Topics: US News, Mental Health, YouTube, Social Media
A young member of the Whittaker family opened up about it being 'pretty fun as a kid' to live there but now wanting to 'get away'.
YouTuber Mark Laita has been creating documentaries shedding light on a family who live in West Virginia, considered the 'most inbred' family in the country.
And in one interview, he spoke with head of the family Larry Whittaker's grand-nephews Brandon and Luis, aged 21 and 19 at the time, about what it was like growing up there.
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Brandon was raised by his auntie, Betty Whittaker, from the age of three months until he was around six or seven, and Luis stayed in North Carolina until the age of two, before going to live with his grandma near the Whittaker's family home.
Luis reflected to Laita it was 'pretty fun as a kid' growing up in the area, however, as he 'got older' he began to 'kind of understand what's going on'.
He said life 'got pretty rough at around five or six' because he was placed in foster care when he was six, getting out after his seventh birthday but 'not allowed' to come back to see his grandpa because his grandpa 'tried to shoot one of [their] stepdads', who had allegedly been 'beating on' their mom.
Brandon lived in the Whittaker family house itself, saying it was 'pretty good actually,' recalling memories of fishing with one of the family members called Freddie, adding he 'miss[es] that sometimes' and believes he ultimately 'couldn't ask for a better childhood'.
However, that doesn't mean the pair aren't keen to leave the area behind.
When people would come down the driveway and harass the Whittaker family, Luis said he'd go outside and throw potatoes and eggs at the cars, and despite it not being 'too bad' where they live, Brandon admits he would 'like to get away'.
The brothers were in school until 11th grade, Brandon has two children and 'another on the way' and Luis is now working two jobs, but has dreams of being a 'big time nurse or doctor'.
They agreed the hardest part of living in the area is having 'less opportunity' and it getting 'depressing'.
Luis explained he's 'pushing' to go to Indiana, adding: "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. "
In response to Laita talking about drugs being offered around more readily in the area, Luis added: "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 said: "I worry about [my kids growing up round here]. I don't think I'm gonna stick round here too long."
