Grandma Mary Duggar’s Sudden Death Caused by Drowning: Investigation Opened Into Her Death

The death of Grandma Mary Duggar is being investigated…

Grandma Mary Duggar— the matriarch of the reality TV family– died suddenly on Sunday, but the Duggar Family has yet to speak out on what caused the 78-year-old’s death. However, a 911 call placed on the day Mary died revealed that her death may have been caused by a “possible drowning.” 

Washington County Coroner Roger W. Morris confirmed to People magazine on Wednesday that Mary’s cause of death was an accidental drowning in a swimming pool. The Coroner stated that Mary’s death occurred after she slipped. 

The Facebook page Duggar Family News: Life is Not All Pickles and Hairspray was the first to state that Mary was found deceased in her pool on Sunday, and a 911 call released by Radar Online on Wednesday supported that theory.

The Tontitown Police Department confirmed to Radar Online that an investigation into Mary’s death has been opened. 

In their social media tributes to their grandma, some of the Duggars noted that Sunday started as a typical day for Grandma. She was driven to church by her granddaughter, Jana Duggar, and, according to the Life is Not All Pickles and Hairspray Facebook page, the Duggars were preparing for a welcome home party for sons Jason and James who graduated from the Alert Academy earlier that day. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Grandma Duggar will be greatly missed!! ❤️ – On her last morning spent here on earth I drove Grandma to church where she worshiped her Savior. Later that afternoon, she went to meet Him face to face! I’d say that’s probably how she would’ve chosen to finish out the day if she got to pick. ? – Grandma made a deep impact on each of our lives—first and foremost through her relationship with Jesus Christ, and secondly through her example of sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus with others! She would always be talking about the day she would see her Savior’s face and how much she looked forward to it! Yesterday was that day! She knew where she’d spend eternity and wanted everyone else to know that for themselves too. – This song reminds me of Grandma’s life. – ? “When We See Christ” ? Sometimes the day seems long, Our trials hard to bear. We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair. But Christ will soon appear to catch his bride away! All tears forever over in God’s eternal day! — IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL WHEN WE SEE JESUS! — Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase. So, BRAVELY RUN THE RACE TILL WE SEE CHRIST. – May we all be reminded to run this race of life looking at the Author and Finisher of our faith. “Only one life, twill soon be past—only what’s done for Christ will last.” • #grandmaduggar #leavingalegacy #weloveyou

A post shared by Jana Duggar (@janamduggar) on

However, at 4:37 pm, a call was placed to request emergency assistance to Grandma Mary’s home.

“Call came in of a possible drowning at [address redacted]..that’s [address redacted]. Big house in the back…older woman, 14 echo — unconscious. Medics are responding,” the dispatcher says in the 911 call. (Radar Online states that the code “14 echo” is used in Arkansas to indicate a person is unconscious.)

According to CNN, the coroner stated that Mary slipped and fell into the pool and drowned. She was found in the pool by her daughter, Deanna, but was pronounced dead at the scene by authorities upon their arrival.

The Facebook page stated on Monday that Mary had suffered a stroke back in December; however, this was never confirmed by the Duggars.

The Duggars have yet to address the report of Grandma Mary’s cause of death.

You can listen to the 911 call below.

RELATED STORY: ‘Counting On’ Stars React After Duggar Family Matriarch “Grandma” Mary Duggar Dies Suddenly

(Photos: TLC, Instagram)

28 Responses


  1. Why can’t these freaks just say she drowned accidentally? And WTF? Never swim alone, people! Do they not teach that in the home school curriculum of common sense? She may have slipped and cracked her head or had a stroke or heart attack and if someone was there, they could have hauled her out and started CPR at least. Jana really thinks this is the day Grammy Mary would have chosen for her last day?


  2. What I want to know is why the hell a 78 year old woman was walking around the pool unsupervised??? Lord knows that family supervises EVERYTHING else!!!!


  3. May the Lord give you peace and comfort. When you think of her imagine her rejoicing and praising her Lord in heaven were there are no more tears or sorrow but Love indescribable. Keeping you all in my prayers.


  4. my God. This woman died. Very tragically, I might add. I get this is a place for snark but some of these comments are insane. She moved out quite some time ago. Yes, she had a pool. I’m sure her grandkids and great grands enjoyed it. She probably could swim but if you fall and hit your head, its hard to swim while knocked out. Or who knows, maybe she couldn’t swim but still wanted to own a pool for her family to enjoy. Stop victim shaming.


    1. Hey loser the 911 call says “it’s the big house in the back” which sounds to me like she’s living in the Duggar Guest house with the pool. The snark is well deserved. Unless she had a fatal heart attack, this death was preventable. Don’t you have some child support to pay, Luis?


  5. Ava, you have some common sense. Crimes. Elderly woman slipped and fell into a pool! It’s not a teaching moment for you.


    1. Yes, but they weren’t because she is a grown woman. or maybe someone was there but they were inside for a few moments. No one thinks something like this would happen. Its not like they left a two year old alone.


  6. Oh dang! That’s extra sad then! I have the same question as everyone else though. When did she move out of the duggars house?


  7. Very sad. I hope the family finds peace and it seems like though their faith, they will. One thing you can’t bash the duggars for is supporting each other in times of need.


  8. I haven’t watched the show in years. Last I watched she lived with JimBob and Michelle. Did she move out?


    1. It says her pool so I’m guessing she did. She probably moved out when the kids stared getting married.


  9. All these “accidental” drownings… ? If you can’t swim then stay away from water. If you’re going to be around water then learn how to swim. Seriously people use common sense.


    1. Pretty sure she wasn’t in the water without knowing how to swim. A lot of people are speculating she had a stroke or heart attack and fell into the pool during that. Good job on being an asshole though!


    2. If you fall and hit your head rendering you unconscious, no amount of swimming lessons in the world will save you.


    3. She probably knew how to swim but had a medical issue which prevented it. (Tripped and hurt herself while falling into pool, stroke, heart attack etc.) Given her age, it’s likely something else prevented her from swimming, than lack of swim knowledge.


      1. you do realize she is a senior citizen that had multiple strokes last year most likely she wasn’t steady and fell not that she couldn’t swim


    4. Yeah, everyone should know how to swim, even when they’re unconscious! ? TFOH She slipped, which was an accident, and can happen to ANYONE. Even people who know how to swim.


    5. Ava, if you read the article it states she slipped and then drowned. Chances are she was knocked unconcious before she drowned.


    6. She was a million years old, cut the poor thing a break. Grandparents’ houses are where families congregate and she probably wanted to make it a fun place for the kids, or hell, maybe she did laps herself. She probably got dizzy or had another stroke and fell in while enjoying her deck.

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