An acclaimed documentary filmmaker who spent years gaining the trust of a notoriously inbred family from West Virginia has revealed how they cruelly deceived him by faking the death of a family member.
Mark Laita first encountered the Whittaker family back in 2004, and has since provided regular updates on their unconventional life through his popular YouTube channel, Soft White Underbelly.
The Unconventional World of the Whittakers
Described by Laita as "the most popular inbred family in the United States", the Whittakers' unique circumstances stem from generations of inbreeding that began when children of identical twin brothers Henry and John Whittaker married each other.
This prolonged inbreeding has resulted in numerous descendants suffering from significant physical and intellectual disabilities, creating a family dynamic unlike any other.
Laita recalled his first, terrifying visit to their home in Odd, West Virginia, where he was accompanied by a police officer for protection. The filmmaker compared the initial scene to something from the disturbing film Deliverance.
"We came around to this road, which turns into a country road, which turns into a dirt road," Laita remembered. "Then we come to this trailer, and then a little shack on the other side of the road. And there are these people walking around, and their eyes are going in different directions, and they are barking at us."
From Suspicion to Trust - and Then Betrayal
Early interactions were fraught with danger, with one suspicious family member allegedly pulling a gun on Laita during their first meeting. The family's initial response involved barking at the filmmaker and behaving erratically.
One man in particular would "scream and go running away" whenever Laita attempted to make eye contact, his trousers falling around his ankles as he fled to kick a rubbish bin repeatedly.
Despite these challenging beginnings, the determined filmmaker slowly won the family's trust through patience and persistence. He learned about their curious way of life and documented their story through clips with titles like 'Christmas season with the Whittakers' and 'The Whittakers go to the state fair'.
This hard-won trust was shattered when family member BJ, claiming to be Larry Whittaker's daughter, approached Laita with news that Larry had died from a heart attack. Sympathetic to their plight, Laita generously donated $1,000 (approximately £770) to help cover funeral costs.
The Shocking Truth Revealed
The deception unravelled when Laita discovered that Larry Whittaker was very much alive. In a YouTube clip entitled ‘The Death of Larry Whittaker’, Laita shared footage showing Larry alive and well, sitting outside his family home and discussing his faked demise.
When questioned about whether he had orchestrated the scheme, Larry claimed, "No, I just heard of it last night on a video."
BJ later confessed to the shocking deception and apologised to Laita for tricking him out of the substantial donation. Despite this betrayal, the filmmaker has maintained his relationship with the family, demonstrating remarkable forgiveness.
Laita has continued his filmed visits and even stepped in to help when the family's mobile home was destroyed by fire, showing a commitment to their story that transcends the hurt caused by their deception.
