America’s ‘most inbred family’ have issued an apology to the man who uncovered them.
Photographer Mark Laita discovered the Whittaker family about 20 years ago, but he didn’t start filming their lives right away.
He stayed in contact with them and went back to their home in Odd, West Virginia, to begin filming in 2020.
\The family consists of three siblings named Lorraine, Timmy, and Ray. Their parents were reportedly first cousins.
After the Whittaker family appeared on Mark Laita’s Soft White Underbelly YouTube channel, they got a lot of attention and were labeled as “the most inbred family” in the U.S.
Although Mark had a good relationship with them, he decided to end it after discovering they had been lying to him.
The family told Mark that 67-year-old Larry Whittaker had died earlier this year. Mark helped them raise money for the funeral and even gave $1,000 of his own money.
However, Larry wasn’t actually dead. When Mark found out, the family apologized for lying, but they went on to deceive him again.
The photographer, Mark Laita, gave Larry Whittaker $700 to help him take his daughter BJ to North Carolina to start a new life. But Larry didn’t do that and kept the money for himself.
Even though Mark said he wasn’t going to see the Whittakers anymore, he visited them over the summer. He filmed the visit and posted it on YouTube this month. In the video, Larry shakes Mark’s hand and apologizes for everything that happened.
“It’s been a long time,” Larry says to Mark. “I’m sorry for what they did to you, and I want to tell the world that I’m sorry.”
Mark accepts the apology and says he missed them. “I’m very good at forgiving and understanding,” Mark shared. “I’ve missed you guys, and I think my viewers have missed you too.” He even joked that the Whittakers probably missed the money they made from being on his YouTube channel.
Now that they’re on speaking terms again, Mark set up another GoFundMe for the family in late August. So far, the page has raised a little over $600 out of a $100,000 goal. The money will go toward helping the family with living expenses and taking care of their home.
A former prison guard from Mississippi loses her job for caring for an inmate’s newborn, and her perspective
Roberta Bell’s journey is a moving exampl
influence that one person can have when motivated by empathy. Roberta, a 58-year-old mother of five and grandma of eight who resides in the charming city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, is regarded by many as a hero. Her life took an unexpected turn this year, showing the world the power of love and bravery to transform lives.
Roberta met pregnant convict Katie Bourgeois, who was almost out of prison, while she was a correctional officer at the Louisiana Transitional Center for Women. Katie was in a terrible predicament because she had no relatives to support her after her kid was born. Roberta took the crucial choice to take care of the baby until Katie could return home while Katie was unable to do so.
There were, however, repercussions to this choice. Roberta was sacked from her job at the correctional facility after her supervisor saw a conflict of interest in her conduct. For Roberta, though, it was a minimal cost. Kayson, Katie’s son, was born just over a week after she lost her job. Roberta had been looking forward to his visit to the hospital. She brought him home, clothed him tenderly, and held him in her arms, showing him the tenderness and love of a mother.
Kayson was under Roberta’s care for two months before Katie was able to see her son again. Even though Roberta was going through a difficult time personally, her compassion and selflessness were evident when she said goodbye to the infant to whom she had been so close. Millions of people were moved by her heartfelt and real narrative of generosity, which struck a chord with people everywhere.
Donations poured in from people moved by her story; diapers, formula, and other necessities arrived. Numerous kind presents from strangers adorned Roberta’s living room. Even more astonishingly, their contributions added up to an incredible $90,000. Even though she was unemployed, Roberta kept giving back, using some of the money she was given to assist a fellow pregnant prisoner who was having financial difficulties.
That was not the end of Roberta’s quest. Rather, it opened a new chapter in her life. Since then, she has started a new project that she is very enthusiastic about called The Serenity House. The Serenity House, which is situated in the serene Mississippi countryside, is being renovated to serve as a haven for women reintegrating into society after serving time in jail. Roberta is committed to giving these women a place where they can find direction, support, and a feeling of belonging, just as much as she had loved her job at the prison.
Roberta gladly answers every call that comes in asking for her assistance; her phone is always vibrating. Her experience is a prime illustration of how one individual, driven by compassion, understanding, and a steadfast faith in second chances, may significantly impact the lives of others.
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