America’s most inbred family breaks silence and shows off home

America’s most inbred family are basking in their newfound notoriety but despite their fame continue to live in their run-down home – which was upgraded thanks to thousands of kind donations from the public.

On a recent visit to Odd, West Virginia, DailyMail.com spoke with members of the Whittaker family who said they were thrilled with their new creature comforts and locals who gave more of an insight into their day-to-day life.

Many members of the community believed that the family were an ‘urban legend’ before meeting them at school or church. 

One former resident told DailyMail.com: ‘For a lot of people in West Virginia, the Whittakers were kind of like a legend in that they had heard about them, but nobody had ever seen them.

‘Because they didn’t go to grocery store or restaurants they were always at home sheltered and isolated.’

Initial reports claimed that protective neighbors would chase off anyone wanting to visit the family with shotguns, and local and state police would warn off any curious visitors. Pictured: Lorene, Betty and Ray

‘It’s pitiful but at the same time the community, the people who know them and have access of them are protective of them.’

The Whittakers were first thrust into the limelight after a documentary was uploaded to a YouTube channel in 2004.

Initial reports claimed that protective neighbors would chase off anyone wanting to visit the family with shotguns, and local and state police would warn off any curious visitors.

Other locals said that the Whittakers found themselves targeted by high school kids, who would egg or toilet paper their house – but added that ‘neighbors quickly put a stop to that’.

Raleigh County Sheriff and West Virginia State Police also reportedly stop anyone trying to cause trouble in the area, but did not respond to a request for comment.

When visiting the family DailyMail.com was welcomed by several members, including Ray, who can only communicate via barks and grunts, and insisted on showing reporters around the property.

Currently living at the dilapidated homestead are siblings Ray, Betty, Larry and Lorene, as well as her son Timmy, with all of them struggling with heartbreaking mental and physical conditions.

Ray appeared to suffer the most and excitedly communicated through noises, pointing pointed to show items at their home in a childlike manner.

Ray, who can only communicate via barks and grunts, insisted on showing reporters around the property

Many members of the community believed that the family were an ‘urban legend’ before meeting them at school or church

They have several animals running around the property, which is crammed with broken-down vehicles, and a trailer in which Larry resides near a chicken coop and surrounded by a small creek.

But they also have a working satellite TV, which blasts throughout the small four-room property – which Ray, Betty, Lorene and Timmy share – and told DailyMail.com that they ‘enjoy watching any story’.

Betty, 71, is the matriarch of the family and confirmed that several members had attended school in the area, but most dropped out before high school.

Her nephew, Timmy, is the only one to have graduated after attending the special education program at Woodrow Wilson High School in the 1990s.

A clipping in the Register-Herald newspaper shows Timmy, aged 7, participating in a special needs class at the school with two other children.

DailyMail.com spoke with members of the family who said they were thrilled with their new creature comforts. Pictured: Timmy, Betty and Lorene 

A clipping in the Register-Herald newspaper shows Timmy, aged 7, participating in a special needs class at the school with two other children

They continue to live in their run-down home – which was upgraded thanks to thousands of kind donations from the public

One school friend told DailyMail.com that Timmy traveled on a bus with other kids who were in the special education classes at the school, separate from the other children. He said: ‘We didn’t know he was a Whittaker until senior year of high school. He didn’t use the name.

‘Timmy was in special education so they had their own wing of the school. You would only see him at lunch and he was obviously very autistic.

‘But at the same time he was very high-energy, and he couldn’t verbalize to you, but you could tell he was a happy kid.

‘It was a few rooms and there were a dozen kids in that wing, so Timmy and a dozen other kids who were severely autistic and they were of all ages.

‘We just knew of him, and they always had their teachers with them and they were protective of them, they had their own table and it was little interaction.

Timmy is the only one to have graduated after attending the special education program at Woodrow Wilson High School in the 1990s

Betty, 71, is the matriarch of the family and confirmed that several members had attended school in the area, but most dropped out before high school

The tiny hamlet of Odd only has a post office and two churches, with residents being forced to travel miles to the nearest grocery store

Timmy celebrated his 44th birthday over the Easter Weekend and also attended a special sunrise service with his mother, Lorene at the Good Hope church in their hometown of Odd

‘He was so visibly handicapped that nobody messed with him, or bullied him. He rode a bus to school, they have their own bus they don’t ride the bus with the other kids.

‘It’s really very pitiful, it’s a very pitiful situation they don’t bother anyone. There are a couple of members of the family and if you met them you would not know that they are inbred.

