Latest news with #Whittaker
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Liam Lawson gifted Whittaker's chocolate by Kiwi Formula 1 fan
For Liam Lawson, few prizes could be as sweet as victory in this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. But a fellow Kiwi's gift of several Whittaker's chocolate blocks must surely come close. Todd Kirkwood, a Formula 1 fan, kept the blocks in his luggage for a month while on a two-month
Daily Record
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Inbred family who communicate by barking started after two cousins had 15 children together
The Whittaker family grunt and bark to communicate with others, but can understand what people say. A family said to be the "most inbred in America" consists of several generations who grunt and bark to communicate, starting when the children of two identical twins married and had several kids of their own together. The Whittaker family, from the village of Odd, West Virginia, live in a cramped mobile home 75 miles from the city of Charleston. They grabbed the headlines after featuring in filmmaker Mark Laita's 2020 documentary, which revealed their difficult background, living with complex needs. They had previously endured visitors making nasty comments, resulting in their protective neighbours guarding them armed with shotguns. It took Mark over 16 years to establish a relationship with them, due to their reluctance to let outsiders in or mix with new people. When he first met them in 2004, he was greeted with a chaotic scene of multiple members running, screaming and barking at him, which he described as the "craziest thing". It was also compared to 1972 film Deliverance, in which a group of friends are hunted and terrorised by locals in the woods, the Mirror reports. Speaking on the Koncrete KLIPS podcast, Mark said: "We came around to this road, which turns into a country road, which turns into a dirt road, and we come to this trailer and then a little shack on the other side of the road. And there's these people walking around and their eyes are going in different directions and they are barking at us. "And then one guy, you would look at him in the eye or say anything and he would just scream and go running away, and his pants would fall around his ankles, and he would go running off and go and kick a garbage can. And this would happen over and over. It was out of control - the craziest thing I have ever seen." The inbreeding began with identical twins Henry and John Whittaker, whose children married each other and had over a dozen of their own together. Henry and his wife Sally had seven children, including John Emory Whittaker, born in 1913. John and his wife Ada, also his first cousin, had nine kids, including Gracie Irene Whittaker in 1920. John and Gracie were double cousins, sharing both sets of grandparents. They married in 1935 and had 15 kids of their own. Several of them suffered from a number of serious physical and mental illnesses, believed to be a result of their inbreeding. Their oldest child Aileen died in June 1997 following a heart attack, while son Emery passed away just a month after his birth in 1938 due to pneumonia. Betty, born in 1952, took on the role of matriarch and promised her mum she would not get married so she could care for her 14 siblings. Ray and Lorene, who have a son called Timmy, born 1979, are both said to be unable to speak and only communicate via grunting and barking. Timmy is the only family member who has graduated from high school. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Speaking about their communication, a relative said: "They understand what you talking about. If they don't like it, they start yelling — let you know they don't like that idea." The family even make their own customised concrete headstones, with only mum Gracie having a professionally-made one. However, they sometimes require help from the public. Mark returned in 2022 for a follow-up visit after creating a GoFundMe page for them to improve their home, which waised $55,000 (£44,000). They spent it all on a new truck, roof, updated kitchen and a coal heater. However, they are now back in a small home across the road after a fire destroyed their original one last year. Another fundraiser was set up to cover clearing the debris and delivering, situating and furnishing a new trailer, stating that 100% of the money would directly benefit the family. This divided social media users, with one commenting on YouTube: "All that Go Fund Me money better not even go to any family member! Give it directly to a clean up crew and you purchase a new trailer for them!!!! No money should ever be given to them again."
