America’s most inbred family tree: How West Virginia’s barking and grunting Whittakers started with identical twin brothers whose kids married each other
- Twin brothers Henry and John Whittaker sparked the family of incest, with their two children getting married and having 15 kids of their own
- The now-infamous Whittaker family grew up in a broken-down property in Odd, West Virginia
- Some of the family suffer from physical and mental abnormalities, which experts say could be because of their genetics
America’s most inbred family started with identical twin brothers whose children married each other – causing genetic defects which have left some of them grunting instead of talking.
The now-infamous Whittaker family grew up in a broken-down property in Odd, West Virginia, and have been known to communicate through grunts and barks.
DailyMail.com can reveal that a set of identical twin brothers sparked the family’s history of incest, with the children of Henry and John Whittaker getting married and having their first child in 1937.
Filmmaker Mark Laita shone a spotlight on the family in a short documentary with some of them struggling with mental and physical abnormalities.
One member of the family, Ray, appears to suffer the most and communicates with Laita through noises rather than words and points to show him items on the property.
The now-infamous Whittaker family grew up in a broken-down property in Odd, West Virginia, and have been known to communicate through grunts and barks
In April last year he revisited the Whittaker family, who he first met in 2004 and filmed in 2020 and spoke about it on the channel.
Laita says that the genetic complications of the family have caused a host of behavioral issues, describing it as ‘out of control’.
The first time he approached them was in the early 2000s when he was initially met by ‘protective’ neighbours with a shotgun.
DailyMail.com have tracked down several birth certificates which show the Whittaker family inbreeding started with twin brothers John and Henry Whittaker in 1887.
John married his own first cousin Ada Riggs – the daughter of Mary Perkins who was the sister of John and Henry’s mother Eliza.
Ada and John had nine children, including Gracie Irene Whittaker who was born in 1920.
John’s brother Henry married Sally Burton and they had seven children, including John Emory Whittaker, born in 1913.
Gracie and John were first cousins, but married in November 1935 and had their first daughter Aileen Violet Whittaker in 1937.
Freddie and Ray, siblings, pictured with their nephew Timmy who lives at the family home in Odd, West Virginia
Aileen Violet Whittaker born in 1937 was the first child of first cousins Gracie and John Whittaker
Aileen was the first of 15 children that the couple had, with several being filmed for the documentary filmed b Soft White Underbelly in 2020.
She passed away in June 1997 after suffering from a heart attack and had on son called Frankie with her husband.
The couple then had a baby boy, Emery Lee Whittaker, in 1938, who died a month later after suffering from pneumonia.
Barbra Whittaker was born in September 1940, and did not appear to marry before she died following a short illness in October 2008.
An obituary shows that she died at St Mary’s Hospital in Huntington, and she was described as a homemaker who loved picnics with her family.
Not much is known about the next two sisters, Nannie Lou Whittaker, born in 1942, and Connie Jean Whittaker, born in 1943.
The couple then had a baby boy, Emery Lee Whittaker, in 1938, who died a month later after suffering from pneumonia
Laita says that the genetic complications of the family have caused a host of behavioral issues, describing it as ‘out of control’
John Wade Whittaker died in 2022, after being born in 1950, and had five children, several grandchildren and one great-grandson
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nkGiFpJC9LM%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US
Both married and are still living in Lowe, with Nannie Lou losing her husband William, later remarrying a man called Leonard, and Connie living with her husband James.
Freddie Lee Whittaker was born in 1944 and made-up part of the documentary produced in 2004 and was part of the family portrait along with his brother Ray.
He passed away in May 2013 following a long illness and is buried close to the family home in Odd. It is not clear if his illness was related to his genetic complications.
Another member of the family who is included in all parts of the updated documentary in 2021 is Lorene Whittaker, who was born in 1946 and has one son called Timmy Whittaker, born 1979.
Timmy and Lorene welcomed the documentary makers with open arms and were seen eating breakfast and showing them the difference donations made by the GoFundMe had made.
The family were able to replace the roof of a property and purchase some vehicles to help them get around.
