In a quiet corner of West Virginia, a troubling story has emerged from the world of social media.
John Roark, a 47-year-old YouTuber, now faces serious legal trouble after allegedly exploiting a vulnerable family for financial gain.
The family, known nationally as the Whittakers, gained attention online for their unusual lifestyle, but recent revelations suggest that the attention may have been manipulated for profit.
Alleged Exploitation and Fraud
Roark was arrested on Friday and charged with multiple counts of fraud and exploitation.
Authorities claim he took advantage of the Whittaker family—described in media reports as “the world’s most inbred family”—by promoting fake fundraisers on his social media platforms, but keeping the donations for himself.
Court records show that over $10,000 in donations may have been misappropriated.
The Whittakers live in Odd, a small, rural town in central West Virginia.
The family first came into the public eye in 2020 when a YouTube documentary highlighted their day-to-day lives.
Many family members face significant mental and physical disabilities, and some are nonverbal, making them particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
Acting as the Family’s “Agent”
Roark, along with collaborator Lawrence “Eric” Carroll, acted as a de facto agent for the family, filming content for YouTube and other social media accounts.
Prosecutors say Roark went further by posing as a liaison for donations.
He allegedly provided his personal Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal accounts to fans who wanted to support the family, then kept the funds for personal use.
The West Virginia State Police commented that Roark “utilized their disabilities and shortcomings in life to produce social media content for monetary gain.”
Text messages obtained by authorities reportedly show Roark admitting to Carroll that his primary motivation was profit.
Questions About Missing Funds
Many followers had long wondered why the Whittakers remained in poverty despite the inflow of donations.
This suspicion prompted police to investigate in September, asking anyone who contributed to contact authorities.
As the investigation unfolded, Roark and Carroll began pointing fingers at each other over the missing money.
Roark previously told the Daily Mail that the donations were handled through YouTube, claiming he did not control the channel.
“Eric is the one that got paid for that, I didn’t. I just have one platform, and that’s my personal Facebook,” he said.
Meanwhile, Roark accused Carroll of pocketing over $100,000 from the family’s YouTube earnings.
Carroll, who has not been arrested, denied the allegations and insisted he only received standard platform monetization.
He also emphasized that he was cooperating with law enforcement and ensuring the family received their fair share.
The Whittakers Speak Out
The family has told a different story.
Larry Whittaker expressed his frustration in an interview, calling Roark a “lying f*****” and claiming the content creators took “a lot of money” from them.
When asked how much he thought he was owed, he admitted, “I’ve got no idea, there was a lot of money, but no idea.”
Larry added that while Roark and Carroll had collected donations supposedly to build a new home for the family, the plan never materialized.
“They didn’t do it, they took the goddamn money and left!” he said.
Background and Timeline
Roark explained in a YouTube video that he grew up in the same community as the Whittakers and had known them since childhood.
Property records show he later purchased a house down the street from the family in Odd.
He and Carroll began filming the family in June, posting content about grocery trips, household chores, and other everyday activities.
They even created a Cameo account, allowing fans to pay for personalized messages featuring the family.
Charges and Legal Status
John Roark now faces five counts of fraudulent schemes, five counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person or incapacitated adult, and one count of fraudulent use of a device.
He was booked into the county jail on a $150,000 bond and has yet to enter a plea.
Carroll has not been charged, and investigations into the full extent of the alleged fraud continue.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn