Three members of America’s so-called “most inbred” family have mysteriously disappeared from their crumbling West Virginia home after state officials quietly took them away — a move their relatives say was sparked by viral videos that turned the family into an internet sideshow.
In September, state adult protective services removed 72-year-old Ray Whittaker, his sister Lorene, 79, and her son Timmy, 46, from the family’s rundown property in the tiny West Virginia town of Odd, relatives told the Daily Mail.
Their sister Betty, 73, and brother Larry, 69, told the outlet they were left behind without a word — and haven’t heard from their loved ones since.
Larry and his sister, Betty Whittaker — both unmarried — say they have no idea where their two siblings and nephew have gone. YouTube/Soft White Undderbelly
“They said they were helping them, and they couldn’t live here no more,” Betty said. “I miss them a lot, I raised them.”
“I’ve been staying at home, waiting on a phone call, but that’s all I know. They haven’t called or let me know nothing,” he said.
“They won’t tell us where they at.”
Officials with West Virginia’s Department of Human Services told the Daily Mail they were “aware of the situation” but refused to share details, citing confidentiality laws.
The Whittakers’ inbreeding dates back more than a century, beginning with a single marriage between two sets of cousins descended from identical twin brothers — a union that all but erased the family’s gene pool.
Danny Ray Whittaker — known as Ray — is pictured with his brother Larry. Ray has since been taken away by state authorities. YouTube/Soft White Undderbelly
The family became infamous after a 2020 YouTube documentary revealed the full extent of their genetic isolation and severe disabilities.
The video, shot by documentarian Mark Laita, racked up tens of millions of views — turning the reclusive family into a symbol of both rural poverty and public fascination.
But the spotlight also brought turmoil to the reclusive family, who live on a dirt road 75 miles south of Charleston — in what Laita called “one of the most disturbing interviews I’ve ever done.”
Lorene, 79, Betty’s sister, was also taken from the property by authorities. YouTube/Soft White Undderbelly
Neighbors say curiosity seekers frequently showed up at the property to take photos or film. Larry told the Daily Mail that he believes the social media frenzy played a role in prompting state intervention.
"People out there making money off them [the videos], and they don’t like it," he said, referring to protective services.
Lorene’s son, 46-year-old Timmy, was also taken from the home by adult protective services. YouTube/Soft White Undderbelly
“They told us don’t talk to nobody. They watching.”
When reporters returned to the cabin this week, they found Betty and Larry still living in squalor — beans and sausage left cooking on a gas stove as insects crawled across the counters.
Inside, the calendar was stuck on March. Outside, towels hung from a makeshift clothesline, while Halloween skeletons dangled from the porch amid piles of trash, old tires, and empty beer cans.
The family lives in extreme squalor in a remote cabin in the rural town of Odd, West Virginia. YouTube/Soft White Undderbelly
The Whittakers’ property is dotted with a crumbling chicken coop, a few dilapidated trailers, and a lone outhouse.
"They said they were helping them, and they couldn’t live here no more," Betty repeated, staring down the dirt driveway where her relatives had been taken.
“I miss them a lot, I raised them.”
