“El investigador que descubrió a la familia más consanguínea del país dice que han sido deshonestos con él desde el principio.”

In 2004, photographer Mark Laita discovered the Whittaker family in rural West Virginia, living in extreme poverty and isolation. His initial photo project evolved into the widely viewed and controversial YouTube documentary series Soft White Underbelly, showcasing the family’s daily life, unique communication, and physical and mental traits shaped by generations of inbreeding.

Despite initial distrust—one family member even brandished a gun—Laita gradually gained their trust, documenting members like Ray, Betty, Larry, Lorene, and Timmy. He provided support, donations, and helped raise funds through GoFundMe. However, in March 2024, Laita was misled into believing Larry Whittaker had died, only to discover he was alive and that Larry’s daughter BJ had fabricated the story for money.

Despite the deception, Laita continued supporting the family, emphasizing compassion over judgment. His work has sparked global conversations on poverty, genetics, and ethics in documentary filmmaking, highlighting both the Whittakers’ struggles and their resilience in a forgotten corner of America.