Mark set up another GoFundMe for the family in late August. So far, the page has raised a little over $600 out of a $100,000 goal. The money will go toward helping the family with living expenses and taking care of their home.
We Adopted a 3 Year Old Boy, When My Husband Went to Bathe Him for the First Time, He Shouted, We Must Return Him
Years of infertility led us to adopt Sam, our cherished three-year-old with striking blue eyes. On our first night together, my husband Mark panicked while bathing him, yelling, “We have to return him!” Confused, I went to check, only to spot a familiar birthmark on Sam’s foot.
I later discovered the shocking truth: Sam was Mark’s biological son from a one-night affair years prior. Mark’s guilt surged when he recognized the birthmark, but he refused to address it directly. After confirming the connection with a DNA test, I decided to take action. I filed for divorce and full custody, knowing Sam deserved a stable, loving home.
Since then, Sam and I have built a joyful life together. Mark, distant by choice, occasionally sends cards, but Sam has thrived despite it all. When people ask if I regret staying that first night, I say no. Sam is my son, and choosing him was the best decision I ever made.
Leave a Reply