Trigger Warning: This post contains mentions of sexual abuse.
This week’s arrest of Joseph Duggar— and later his wife Kendra— has certainly sent shockwaves through the Duggar Family, causing some members to speak out in very different ways.
As The Ashley reported, Kendra was arrested on Friday and charged with four counts of false imprisonment, and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Joe— who is already sitting in jail on child molestation charges stemming from an alleged incident in Florida— also received additional charges out of Arkansas that are identical to Kendra’s. (It’s been reported that the Arkansas charges are not related to Joe’s child molestation charges from Florida.)
Before Joe and Kendra received the Arkansas charges, however, several members of the Duggar family spoke out about Joe’s alleged crimes. His sister Jill Duggar Dillard was the first to release a statement on Thursday, and sister Jessa Duggar Seewald followed suit on Friday, posting a statement to social media in support of Joe’s wife Kendra (who had not been charged at the time Jessa posted the statement.)
“We learned of this saddening news along with the rest of the world on Wednesday and we are in complete shock,” she wrote of Joe’s Florida charges. “Our hearts are grieving for this innocent young girl, and we know this is deeply grievous to God, who cares tenderly for children and the vulnerable. We are keeping her in our prayers.”
“As a family, we are pulling together to support Kendra and her kids during this difficult time,” she concluded.
However, Jessa deleted her statement not long after posting it. (It is unknown if she deleted it because she found out there were more charges coming from Kendra and Joe.)
In addition to Jessa, Joe’s cousin Amy Duggar grabbed every opportunity possible to have the spotlight on her spoke out against Joe on Friday morning, carefully noting that she was “not surprised” that another member of the Duggar family had been accused of crimes against children. She gave interviews to several media outlets, and posted a video statement on Instagram, thanking her fans for their support and prayers.
“I cannot believe this is happening again,” she said in the video.
“In light of recent allegations involving my cousin, Joseph Duggar, I am sickened, heartbroken, and deeply angry,” she said, adding that she was “utterly shocked to hear about these allegations and Joseph’s arrest,” but was “not surprised that another alleged predator has emerged from this toxic system.”
Amy also expressed support to Kendra on her Instagram video.
View this post on Instagram
“…I am also praying for Joseph’s wife, Kendra, as she begins to process this, and for the protection of their children. I am praying for eyes to be opened and above all else, I pray that justice will be served to the fullest.”
Later that day, after news broke that Joe had received additional new charges and that Kendra had also been arrested, Amy posted a bizarre video to Instagram Stories, in which she is filming herself crying and yelling.
“I don’t know what’s going on!” Amy yells in the video while sobbing. “Our local news is saying that there’s more and they’re saying there’s been someone else arrested and there’s stuff going on and I’m just— I don’t know! I just thought that everyone should know that there’s more to this story. I don’t know what it is!”
(Amy got scorched on social media for the unhinged video— which is posted below— with many people speculating that it appears that Amy is trying to make herself sound like she’s crying. Others pointed out how odd it is to film yourself like that and post it to social media.)
Probably time for Amy to get off social media for the day.
by
u/maria_ann13 in
DuggarsSnark
As The Ashley reported, Joe was arrested on Wednesday for two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior– one for the molestation of a victim less than 12 years old. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred during a family vacation to Florida in 2020.
On Friday, an affidavit filed by the Bay County Florida’s Sheriff’s Office regarding Joseph’s arrest for the alleged molestation in Florida reveals that the ‘Counting On’ star first confessed to molesting the nine-year-old girl during a conversation with the victim’s father.
The father and a detective then called Joseph, who admitted he touched the minor over her clothing.
People has obtained the affidavit, which states that Joseph admitted that “his intentions were not pure.”
Florida Investigator Chase Norris wrote in the affidavit that Joseph allegedly “asked the victim to sit on his lap, numerous times” and “would cradle the victim with his arms.”
The then-nine-year-old girl also stated that she sat next to Joe on a couch at the family’s vacation home several times. Joe then allegedly covered them both with a blanket and proceeded to “pull the victim’s dress up and touch the victim’s thighs.” The victim stated that Joe “would touch the top portions of her thighs and would inch higher and higher, closer to the victim’s waistline.” He allegedly did this several times during the vacation, and each time the minor claimed that Joe would “graze” her vagina, which she said made her “feel uncomfortable and confused.”
The girl— who is now 14— came forward with the details this week during a forensic interview.
Joe is currently sitting in jail in Arkansas, but will soon be extradited to Florida.
Joe’s parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, have not released any statements as of press time. Kendra’s parents have also remained silent, as have the rest of the Duggar siblings.
Stay tuned…
RELATED STORY: Joseph Duggar Gets New Unrelated Charges in Arkansas for Child Endangerment & False Imprisonment: Wife Kendra Arrested Too
3 Responses
As annoying as people may find her, she has yet to lie about a damn thing. Sure she may be attention seeking, she may be obnoxious, she may be weird as all hell, but she has always spoken the truth about this cult and these families. It’s why they shunned her in the first place.
She’s also always offered her support and thoughts/prayers for the actual victims, not the perpetrators.
Let’s not forget that Kendra’s and Joseph’s new charges have nothing to do with his other case. This isn’t because she refused to let them speak to CPS. Authorities may not have revealed exact details, but they have made that much clear. Unrelated is unrelated, which means both of them have put their own children, or 4 others, in harm’s way on top of everything else. People don’t just get arrested willy nilly, even when serious crimes against children have been committed. That means they have a pretty damn compelling case with ample proof.
I get why people don’t like the cousin? But to have this much vitriol against someone who speaks out AGAINST these looney toon religious cult nutballs is almost as shocking to me.
I am thinking the same thing. If she didn’t speak out against this vile situation she would be attacked for not speaking up. She makes a strong stance against this pdf and expresses sincere concern for the victim and she still gets attacked. SMH