Are There Really Deformed American Rednecks Who Live In The Woods?

I’m from the Ozarks of Missouri, born and raised. Never saw anything as you described, but it’s good everybody putting you on. Knew a hillbilly once name of Page. He could move each eye independently of the other. A serious poker player. One eye on me, one on old Kenny (or passing aircraft), a hand to his deal and the other on a revolver in his lap. True story.

This could be quite true. Biologically, yes it’s true that reproduction between closely related people may lead to genetic anomolies (mutations) and that I suppose in the less developed, less built up southern US areas, inbreeding may well have occured. If so however, I’d say its much more likely that this sort of thing would have happened years ago – I doubt it still happens.
I appreciate that this may all be just some Hollywood myth, but it may atleast be based on some truth. To be honest, I don’t know if anybody knows for sure, but I would say it is MORE than possible.
Hope that helped.

Here’s the answer from across the pond. I live near Appalachia and of course there are jokes about inbreeding, etc. Of course, no worse than what you find in the UK. Lived there for a while and go very tired of hearing the expression “you Yanks”. There is inbreeding in your country as well as other places around the world.