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Squealing inbred family who speak in grunts started with two identical twins
The Whittaker family can be found living in their small West Virginian home in the US. The inbred family struggle to communicate without using body language and barking due to their genetic defects A group of relatives dubbed "America's most inbred family" first started with two identical twins whose children went on to create several generations who would grunt and bark as their only form of communication. The Whittaker family, who live in the village of Odd in West Virginia, can be found huddled in a cramped home 75 miles from Charleston. The family hit headlines after filmmaker Mark Laita released a documentary in 2020, which revealed their troubled background, living with complex needs. The family had previously been subjected to cruel comments and visitors, leading them to be guarded by their protective neighbours with shotguns. They rarely let outsiders in or mix with anyone new, which is why it took Mark over 16 years to build a relationship with them, after first visiting their mobile home in 2004. When Mark first met the family, he was initially greeted with several members running, screaming and barking in his direction. He described the chaotic scene as the "craziest thing" he had ever seen. The photographer compared the moment to the 1972 thriller Deliverance, which is about a group of pals who were hunted and terrorised by locals in the woods. Speaking on the Koncrete KLIPS podcast, he said: "We came around to this road, which turns into a country road, which turns into a dirt road, and we come to this trailer and then a little shack on the other side of the road. And there's these people walking around and their eyes are going in different directions and they are barking at us. "And then one guy, you would look at him in the eye or say anything and he would just scream and go running away, and his pants would fall around his ankles, and he would go running off and go and kick a garbage can. And this would happen over and over. It was out of control - the craziest thing I have ever seen." The inbreeding started with a set of identical twin brothers, Henry and John Whittaker, whose children got married and had over a dozen kids together. Henry and his wife Sally had seven children, including John Emory Whittaker in 1913. While John and his spouse Ada Riggs, who was his own first cousin, had nine kids, including Gracie Irene Whittaker, in 1920. John and Gracie, who were double cousins and shared both sets of grandparents, married in 1935 and went on to have 15 children. Many of their children had a number of severe physical and mental impairments, which are believed to have resulted from inbreeding. Their eldest, Aileen, passed away in June 1997 after suffering from a heart attack, while the oldest boy, Emery, died a month after being born in 1938, after suffering from pneumonia. Betty, who was born in 1952, has taken on the role of the family matriarch and promised her mother she would not marry so she could look after her 14 siblings. Ray and Lorene, who have a son named Timmy, who was born in 1979, are both seemingly unable to speak and can only communicate through grunts and barks. Timmy is the only member of the Whittaker clan who has graduated from high school. Speaking about their communication, a relative said: "They understand what you talking about. If they don't like it, they start yelling — let you know they don't like that idea." The family even craft their own concrete headstones, with only their mum, Gracie, having a professionally made one. However, the family sometimes need outsiders help. Mark returned in 2022 for another follow-up after setting up a GoFundMe page, which raised $55,000 (£44,000), so they could improve their home. They had spent the entire sum on a new truck, roof, kitchen refit and a coal heater. However, the family are back living in a small home across the road after a fire tore through their residence last year. A fundraiser was launched to cover the costs of clearing the debris, transporting and situating a new mobile home, and furnishing it, stating that every penny raised will benefit the family directly. YouTube viewers were left divided by the fundraiser, with one stating: "All that Go Fund Me money better not even go to any family member! Give it directly to a clean up crew and you purchase a new trailer for them!!!! No money should ever be given to them again."
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
GeoWoodstock 2025 held in local area
May 24—MORGANTOWN — This weekend, Morgantown has transformed into a hub for geocachers as the city hosts GeoWoodstock, the largest "treasure hunting " event in North America. The event is expected to draw thousands of visitors from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and approximately nine countries, offering a boost to local businesses and showcasing the strength of the community in geocaching. GeoWoodstock, which rotates locations each year, is the highlight for many in the geocaching world. This year's gathering kicked off with pre-event activities Thursday at Coopers Rock State Forest, with the main event being held today at Mylan Park. The weekend's festivities will be wrap up Sunday at Pricketts Fort State Park in Fairmont. "For those unfamiliar with geocaching, it's essentially an outdoor treasure hunt using GPS coordinates, " said Jim Whittaker, a long-time participant and volunteer. "People hide containers, called caches, and post their locations online. Others then try to find them, sign a logbook, and put it back for the next person to discover. It is a great way to explore the outdoors—whether you are a family with young kids, or an empty nester like me and my wife." Whittaker emphasized the role of community and volunteerism in making the event possible. "There are so many people involved in putting this together. It was a collective effort, and would not have happened without people showing up." The event is not just a celebration for geocaching enthusiasts, but a way to help bring attention to the local community. The Visit Mountaineer Country Convention & Visitors Bureau, which covers Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties, partnered with event organizers to help bring GeoWoodstock to north-central West Virginia. "We are all about bringing tourism to our community, " CVB representative Tami Wood said. "This event will have a direct economic impact across all three counties. Local restaurants, hotels, shops—they are all going to benefit." The CVB also is sponsoring the "Country Roads Challenge, " a special activity that sends geocachers on a trail of participating local businesses. Those who complete the challenge earn a commemorative coin, which is a prized item for avid geocachers, as well as discounts to the participating businesses. "This kind of event puts us on the map, " Wood added. "It's not just about the fun and adventure, it is about people discovering what this area has to offer." GeoWoodstock includes a variety of difficulty levels, from simple urban "hides " to rugged mountain searches. Participants can use either traditional handheld GPS devices or smartphone apps to locate caches. For many, it is more than just a hobby. "It's about community, " Whittaker said. "We have folks who have been to every single GeoWoodstock since it started. People form lifelong friendships through this." As Morgantown welcomed geocachers from all over, GeoWoodstock proved to be a testament to the strength of a community's passion for a pastime. Even Thursday's rain during the kickoff event didn't dampen the enthusiasm, as attendees showed up in full force and ready to explore. Whittaker states with appreciation, "Thanks to all who have been a part of it. Whether you are putting the event on or attending, it would not be what it is if we did not show up."
