Americas most inbred family

By Vanessa Serna For Dailymail. A filmmaker has given a glimpse inside americas most inbred family lives of one of America's most inbred families in West Virginia after he visited them in their squalid home. The Whittakers - who live in the aptly-named village of Odd, 75 miles south of Charleston - have been known to bark at people, communicate through grunts and often run away when people tried to speak to them.

The Whittaker family have a complicated history with inbreeding leaving some members with heartbreaking genetic defects - but they have their neighbors for security and support. The Whittakers have become one of the most well-known families in America due to their complicated history with inbreeding. Devastating genetic defects have left some members of the West Virginian family communicating through grunts and barks rather than words or sign language. When people try to approach them for a conversation, some family members have been known to run away in the other direction. Living in the village of Odd, 75 miles from Charleston, Whittaker's inbreeding started with a set of identical twin brothers, Henry and John, whose children got married and went on to have their own children together. Harry and his wife Sally had seven children together, including John Isom Whittaker, who was born in John fell in love with Ada Rigg, his first cousin, and went on to have nine children with her, including their daughter Gracie Irene Whittaker in

Americas most inbred family

Photographer Mark Laita has set up a GoFundMe page to help the Whittaker family afford a new home after seeing their living conditions firsthand and recognizing they need help. They're one of the most well-known families in America - and are often praised for taking life's challenges with grace and joy. The Whittaker family , who live in the village of Odd, 75 miles from Charleston, have a complicated history with inbreeding, leaving some family members with devastating genetic defects. While they can understand what is being said to them, some family members communicate through grunts and barks rather than words or sign language. Despite their challenges, the Whittakers are known to be "caring", "honest" and "pure", as they continue to live in their small house with little to no interest in materialistic items. But after seeing their crowded living conditions, photographer Mark Laita has up a GoFundMe page on behalf of the YouTube channel Soft White Underbelly to "help the Whittaker family purchase a new home. The Whittaker's inbreeding started with a set of identical twin brothers, Henry and John, whose children got married and went on to have their children together. Harry and his wife Sally had seven children together, including John Isom Whittaker, who was born in John fell in love with Ada Rigg, his first cousin, and went on to have nine children with her, including their daughter Gracie Irene Whittaker in When Gracie grew up, she married her double cousin, John Emory Whittaker, in , whom she shared both sets of grandparents with, and went on to have 15 children. Tragically, many of their children were born with severe physical and mental impairments, believed to have been a result of inbreeding. Their eldest child, Aileen, passed away in June after suffering from a heart attack, while their oldest son Emery died a month after being born in after suffering from pneumonia. Today, Betty, who was born in , has become the head of the family after promising her mother she would not marry so she could look after her 14 siblings. Documenting their lives out in Odd, photographer Mark was invited into their house and spoke to the family about their day-to-day lives as well as their heritage.

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A photographer has shared a fascinating and poignant insight into the world of a family dubbed 'America's most inbred', who communicate largely in grunts and live in squalor in rural West Virginia. Mark Laita, who runs the Soft White Underbelly YouTube account, said the Whittaker family would bark at visitors, make animal noises at each other in lieu of conversation, and would often flee from people who came to see them. Mr Laita first met the family at their home in the village of Odd in , and later came back to film them in The family is made up of three siblings called Lorraine, Timmy and Ray, whose parents were first cousins. He said on the Konkrete podcast: "It was out of control. There's these people walking around and their eyes are going in different directions and they are barking at us. They have received a huge amount of interest since Mr Laita filmed his interview, he said.

We know little about the family due to the Whitakers secretive nature and the protection they receive from neighbors and local authorities. Mark Laita brought the family to international recognition when he photographed them for his book Created Equal in He faced threats from neighbors as he tried to photograph the family and had to explain himself before locals allowed him to proceed. Researchers rely on self-reporting inbreeding to generate family trees as ethical barriers hinder the gathering of family data without permission. The family lives in a decrepit house and appears unkempt, giving the video a sad feeling. Mark Laita offered the Whitaker family food and money to demonstrate his good intentions.

Americas most inbred family

Filmmaker Mark Laita documented the Whittaker family, considered America's most inbred, in a YouTube video as they introduced their baby boy, Braxton, at their home in West Virginia. A West Virginia family that has been deemed America's most inbred has welcomed a baby boy, whose grandmother proudly held him in a recent video by documentary filmmaker and photographer Mark Laita. Laita has been filming the family for years, posting clips of them that show their lifestyle in a quaint community in the mountainous state to his 4. Brandon introduces himself and states that the child is his — he had brought the baby with him as he and his brother visited the family that day from Wyoming County, about a minute drive from where the family lives in Odd, a hamlet about 80 miles

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Shocking graphic reveals the serious health issues gamers face if they spend just three hours a day hunched After his initial visit, the filmmaker kept in touch with the family and soon returned to shoot a film called Inbred family - The Whittakers in But one relative told Mr Laita: "They understand what you talking about. Updated April 4, , a. How much would a 2p National Insurance cut save you? Mark Laita, who runs the Soft White Underbelly YouTube account, said the Whittaker family would bark at visitors, make animal noises at each other in lieu of conversation, and would often flee from people who came to see them. A filmmaker has described America's most inbred family, the Whittakers , as "like a scene out of Deliverance". Laita recalled the building up of his relationship with the inbred family, particularly with family members named Ray, Betty, Kenneth, Ray, Timmy and Lorraine. Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook All the latest news, showbiz, lifestyle and sports updates, brought to you by our dedicated American team. Harry and his wife Sally had seven children, including John Isom Whittaker, born in By Vanessa Serna For Dailymail. At one point, Ray squawks excitedly while showing Laita a dent in their new truck from where it hit a deer. Facebook Twitter. The Whittakers have become one of the most well-known families in America due to their complicated history with inbreeding. They also couldn't remember much about their parents or other family members.

THE complicated lineage of a family dubbed the most inbred in America has been revealed after a filmmaker documented their lives. Mark Laita first stayed with the Whittaker family in , but after reuniting with them in , details about their lineage became clearer.

Facebook Twitter. Despite their complex history with inbreeding, which has led to some members suffering from severe genetic defects, they are known for their warm and welcoming nature. John fell in love with Ada Rigg, his first cousin, and went on to have nine children with her, including their daughter Gracie Irene Whittaker in Mirror Choice. The lookalike Kate Moss who Thanks for contacting us. Princess due to attend Trooping the Colour in June - as cancer-stricken King Charles smiles as he holds Palace audience American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe slams Paula Abdul after sexual assault allegations - as star reveals loving emails singer sent him Oscars host Jonathan Ross reveals the 'major problem' he has with Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer Rethinking cremations: Why more people are choosing a direct cremation to say a personal goodbye Ad Feature Gabby Logan admits that her two children Reuben and Lois, 17, HATE when she talks about her sex life with husband Kenny Celebrity Big Brother SPOILER: Gary Goldsmith details 'difficult' situation with Kate Middleton and discusses his 'bad uncle' nickname Pregnant Emily Atack reveals the gender of her baby and hints at her due date as she prepares to become a mother for the first time Kirsten Dunst shows off her toned legs in Marie Claire cover shoot Follow Mirror. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories Sign up. It appeared by Laita's video that the family didn't know their genetic issues occurred due inbreeding.