Criminal cousin of 'inbred Deliverance family' reveals what it's like being a Whittaker
Jason Whittaker is the cousin of the infamous Whittaker family from Odd, West Virginia, US, who are so inbred that some of them can only communicate through grunts and barks
Jason often visited his inbred cousins growing up(Image: Soft White Underbelly / YouTube)
The sex offender cousin of the world's most inbred Family has revealed what it's like being part of it.
Jason Whittaker's father John Wade Whittaker was the brother of the father of the infamous Whittaker family from Odd, West Virginia, US.
That makes Jason the grandson of Gracie and John Whittaker, two first cousins who got married and had 15 children.
READ MORE: 'Deliverance inbred family' was 'craziest thing I'd ever seen', says photographer
Several other instances of interbreeding are scattered across their family tree, with some Whittakers only able to communicate through grunts and barks as a result.
Jason, 44, who grew up in Illinois, was recently released from prison. He previously spent time behind bars after being convicted of sexual assault with a child.
He was previously convicted of sexual assault with a child(Image: West Virginia State Police)
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He has now been interviewed by filmmaker Mark Laita (of the Soft White Underbelly YouTube channel) who has met the Whittakers on several occasions down the years.
Jason explained he would frequently travel to Odd to visit the family when he was growing up.
He said: "It's unusual but they're just like everybody else. They'll give the shirt off their back for you, real friendly and everything.
"I love them to death, they're great people. They'll help anybody if they can."
Ray (left) and Freddie (right) are Jason's cousins(Image: Soft White Underbelly/Youtube)
The pair discussed the rampant drug problems in rural West Virginia (meth and heroin are particularly popular) which was something Jason admitted he fell victim too as well.
However, his highly inbred cousins always steered clear. "They don't even drink alcohol," he said.
Jason's cousins Ray and Freddie are perhaps the most famous members of the family, with Ray in particular acting erratically and barking throughout Mark's first documentary about them.
Recalling them growing up, Jason said: "[Ray] was always with Freddie. I remember him and Freddie always together.
"Both of them were [lovable]. They were always together.
The family are considered the world's most inbred(Image: Soft White Underbelly /Youtube)
"I just look at them as they're mental, they're just mentally challenged. Something they inherited probably."
Reflecting on his own life, Jason explained he had been behind bars for a total of 15 years for different offences including "aggravated battery and mob action".
He said he wanted to now get his life back on track, "get a job, a place of my own and live life to its fullest".
Jason claimed the child he was convicted of sexually assaulting told him she was 18. "At the time I didn't know she was underage," he insisted.
He said it was the biggest mistake of his life but admitted: "I should have known better."
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