RALEIGH COUNTY, W.Va. — A West Virginia man has been arrested in connection with a fraud investigation involving the Whittaker family, a rural Raleigh County family who gained national attention through social media.
According to the West Virginia State Police, John “Patrick” Roark, 47, was taken into custody Friday following an investigation that began in September 2025. Authorities allege Roark financially exploited members of the Whittaker family by using their disabilities and vulnerabilities to generate social media content for personal profit.
Investigators say Roark solicited and received online donations intended to benefit the family but instead kept the funds for himself.
The investigation also identified Lawrence “Eric” Carroll of Georgia as a person of interest. As of Friday afternoon, Carroll has not been charged.
Roark now faces five felony counts of financial exploitation of an incapacitated person, five felony counts of fraudulent schemes, and one felony count of fraudulent use of an access device. He is currently being held on a $150,000 bond.
The Whittaker family, who live in Odd, West Virginia, became widely known after appearing in Mark Laita’s “Soft White Underbelly” interview series. The exposure led to an outpouring of public donations aimed at improving the family’s health and living conditions.
Authorities noted that Laita has not been named in the investigation, and the case remains ongoing.