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Daily Record
Bride-to-be blasts sentence for paedophile fiancé after sick footage found before wedding
Twisted groom-to-be Luke Whittaker, who hid his vile paedophile obsession from partner Tracy Gow, was jailed for three years. A woman who discovered the man she was going to marry was a paedophile has blasted a court for not locking him up for longer. Twisted groom-to-be Luke Whittaker, who hid his vile paedophile obsession from his fiancee Tracy Gow, was jailed for three years on Tuesday after a sheriff said his 'depravity knew little bounds'. The beast, 35, was caught with thousands of child abuse images and videos, including graphic footage of babies being raped, after police raided the Falkirk home he shared with Tracy, just two months before their planned wedding. She said: 'This is not justice, it is an insult to victims. 'He deserved at least 15 years. He'll walk out of prison in a couple of years, but those children will live with this trauma for the rest of their lives.' The Daily Record revealed earlier this week how finance professional, Tracy, 45, said the scale and severity of her ex's crimes left her 'physically sick' and how she threw him out as soon as police told her what he was arrested for. Whittaker appeared for sentencing by video link from Low Moss Prison after admitting to downloading, possessing and sharing extreme child abuse material. He was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life. Tracy, who has been left with over £20,000 in debt from the cancelled ceremony, said: 'The severity and amount of the videos and photos is absolutely horrific. 'To think he was downloading images of babies and children being raped made me physically sick. 'This is not about me, this is about protecting children from an evil predator. He deserves to be known everywhere for what he's done. I'm just glad he's off the streets, even if it's not for long enough.' Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that officers raided Tracy's home at 8.13am on July 19 last year after receiving intelligence about Whittaker. Tracy, unaware of his crimes, allowed them access. Jamie Hillend, prosecuting, said: 'Police officers executed a warrant at the address where the accused was living with his fiancée. She was the only person home and allowed officers access.' Initial checks on devices at the house showed no illegal material. But at 8.50am the same day, a second raid was carried out at Whittaker's workplace, where his iPhone was seized. That phone contained over 1,100 child sexual abuse and exploitation images, including 143 stills and 450 videos classified as Category A - the most serious under UK law. Some videos featured children tied up and unable to move. In total, he had shared 42 files across five Telegram chat groups, most being Category A. Tracy said: 'He wasn't just looking, he was distributing. Sending them to other paedophiles. 'That takes it to another level entirely. I trusted him with my life and he was doing this behind my back. It's worse than anything I could have imagined.' Whittaker was arrested again in December while living in temporary homeless accommodation after being removed from his unit for 'unrelated reasons.' When staff packed up his room, they found 32 sheets of A4 paper, face down on his bedside table, containing printed child abuse images, some showing girls aged five to 14, including some being orally raped. Police also seized another iPhone, which contained 1,514 additional child abuse files, including 326 Category A images and three videos lasting more than two hours, showing the rape of babies. Sheriff Craig Harris said Whittaker had actively 'furthered a horrendous cycle of evil.' He told him: 'The material you had showed your depravity knows little bounds.' The case had earlier been described as 'utterly horrific' by Sheriff Maryam Labaki, who handled the initial stage in April and said it was 'at the upper end of what one sees in the sheriff court.' Despite the gravity of the offences, Whittaker received a three-year sentence, reduced from 4.5 years for his early guilty plea, and backdated to his remand. Tracty added: 'He said he did it because he was bored and drinking. That's no excuse. Plenty of people drink and none of them look at child abuse. 'What kind of man prints those images and leaves them by his bed? A dangerous, calculating predator. And people need to remember that.' Since the arrest, Tracy has worked tirelessly to pay off the £20,000 of wedding costs after initially launching, and later taking down, a GoFundMe page. 'This whole thing has broken me, but I'll recover. The victims he exploited don't get that choice. That's who this is about, the victims.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
