[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
More members of the Duggar family are breaking their silence on the arrest of Joseph Duggar.
As we have been reporting, the 31-year-old former reality star was arrested last week after allegedly molesting a 9-year-old child in Florida back in 2020. A Bay County Sheriff’s Office report revealed Joseph confessed to what happened to the father of the alleged victim, who is now 14. After the child sat down and “described several incidents of sexual abuse” to the Tontitown Police Department, the department requested the dad and the detective to contact the 19 Kids and Counting alum. While on the phone, Joseph came clean about everything — that “he touched the victim over her clothing” and his “intentions were not pure.”
Horrifying!
Following the arrest, he was slapped with four additional counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree over a separate situation. His wife, Kendra Duggar, was also arrested in Arkansas on the same charges.
Related: This Jim Bob Duggar Video About Joseph Did NOT Age Well!
A few family members have reacted to the disturbing case over the past week, now including Joseph’s sister Joy-Anna Duggar. While announcing a social media break, she called the allegations against him “deeply disturbing” on Instagram Stories on Thursday:
“What has come out about my brother is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing. My heart is with the victim, and I am grieved by the pain and harm caused. I have been a wreck this week and am taking time to process. I have a few pre-filmed commitments that I have to post, but I will be taking some much-needed time with my family. Thank you for your prayers.”
Read the statement (below):
Joy-Anna wasn’t the only one who has since released a statement. Their brother Jason Duggar and his wife Maddie Grace also broke their silence on Instagram on Thursday, slamming Joseph for his alleged “evil” actions:
“We, like many, have spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions. We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother, however, this isn’t about how it’s impacted our lives. Our hearts are burdened because a child’s life has been turned upside down due to evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable. This is something unthinkable.”
Jason and Maddie went on to say they hope justice will be served in the end:
“We are angered by what has happened, and we pray God’s righteous hand and the court system will serve justice in the situation as deserved. Maddie and I have always had a special place in our hearts for the vulnerable around us, and we will continue to do so. To fathom that someone would abuse their authority to harass the innocent is vile.”
Concluding the post, they asked everyone to “pray” for the alleged young victim and Joseph’s four children:
“We ask that you pray for the victim who has been brave enough to share what has happened. We also ask that you pray for his family at this time, as his children must face the reality of losing a father that should have been a spiritual leader in their lives. We stand with innocent children. Always.”
See the full statement (below):
View this post on Instagram
We can imagine it’s been very difficult for the Duggar siblings and the alleged victim this past week. We continue to keep everyone in our thoughts during this time.
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via Joy-Anna Duggar/Jason Duggar/Instagram,Washington County Sheriff’s Department]
