Joseph Duggar is currently out of jail on bond and (likely) reunited with his wife Kendra for the time being. However, before Joe bonded out of jail on March 31, the disgraced Counting On star made numerous jailhouse phone calls with Kendra, including one on March 23 in which Kendra tries to tell her husband how badly she is struggling amidst his incarceration and the temporary loss of their four kids.
At one point during the March 23 call, Kendra tells Joe— who was arrested last month for allegedly sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl in 2020— how hard it is to be alone with her own thoughts, even seeming surprised that she hasn’t “died yet.”
(As The Ashley previously reported, Kendra— as well as Joe— were each charged on March 20 with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment. As a condition of their release, Kendra and Joe are not allowed to have any contact with their victims– whom they have revealed via jail calls to be their four kids— until their court date at the end of April.)
“I’m sure your thoughts are so loud, I know how loud mine are,” Kendra told her hubby during the call.
Joe doesn’t seem to notice that his wife is trying to explain how badly she’s struggling. Instead of comforting her, he talks about how loud things are in jail.
“Sometimes in the cells next door to me sometimes I can’t even hear myself think whenever they’re next door,” Joe said.
“Well, that might be better!” Kendra says with a chuckle. “That might be better than hearing yourself think because if I’m in the quiet— if I’m by myself— it’s just not a good thing. But I haven’t died yet, right? So, I’m like, ‘I haven’t died.'”
Joe seems uncomfortable hearing Kendra talk about death, so he goes right into Bible-talk.
“I feel like reading the Psalms have helped me a lot,” he tells Kendra, who informs him she’s not even able to read right now.
“That’s the thing; my brain had to slow down because it was going too quick whenever I first got in here,” Joe says. “It took a while for it to calm and then I…came to the realization that ‘I’m here. I need to just embrace where God has me and where I am, like Joseph [from the Bible]…”
(As The Ashley previously reported, Joe’s father Jim Bob Duggar compared his son’s current plight to that of the Bible character Joseph as well. In an email sent to Joseph in jail last month, Jim Bob reminded his son that Joseph from the Bible was able to “make lemonade out of lemons.”)
Kendra breathlessly acknowledges what her husband is saying but is clearly still struggling.
Joe tells Kendra they just have to get “over this hump,” to which Kendra replies “May God have mercy on us.”
“That’s what I’m praying for— mercy and grace,” she adds.
Later, Joe does try to encourage Kendra, telling her, “God’s still on our side, OK? God knows where we are. And that’s what I’ve been encouraging myself. You know? It doesn’t matter where we are, what’s going on and everything, God’s gonna— if we’re honest before God and before everyone, we can’t worry about what the world’s gonna want to do with us. Because the world doesn’t love God, you know? But we can still love God and we can honor Him.”
Kendra tells Joe that her anxiety levels are at an all-time high, and that she was “spiraling” in bed, prompting Joe’s mother Michelle to bring food up to her and pray with her to help calm her down.
“I think that I can’t be by myself for too long… that’s just where I’m at,” Kendra says.
Joe tells Kendra that he’s been praying that she will be able to rest, eat and have energy. (Kendra says she may need to get nutrition intravenously, as she did once before.)
“I just want you to know where I’m at, it’s really hard. I’m in a really hard spot, too. I know you are but I feel like I need to be encouraged,” Kendra tells Joe.
Joe vows to pray that God will give Kendra the ability “to do the right things.”
Joe tells Kendra that she never leaves his thoughts, except for when he’s thinking about Psalms.
“Oh, and the kids, obviously,” he adds. “I am praying a lot for them too.”
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“Yes, please do,” Kendra replies. “They need our prayers as well. I’m sure they’re going to be very resilient little things…”
Kendra also vows to get the kids into counseling and get the, whatever other help they may need to recover from the situation the family’s currently in.
Joe is due back in court in Florida on April 20.
You can listen to audio of Joe and Kendra’s call from March 23 below.
