The West Virginia clan branded “America’s most inbred household” have claimed two YouTubers who promised to assist them as an alternative pocketed greater than $100,000 in money supposed to assist the poverty-stricken household.
State police have begun investigating Lawrence “Eric” Carroll, 41, of Georgia, and John “Patrick” Roark, 46, of Odd, after followers despatched cash and presents meant for the Whittaker household.
The Beckley Detachment introduced final month on Fb it had opened a probe right into a “fraudulent scheme that includes cash and merchandise being despatched to the Whittaker household.”
Each males denied wrongdoing to The Publish.
The Whittakers grew to become web well-known in 2020 after a documentary confirmed their extreme disabilities and the situations inside their collapsing residence in Odd, about 80 miles south of Charleston.
The movies triggered a flood of on-line donations.
Ray, Timmy and Lorene Whittaker have been faraway from their residence and positioned beneath state guardianship in September, relations advised the Every day Mail, saying they have been by no means given a transparent cause for why.
The investigation has fueled questions on why the household nonetheless lives in squalor. Larry Whittaker, 69, advised the outlet he believes the donations by no means reached them.
“Eric received it!” he mentioned. “Far as I do know, Eric received it and took off then, that’s all I do know. Patrick received a few of our cash, I don’t understand how a lot.”
Roark advised The Publish Saturday the one questionable funds in the complete saga have been the donations that went by means of Carroll’s YouTube account.
“The one form of fraud that has existed is the donations that went right into a YouTube account that Eric Carroll owns,” he mentioned.
He claimed “not a dime” that handed by means of YouTube ever went to him.
Carroll advised The Publish he solely obtained “commonplace platform monetization” and mentioned, “I’ve ensured the Whitaker household will obtain their applicable share of the income.”
In a written assertion, he mentioned he has “proactively reached out to legislation enforcement and supplied full cooperation,” denied ever soliciting donations for the household and argued he has held income till a correct belief might be arrange.
Carroll additionally disputed Roark’s claims about lacking cash.
“A great portion of the funds flowed to accounts he managed, and I nonetheless want his information to finish a full accounting,” Carroll mentioned.
He added that the Whitakers “obtained about one-third” of the income for one month after Roark allegedly used “greater than half” of their share for bills however “by no means offered receipts.”
Troopers served a warrant and seized two of Roark’s telephones. He mentioned he has no plans to show over extra info, calling the investigation a “witch hunt.”
“They don’t don’t have anything on me. They could assume they’ve one thing on me, however they don’t,” he mentioned.
Roark and Carroll created “official” Whittaker social media pages in June, then requested followers for money and provides.
They rolled out subscription tiers as much as $9.99 a month and put the household on Cameo, charging $50 for followers and $400 for companies.
Roark additionally claimed to have a three-way contract to separate income between him, Carroll and the household, although he didn’t produce a replica to The Publish.
The YouTube channel made “nicely over $100,000” and that about $14,000 from his Fb movies continues to be sitting in his Venmo, Roark mentioned.
He added he plans to launch the cash “by means of attorneys” and insisted it “needed to be put in a fund” so the household wouldn’t lose state advantages.
Larry claimed the pair promised to make use of the donations to construct a brand new residence however by no means adopted by means of.
“They didn’t do it, they took the goddamn cash and left!” he mentioned.
