Mark Laita spent nearly two decades documenting the Whittaker family of Odd, West Virginia, known as America’s most inbred family. He recalls his first encounter back in 2004, which was marked by hostility—neighbors armed with shotguns guarding the family and wary of outsiders.
The family’s way of communicating caught him off guard: they didn’t speak like most people but instead grunted, barked, and used gestures. Laita shared a memorable moment where a man screamed and ran off with his pants around his ankles, kicking a garbage can repeatedly—a scene he described as the wildest he had ever seen.
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Though Laita can’t verify the full family tree, he suspects that inbreeding contributed to the physical and mental struggles observed among key members. His efforts led to fundraising campaigns to help the family, but tensions arose when questions about money raised were brought up.
The story took a surprising turn when rumors of a family member’s death turned out false, revealed as a scheme to get funds to deal with addiction. Despite this chaos, Laita showed forgiveness and reconnected with the family, but he warns others to be cautious, noting the community’s protective nature and dislike of ridicule.
The Whittakers: America’s “most inbr£d” family. pic.twitter.com/oDepEMBcoW
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The Whittakers’ tangled family history, rooted in generations of close intermarriages, has caused significant challenges. Laita urges people not to seek them out but to respect their privacy and dignity.