Mary Madeline Whittaker was born in 1948, and passed away the following year, though it is unclear the cause for this.
John Wade Whittaker died in 2022, after being born in 1950, and had five children, several grandchildren and one great-grandson.
DailyMail.com can reveal that a set of twin brothers sparked the family’s history of incest, with the children of Henry and John Whittaker getting married and having their first child in 1937
Barbra Whittaker was born in September 1940, and did not appear to marry before she died following a short illness in October 2008
He suffered a long battle with cancer, and died with his loving wife Sophia by his side, and was cared for at Bowers Hospice House.
Betty Ann Whittaker is considered the matriarch of the family, and reportedly promised her mother that she would not marry and planned to look after her 14 siblings.
She was born in 1952 and features a lot on the documentary, taking care of shopping to ensure the members living in the small run-down property are eating enough.
Danny Ray Whittaker, known as Ray, was born a year after Betty and makes up a large part of the documentary.
Both he and Lorene both appear to be unable to talk, and only grunt – but other family members are able to talk on their behalf.
In the most recent instalment he is keen to show Laita the new things that they had on the property, and seemed excited that he had returned.
The family didn’t know their genetic issues occurred due inbreeding, according to what they told the filmmaker, adding that they couldn’t remember much about their parents or other family members.
To help improve the Whittaker’s living conditions and provide home improvements, Laita previously created a GoFundMe in 2022 that has since raised $46,433.
Nannie Lou Whittaker, born in 1942, is still alive and remarried after losing her first husband William
To help improve the Whittaker’s living conditions and provide home improvements, Laita previously created a GoFundMe in 2022 that has since raised $46,433
Michael ‘Stevie’ Whittaker passed away in July 2001, aged 40, while Judy died in August of 2021 – though it is unclear how they both died
The family appeared to spend a lot of time on their front porch where they have a couch, armchair and other household belongings
Larry Whittaker and Kenneth Whittaker were born in 1956, and 1957, and also appear in the most recent documentary and talk about how their lives have improved.
The final two siblings are Judy Kay Whittaker, born in 1959 and Michael Stevie Whittaker born in 1960.
Michael passed away in July 2001, aged 40, while Judy died in August of 2021 – though it is unclear how they both died.
One of the filmmaker’s latest videos from 2021 showed the family’s rundown conditions, with the group living in a small and overcrowded home with several animals.
Laita said he returned to the home on a whim to see how the family was doing.
He then decided to pick up his iPhone and grab footage of their ‘level of poverty’ and living conditions.
One of the filmmaker’s latest videos from 2021 showed the family’s rundown conditions, with the group living in a small and overcrowded home with several animals
The family appeared to spend a lot of time on their front porch where they have a couch, armchair and other household belongings.
One relative told Laita: ‘They understand what you talking about.
‘If they don’t like it, they start yelling – let you know they don’t like that idea.’
In one scene Laita asked Betty why she thought her family had so many abnormalities. She said she didn’t know.
He pushed the question further with Kenneth asking specifically about why their eyes weren’t facing forward. He responded: ‘Might be coal mining.’
Documents obtained by DailyMaill.com show that their father John was a coal miner and was listed as the head of the household in the 1950’s US Federal Census.
Despite Laita’s fundraising, many people have found the filmmaking to be exploitative.
West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the country. The village of Odd where Laita went to document the family has just 800 residents.
In one scene Laita asked Betty why she thought her family had so many abnormalities. She said she didn’t know
Almost 17 percent of the 1.77 million residents in West Virginia live in poverty, according to the Census.
The U.S. average is 11.6 percent. Only Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arkansas were worse.
Melody West and Shane Simmons, who run the Real Appalachia YouTube channel, said they had issues with the film.
They said that Laita ‘ostensibly is doing all this good work for them and raising money for them.’
But, they argue, the documentary ‘perpetuates the stereotype that has been around for decades’ relating to inbreeding in Appalachia.
‘I just feel like a lot more could be done for these people,’ said West.
‘I think he’s trying to act like he’s doing a lot for them.’
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