America’s ‘most inbred family’ The Whittakers break silence on fame & big donations they’re using to improve their lives
A FAMILY dubbed America's most inbred has been able to make big improvements to their property thanks to thousands in donations sourced from good Samaritans online.
The Whitakers have long been the stuff of legend in their hometown of Odd, West Virginia.
The family reportedly descended from two first cousins who married and had kids, which is why many members suffer from learning disabilities and other health issues.
Some of the family has lived in a ramshackle four-room house for decades.
Although it's still run down, the Whitakers were able to make some significant improvements to the home after a GoFundMe campaign for them raised nearly $60,000 of its $75,000 goal.
A few family members gave a tour of the upgraded property to The DailyMail.
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"We painted the walls and got new kitchen cabinets," matriarch Betty Whitaker, 71, said.
"We need rugs for winter, but it's nice when people bring us stuff and the money we got was good."
Ray Whitaker, a member of the family who can only communicate through barks and grunts, was excited to show reporters the improvements.
It has a chicken coop, a trailer, several broken-down vehicles, and a creek running through it.
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These days, the Whitakers are no longer living without many modern luxuries.
The family has a satellite dish, which is why audio from various TV programs can often be heard blaring from the house.
The Whitakers first came into the national spotlight after documentary filmmaker Mark Laita started visiting them in 2014.
It took him some time to gain their trust, but now Laita is close with the family.
He's since filmed dozens of YouTube videos about the family which have garnered millions of views.
Laita is also the organizer of the GoFundMe campaign.
On the fundraiser's website, he ensured donors that "100percent of this GoFundMe goes to help the Whittaker family with living expenses and home improvements."