America’s most inbred family member Larry Whittaker appears in video after claims he DIED as daughter admits she ‘lied about his death to get money’
The patriarch of America’s most inbred family is alive and well – contrary to rumor.
Larry Whittaker — the 67-year-old West Virginian whose family rose to Internet stardom just a few years ago — was reported dead last week.
Family members made the claim to journalist Mark Laita, whose videos shed light for the first time on the clan and their remote settlement 75 miles south of Charleston.
As a result, Laita was despondent last week when he used his YouTube channel to announce Larry’s alleged death. Quoting word from family members, he said the senior died of a heart attack.
However, an update since posted to his page showed that to be untrue. In it, Larry appears alive, unaware of the rumors that he has died. His daughter BJ also appears, where she claims to lie about his death to make money. Laita gave her $1,000 for Larry’s “funeral” this past week.
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Larry Whittaker — the 67-year-old West Virginian whose family shot to internet stardom a few years ago — was pronounced dead last week
In it, Larry appears alive, unaware of the rumors that he has died. His daughter BJ (left) also makes an appearance, where she lies about his death for money
“I’m not proud of what I did, I’m not,” she says in the clip as she is confronted by Laita in the nearly hour-long video – satirically titled ‘The Death of Larry Whittaker.’
“I shouldn’t have done it,” she complains, puffing on a cigarette.
“I’m trying to get help for my drug addiction.”
Her father, who is supposedly dead, is sitting right next to her, having been informed of the scam moments earlier.
An already suspicious Laita was the one who broke the news, when he saw Larry driving up to the property.
“Is that how you dress for your funeral?” the photojournalist asks, joking after asking other members of the rough clan about his whereabouts.
‘Hey?’ says the son of double cousins John and Gracie Whittaker, visibly confused.
“Is that how you dress for your funeral?” Laita repeats this at this point, referring to Larry’s dress clothes.
“Um, I don’t know?”
At this point, BJ also leaves the pickup and makes a mad dash to a trailer on the family’s property. Laita, still filming, tries to get her attention.
Family members made the claim to journalist Mark Laita, who showed up at the family’s home in West Virginia on Monday after BJ told him Larry was dead. Laita gave her $1,000 for Larry’s ‘funeral’ this past week
Before the patriarch arrived, Laita spoke with some of the family, such as Larry’s older sister Betty
“I asked you about Larry’s death, you said ‘he’s dead,’” Laita asks the family matriarch. Betty – accompanied by some of her siblings – responds: ‘BJ told me to tell you that – I didn’t know you wouldn’t give her money’
An already suspicious Laita was the one who broke the news to Larry when Larry pulled up to the property
At this point, BJ also leaves the pickup and runs to a trailer on the family’s property, away from the journalist who ripped them off.
“Hey, BJ! We need to talk,” he asks – a request the woman ignores as she enters the RV.
“BJ!” he shouts again – and is ignored again.
Laita gives up at this point and returns to meet other members of the family, including Larry.
Moments earlier, before the patriarch arrived, Laita spoke to some of the family, such as Larry’s older sister Betty.
“I asked you about Larry’s death, you said ‘he’s dead,’” Laita asks the family matriarch.
Betty – joined by brother Danny, sister Loren and brother Kenneth – responds: “BJ told me to tell you that – I didn’t know you weren’t going to give her money.”
After Larry arrives, Laita plays a recording of BJ crying over her father’s supposed death, with Betty also listening.
“Mark, I’m sorry,” BJ says in the recorded clip, sobbing hysterically as she breaks the news. “I had to tell you… I never thought today would be the day I buried my father.”
When asked point-blank if he was aware of his “death,” Larry replied, “No, I just heard about it on a video last night.”
After Larry arrived, Laita played a recording of BJ crying about her father’s supposed death, with Betty also listening.
The clip then cuts to a meeting between Laita, Larry and BJ 20 minutes later. They all sit on the family’s porch as Laita begins a difficult conversation in which she eventually admits to scamming the journalist for money.
‘I don’t know what to do anymore. I just wanted to ask, can you send me $150?’ she asks further, through crocodile tears.
The voice message causes Larry to shake his head in disbelief, before simply muttering, “Oh, God.”
Still shocked, he adds, “Boy, I don’t know.”
When asked if he was aware of his “death,” Larry replies, “No, I just heard about it on video last night.”
The clip then cuts to a meeting between Laita, Larry and BJ 20 minutes later.
They all sit on the family’s porch as Laita begins a difficult conversation.
“So BJ. I understand you have a drug problem, you told me that,” the filmmaker begins. ‘We all know that. That’s no secret. But for you-“
BJ intervenes at this point and admits that she is ashamed of her misdeeds.
‘I’m not proud of what I’ve done, not at all. I shouldn’t have done it.’
The now infamous Whittaker family grew up in a demolished building in Odd, West Virginia, and are known for communicating through growls and barks
That story goes back to 1897, when two twin brothers, Henry and John, were born. The two siblings welcomed children who eventually married each other and had children of their own
Among them are Larry, Betty and Danny (right), with the latter communicating only via grunts
Many community members believed the family was an “urban legend” before meeting them at school or church. DailyMail.com visited their home last year (pictured).
Laita subsequently forgave her, but commentators quickly called her out on her plan.
“Faking Larry’s death to scam money is just disgusting,” wrote one of the top comments, on a clip that has already been viewed almost 400,000 times.
“It’s amazing how Mark doesn’t completely lose his shit,” another added
Someone else snapped: “BJ isn’t sorry she lied, but she’s damn sorry she got caught.”
‘Wow. They’re smarter than people realize,” another noted, referring to the family’s genealogy.
That story goes back to 1897, when two twin brothers, Henry and John, were born. The two siblings welcomed children who eventually married each other and had children of their own.
Those children eventually gave birth to the Whittaker clan, with a total of 15 descendants.
Among them are Larry, Betty and Danny, who communicate only through grunts.
The family went viral thanks to one of Laita’s videos in 2020 and was eventually dubbed America’s Most Inbred Family by the media.
DailyMail.com visited their home in Odd last year.