YouTubers speak out as they face investigation in unexpected twist with America's 'most inbred family'
YouTubers who have been working with the Whittaker family have denied stealing money from America's 'most inbred family'.
YouTubers Lawrence 'Eric' Carroll and John 'Patrick' Roark have been creating content with the Whittakers and promised to help the poverty-struck family who live in Odd, West Virginia.
The family became famous via Mark Laita's YouTube channel, Soft White Underbelly. He first met the Whittakers in 2004 and has had a somewhat rocky relationship with them ever since.
Laita has created fundraisers for the family and even donated his own cash when he was told Larry Whittaker had died.
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It turned out this wasn't the case, however, and it was all a ruse set up by the family.
Laita became estranged from the Whittakers for some time afterwards the incident, but is believed to have made amends with them after they apologized to him.
While Laita has been working with the family for years, Carroll and Roark have only been collaborating with them for the last few months.
Reportedly, the duo rolled out subscription tiers of up to $9.99 a month and put the Whittakers on Cameo as well - charging $50 for fans and $400 for businesses.
Supposedly, Roark, Carroll and the Whittakers had a contract that agreed to split the revenue three ways.
Now Larry says that the pair have pocketed all the money that should have gone to him and his family.
"Far as I know, Eric got it and took off then, that's all I know," the family's patriarch told Daily Mail, adding: "Patrick got some of our money, I don't know how much."
There have been allegations that the pair made off with as much as $100,000, says the New York Post.
In light of Larry's allegations, West Virginia State Police launched an investigation into the pair and appealed to the public for help back in September.
In a statement posted to Facebook, law enforcement said: "The Beckley Detachment of the West Virginia State Police is asking for the public’s help in an investigation involving the Whittaker Family.
"A fraudulent scheme that involves money and merchandise being sent to the Whittaker family is being investigated. The West Virginia State Police is asking anyone who made donations for the Whittaker family to Lawrence 'Eric' Carroll of Georgia, or John 'Patrick' Roark of Odd, to contact Corporal Gilkeson with the Beckley Detachment at (304) 256-6700."
Both Roark and Carroll have denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking to The Post, Roark insisted: "The only kind of fraud that has existed is the donations that went into a YouTube account that Eric Carroll owns."
He added that 'not a dime' that passed through YouTube ever went to him.
Defending himself, Carroll said he received 'standard platform monetization' from YouTube and that he has 'ensured the Whitaker family will receive their appropriate share of the revenue'.
UNILAD have approached West Virginia State Police for an update.
Niamh Shackleton