Americas most inbred family

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.

The Whittaker family, who are known as America's most inbred family, were treated to a day out by photographer Mark Laita - who took them to visit their family cemetery. America's most inbred family, the Whittakers , have their own private cemetery and even make their own headstones. 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. Although all members of this West Virginian family can understand spoken words, some members can only communicate through grunts and body language. Over time, photographer Mark Laita has formed a close bond with the family, documenting their unique lifestyle.

Americas most inbred family

By Vanessa Serna For Dailymail. A filmmaker has given a glimpse inside the 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. Producer Mark Laita has shone a spotlight on the family by releasing a short minute film on his YouTube channel Soft White Underbelly, in a bid to report on untold stories from across the country. He has described the inbred family as like something out of the thriller, Deliverance. In April last year he revisited the Whittaker family, who he first met in and filmed in , and spoke about it on the channel. Pictured: The Whittakers. Mark Laita, pictured, was first acquainted with the West Virginia family in when he took pictures of them. He returned in and spoke about it last year. The Whittakers are three siblings named Lorraine, Timmy, and Ray. Their parents were double first cousins, The Sun reported - first cousins, twice, because they share both sets of grandparents. The genetic complications have caused a host of behavioral issues, Laita reported.

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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

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission. The baying vocals of one inbred family sound like a stereotype relegated to only the most exaggerated and offensive backwoods cult flicks. He was describing his first ever encounter with the Whittakers, who reside in the rural mountain town of Odd, West Virginia, which boasts an infamously tight-knit population of around people. The surviving Whittaker family tree is currently comprised of siblings Betty, Lorraine and Ray, as well as cousin Timmy, after their brother Freddie died of a heart attack.

Americas most inbred family

The Whittaker family have heartbreaking genetic defects which have left some of them grunting and barking instead of talking - and they are cut off from civilisation in there shack. The Whittaker family have a complicated history of inbreeding - and it's left them with heartbreaking genetic defects. Some members of the West Virginian clan can only communicate through grunts and barks instead of talking and even run away when people try to speak to them. Living in the village of Odd, which is 75 miles from Charleston, the Whittakers can't remember much about their parents or other family members and didn't know their genetics issues were due to inbreeding. One of the daughters, Betty, would not say if her parents were related when asked about their background by a documentary maker, but she later confirmed her mum and dad are double first cousins.

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Thanks for contacting us. Newsletter signup. If they don't like it, they start yelling- they let you know they don't like that idea. This would happen over and over. James Stunt was a well-known art collector who relied on heiress wife Petra Ecclestone to help him pay for View all. God bless you Mark and the Whittaker family. 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. Paul Gascoigne reveals he has no home, is living in the spare room at his agent's house and is back The family lives in Odd, West Virginia in impoverished conditions.

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.

Mirror Choice. The surviving Whittaker family tree is currently comprised of siblings Betty, Lorraine and Ray, as well as cousin Timmy, after their brother Freddie died of a heart attack. He returned in and spoke about it last year. Movies Music. When asking about their parents, Betty wouldn't say if her parents were related - but later confirmed her mom and dad are double first cousins. Producer Mark Laita has shone a spotlight on the family by releasing a short minute film on his YouTube channel Soft White Underbelly, in a bid to report on untold stories from across the country. They had spent the entire sum on a new truck, roof, kitchen refit, and a coal heater. Petrol cost soars by 3p a litre: Drivers hit by biggest rise in fuel prices in five months as unleaded 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. 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. However, they seemed to understand what the filmmaker was asking without any difficulty. The baying vocals of one inbred family sound like a stereotype relegated to only the most exaggerated and offensive backwoods cult flicks.