@theashleysrealityroundup JAIL CALL AUDIO: Kendra Duggar Tells Husband Joe: "May God Have Mercy on Us" Kendra Duggar tells her jailbird husband Joe Duggar that she's praying for mercy, and reveal how badly she's struggling with his incarceration, even seeming surprised she hasn't "died yet." Read the full article here: https://www.theashleysrealityroundup.com/2026/04/06/kendra-duggar-tells-joe-duggar-may-god-have-mercy-on-us-in-jail-phone-call-jokes-she-hasnt-died-yet/ #fypp #fypシ #fypage #RealityTV #theashleysrealityroundup #fypシ゚viral #Theashley #FYPp #FYPpage #FYP #realitytvnews #Viral #viralvideos #duggarfamily #duggartok #duggartea #joeduggarinjail #JoeDuggar #JosephDuggar #KendraDuggar ♬ original sound – The Ashley’s Reality Roundup
RELATED STORY: Kendra Duggar’s Parents Launch GoFundMe to Pay for Legal Fees & Housing After Feud with Kendra & Duggars Leaves Them Without a Home
(Photos: TLC; Instagram)
49 Responses
Happy to hear Kendra is planning to place her children into counseling. I sincerely hope she gets some herself – and gets on some anti-anxiety medication quickly (and then leaves Joe).
She is verbalizing and exhibiting some of the same symptoms I had when I had to testify in court once (as a victim and witness). The severe anxiety leads to a loss in appetite, subsequent weight loss, insomnia, etc. I hope she thinks about how Joe put her and the children into this situation.
These people are wackadoodles living in an alternate universe.
It’s not that easy to get in some much trouble you were arrested honestly I’ve called cps for things and they do nothing so I’m wondering how bad this was that she herself is involved in to actually get arrested is kinda shocking
I’ve seen a teacher shake a little boy so violently and hit him, I called CPS from my home when I got off work, nothing they did nothing! I don’t think Kendra hurt her kids at all,
and on the other hand my parents wouldn’t put me in a position to loose my children, if they did I’d remove them from my house and life, I had no idea the hated her, and cared so much for the other daughter, that was 4 years ago, it could of been handled differently
I hate all these people so much
These people sound like strangers, at best acquaintances. Imaging procreating with someone multiple times but can’t even have a clear & honest conversation. The whole family really lives in bizarro-land
I’m a little confused here. People are saying she didn’t know about this crap. Before the arrest, but the reports here in Arkansas actually said at the time of the crime, he and his wife went to the girl’s father. Which means they went to a 9-year-old’s father and told him about this asked him not to report it. I’m not really sure if they like. Begged forgiveness or whatever that made me assume, he was one of the cult members, also because if he hadn’t been, he would have reported this or beat that idiot senseless for touching his daughter. But nothing was reported until the victim was 14 years old. So unless I got this wrong, everyone knew
I’ve not heard the sorry your telling
Mercy & Grace?
Fuck off Pedo.
I need to stop coming here. Between @TheAshley being the only gossip blog I visit allowing victim speculation and naming in the comments (disgusting btw. That child deserves privacy. Shame on everyone naming her and shame on Ashley for fucking allowing it)…some of y’all are writing straight up fanfiction and stating facts that are NOT proven facts. Then we have the one anti-religion bigot in these comments. Y’all REALLY do NOT understand this world. You do NOT understand the control it has on women and children. What you saw on TV was only the polished tip of the iceberg. What you are hearing in these calls is a broken IBLP woman who isn’t actually allowed to break. Yeah, she probably royally fucked up with her kids because abuse is basically a taught requirement for parenting in that world and I’m GLAD she’s being held accountable. Hopefully it woke her up. But there is ZERO EVIDENCE that Kendra knew a damn thing before the arrest. But y’all go off like you know a damn thing when all you see is the surface.
I don’t think you realize that there are some people here who are all too well familiar with this cult. Thankfully we are few in number, but there are some of us.
Honestly, it sounds like you should stop coming here if it is bothering you. You cant police others language let alone enforce your morals on this just because it is close to you and discussion upsets you.
Lots of us also have trauma. Im responsible for my own triggers, just as you are yours. I stay out of some stories, and scan some articles instead of getting invested to my own detriment.
Whoever you are, and wherever you may be, I do hope your year gets better, and that you have peace. Just a note EMDR is a great way to speed up processing trauma if you ever need it. But deconstruction is a B.
People do NOT need to be naming victims (or even speculating on their identities) in the comments.
