AMERICA’S most inbred family is at the center of an alleged fraudulent scheme, leading officials to ask for the public’s help.
Law enforcement is seeking information in a fraud investigation involving the Whittaker family.
The Whittaker family is considered one of America’s most inbred family[/caption]
The family lives in Odd, West Virginia[/caption]
The family lives in a trash-cluttered home[/caption]
The Whittaker family, who live in West Virginia, gained popularity online after being featured in an interview with Mark Laita, who highlighted the family on his YouTube channel.
Laita first photographed the family in the 2004 book, titled Created Equal, but returned to Odd, West Virginia, in 2020 to record an interview with the family.
The interview with the family cut off from society garnered millions of views and captured shocking footage of the family.
In the film, family members were seen speaking in grunts and thick accents, as some are said to be mentally and physically disabled due to generations of inbreeding.
The inbreeding is said to have started in 1897, when the children of brothers Henry Whittaker and John Whittaker married each other.
Now, police are investigating the family for fraud.
“The Beckley Detachment of the West Virginia State Police is investigating a fraudulent scheme involving money and merchandise being sent to the Whittaker Family,” the police department wrote in a statement.
“The money is being sent to them via ‘Eric Carroll’ and ‘Patrick Roark.’”
The police ended their statement by asking anyone who has sent money or merchandise to those individuals to contact them.
The fraud investigation comes months after rumors swirled online about the family misusing donations sent to them during a fire.
In December, the Whittaker family shared news that their mobile home had burned down, leading concerned fans to send them donations.
The family claimed they were forced to live in a cramped and trash-filled mobile home following the fire.
Laita spoke with BJ, the daughter of Larry Whittaker, about the scarring moment the home went up in flames.
BJ said that she saw the flames from the RV as she was cooking in the kitchen.
Who are the Whittakers?
A PHOTOGRAPHER has claimed that he uncovered one of the most inbred families in America.
He said it all started when a pair of siblings, John and Gracie Whittaker, had 15 children.
The names of the kids include:
- Aileen Violet
- Emory Lee
- Barbra Ellen
- Nannie Lou
- Connie Jean
- Freddy Lee
- Lorene Sue
- Mary Madeline
- John Wade
- Betty Ann
- Danny Ray
- Larry Eugene
- Kenneth Waye
- Judy Kay
- Michael Steven
The daughter said they tried to stop the tragedy by opening a door, but had no luck.
Over 1.4 million people viewed the interview about the family’s heartbreaking fire.
Laita made a GoFundMe for the family’s new mobile home.
However, controversy arose after some family members admitted they were lying for money.
Plus, BJ admitted she lied about her family member Larry dying so she could pocket money for funeral costs.
The lying admission led to Laita threatening to sever ties with the family.
BJ confessed that she only invented the story so she could take the $1,000 given to her by Laita.
The previous lies have even furthered fans’ suspicion of the family.
“All that GoFundMe money better not even go to any family member,” one person commented on Laita’s video.
“Give it directly to a clean up crew and you purchase a new trailer for them.”
