A young Whittaker family member shared insights about his childhood, recalling it as ‘pretty fun,’ but now feels a desire to ‘get away’.
Documentary maker Mark Laita, known for his work on YouTube, has been highlighting a family in West Virginia that some consider the ‘most inbred’ in the United States.
In one of his interviews, Laita talked with Brandon and Luis, the grand-nephews of Larry Whittaker, about their experiences growing up in the area. At the time, Brandon was 21, and Luis was 19.
Brandon was taken care of by his aunt, Betty Whittaker, from when he was three months old until he was about six or seven. Luis lived in North Carolina until he was two before residing with his grandma close to the Whittaker’s home.
Luis shared with Laita that his early years in the area were ‘pretty fun,’ but as he grew older, he began to ‘kind of understand what’s going on’.
His life ‘got pretty rough at around five or six’ due to being placed in foster care when he was six. He got out after turning seven but was ‘not allowed’ to visit his grandpa because of an incident where his grandpa ‘tried to shoot one of [their] stepdads’ over alleged abuse of their mom.
Brandon, who lived in the Whittaker family home, described it as ‘pretty good actually,’ reminiscing about fishing with a family member named Freddie. He ‘misses that sometimes’ and feels he ‘couldn’t ask for a better childhood’.
Despite these fond memories, both brothers express a strong desire to leave the area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYTkL3lczBY
Recalling incidents where people harassed the Whittaker family, Luis mentioned that he would retaliate by throwing potatoes and eggs at the cars. Although it wasn’t ‘too bad’ living there, Brandon admits he would ‘like to get away’.
Both brothers attended school until the 11th grade. Brandon is the father of two children and is expecting another, while Luis works two jobs and aspires to become a ‘big-time nurse or doctor’.
They both agree that the most challenging aspect of living there is having ‘less opportunity,’ which can be ‘depressing’.
Luis is determined to move to Indiana, noting: “There are fewer opportunities living here. […] Every day you’ve got to think if you’ll pull through or not – and make it until the end of the day.”
Responding to Laita’s comments on the local accessibility of drugs, Luis expressed concern: “That’s what I’m scared of every day, I don’t want to see myself doing that. I see my mom doing it too much, and it’s just something I don’t want to do.”
Brandon added: “I worry about [my kids growing up round here]. I don’t think I’m gonna stick round here too long.”