ODD, W.Va. — A man is in jail following an investigation connected to the Whittaker family, who has gotten clicks on social media over the years.
John “Patrick” Roark, 47, was arrested on Friday by State Police. He’s been charged with 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.
Roark allegedly used the Whittaker family’s disabilities and hardships to make viral social media content for monetary gain.
A criminal complaint stated that Roark began making videos of the family in September 2025.
The complaint said that from May 2025 to September 2025, Roark accepted donations from followers and viewers of the social media accounts for the family. Roark gave his address and financial information and accepted the donations up to over $10,000 and then pocketed all of the money.
The complaint went on to say that multiple members of the Whittaker family are non-verbal and have other disabilities to where they could not have consented to being recorded.
Roark has been arraigned and is being held at the Southern Regional Jail on a $150,000 bond.