‘They have jobs, they work, they go to church, they have spouses that they weren’t related to. If I didn’t see it for myself I wouldn’t believe it.’

Timmy celebrated his 44th birthday over the Easter Weekend and also attended a special sunrise service with his mother, Lorene at the Good Hope church in their hometown of Odd.

Betty told DailyMail.com that she didn’t like school, and attended Coal City Elementary and Middle School before dropping out to help take care of the family.

She said: ‘None of the family visits anymore, our family don’t come by. We go out though.

‘I do the grocery shopping and go to the doctor. We’ve lived here since I was little, and I like it here.’

The property has several rundown buildings ont he outskirts of the family home, including a trailer and what appeared to be an outhouse. Larry (at right) resides near a chicken coop and surrounded by a small creek

The siblings are the descendants of two sets of first cousins who got married, with DailyMail.com previously revealing that the bloodline started with a set of identical twin brothers, whose children got married

The family appeared to spend a lot of time on their front porch where they have a couch, armchair and other household belongings. Larry

She added that she is hoping to do more renovating of the property after $40,000 was raised for them on a GoFundMe to get a new roof, saying: ‘We painted the walls and got new kitchen cabinets. We need rugs for winter, but it’s nice when people bring us stuff and the money we got was good.’

Pastor William Plumley told DailyMail.com that Timmy and Lorene had been members of the Good Hope congregation for many years and enjoy getting involved in the sermons.

He said: ‘They come to the church regularly, and they do real good. Lorene and Timmy come and they try their best to help and they sing and stuff. It’s just those two who come now.

‘They were here for Easter Sunday, we had our sunrise service and had breakfast after it. They enjoyed it and did their best with singing. The community looks out for them, and they do look out for other people.

‘They try to help, and they get involved in gift exchanges when people have a baby or something to celebrate.

The siblings father, John, previously worked at the United Coal Company in Odd, just a 15 minute drive from their home 

Betty, left,  told DailyMail.com that she didn’t like school, and attended Coal City Elementary and Middle School before dropping out to help take care of the family

They have several animals running around the property, which is crammed with broken-down vehicles, and a trailer which Larry resides in near to a chicken coop, surrounded by a small creek

‘I think the documentary about them is good and bad, good because it has helped them. But also it’s brought a lot of people to the area who just want to mess with them.’

Another member of the congregation added: ‘While Lorraine seems quiet and not much of a talker, you should see her in church.

‘She always testifies and shouts and cries out to god in prayer, everyone she has went and asked to go up to pray with her has actually become a preacher.

‘Timmy and Lorraine brought several gifts for my baby son when he was born. These are very kind people who understand more things than what people think they do.

‘We care a lot about the. They are very sweet people, misunderstood, but very great people who are very happy’.

The siblings are the descendants of two sets of first cousins who got married, with DailyMail.com previously revealing that the bloodline started with a set of identical twin brothers, whose children got married. 

John and Henry Whittaker were born in 1897, with John marrying 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.

Neighbors in the tiny hamlet were rumored to come out with shotguns to protect the family

Lorene also struggles to speak clearly, but enjoys taking part in sermons at the families local church 

The family got a new roof with money raised for them, as well as redecorating their kitchen and painting the walls 

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 child in 1937, having 15 in total.

Experts claim that inter-family relations could have caused some of the heartbreaking conditions that the living family members are struggling with.

Many members of the family have suffered from a heart attack, while two did not make it through infant hood.

Aileen was the first of 15 children that the couple had, and 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.

John Wade Whittaker (left)  died in 2022, after being born in 1950, and had five children, several grandchildren and one great-grandson. Barbra Whittaker (right) was born in September 1940, and did not appear to marry before she died following a short illness in October 2008

Pastor William Plumley of Good Hope Church told DailyMail.com: ‘They come to the church regularly, and they do real good’

Aileen Violet Whittaker born in 1937 was the first child of first cousins Gracie and John Whittaker

Not much is known about the next two sisters, Nannie Lou Whittaker, born in 1942, and Connie Jean Whittaker, born in 1943.

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 is Lorene Whittaker, who was born in 1946 and has one son called Timmy Whittaker, born 1979.

Mary Madeline Whittaker was born in 1948, and passed away the following year, though it is unclear the cause for this.

Aileen Violet Whittaker born in 1937 was the first child of first cousins Gracie and John Whittaker

The couple then had a baby boy, Emery Lee Whittaker, in 1938, who died a month later after suffering from pneumonia

John Wade Whittaker died in 2022, after being born in 1950, and had five children, several grandchildren and one great-grandson.

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.

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.