Yeah I’m disgusted that The Ashley is posting such tidbits of information that point to the identity of the victim. I thought we as a society were above that.
I grew up Baptist and agree with you on people not realizing the way some churches (and families) isolate people like Kendra and prevent them from leaving. There is a strong hold outsiders could never understand.
Also, there are quite a few frequent commenters on this blog who have ZERO critical thinking skills, so I wouldn’t expect much from them.
This is the culture they’re raised in. His parents tried their best to cover up the oldest molesting his own sisters. They’re all about protecting the males at all costs. The majority of them are all pieces of sh*t!
People like this make me question religion every day. Your imaginary dude in the sky, and some guy on a cross come back as a zombie FOR US! Gtfoh. Crazy talk.
Here is the Bible story of Joseph:
After being falsely accused of attempted rape by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt in the jail where the king’s prisoners were kept. Despite this injustice, God was with Joseph, granting him favor with the warden, who eventually put him in charge of all prisoners.
I fail to see ANY correlation here between the 2 Josephs. Is JB trying to convince everyone that his son has been falsely accused???
Sick People
They are incredibly delusional. Thank you for sharing the story, to push home how delusional these cretinous caricatures of people are.
Trash… *that gif with the guy closing his laptop saying trash*
Sadly they don’t think it’s a false accusation, it’s worse than that. They literally think it’s not wrong to commit these heinous acts at all, especially if you say sorry. You only say sorry if someone tells you that it was harmful….(not that you agree or believe it is, of course). That is what they are taught and believe.
Sick doesn’t begin to describe it.
You are 100% correct! They think its ok to be abusive if you repent. His wife is no better than Joshs wife Anna. I also think those ladies like the $$$$. Dont rock the boat as long as you can keep your Mcmansion and Range Rover.
I think Kendra *might* be waking up more than Anna did – the fact that she is planning on placing her children in therapy is a good sign. HOWEVER, she needs to leave Joe in order truly prioritize and protect her children.
I wouldn’t put much stock into the ‘counseling’ Kendra talked about. It’s probably someone from their church that will just tell the kids that some evil, godless sinners told lies about their mommy and daddy and all they need to do is pray and obey jesus and it’ll be fine.
Sort of like what JimBob and Michelle did when Josh was busted abusing his sisters. They had their state patrol friend ‘give him a good talking to’. Their state patrolman friend was a pedophile and was busted a few years later.
Exactly. This is something my childhood pastor would have said.
Kendra is just looking for sympathy. This isn’t some guilt-ridden response. If she cared at all about anyone other than herself, she’d make it known. If she was any kind of loving parent, she’d worry more about her kids. Every other line out of her mouth is basically “what about me and what I’m going through”. No concern the kids, no concern for the victim, just herself. Sick fuck.
I think she’s starting to realize that she’s not going to get away with her own crimes, so she’s lying as much as she can to try and make it seem like she’s a victim
Again, sick fuck.
I still hope CPS takes the kids forever, they deserve a good loving home where the won’t be victimized or harmed in any way. These two need to be locked up for a good long while. ANYONE that supports her or him, should be investigated too, as it’s obvious she is as guilty as him.
Also,god hates ugly and anyone that harms children is as ugly as it gets. Hopefully she’s starting to realize that too. God hates her….
God does not hate her at all
How do you know? God has always made his thoughts on harming children quite clear. There ARE unforgivable sins.
Her husband’s response to her should be remorseful and apologetic for the things he’s done to the victim and the things he put her through but instead he’s making it all about himself and how he is suffering in prison like some kind of hero. I think she is trying to express how she feels but they are taught that a wife should never complain or disagree with her husband. He’s not just not getting it. I don’t know how she could stay with him but she is probably being blamed for it. It makes me sick how he is acting like a martyr and they are all helping him.
Please don’t make excuses for her. They are BOTH pieces of shit, full stop. Regardless if either of their upbringings, they are pieces of shit and deserve everything they get, and a lot more they’ll likely never get because the justice system is not just. No one should give a shit about her feelings. She damn well knows he won’t so her pleas are really for the general public. Did you not pay attention to the fact that she has COACHES telling her how to behave and what to say? It’s simply a means to pretend like she’s a victim too
Nope, not buying it, she’s a piece of shit just like him and should rot right alongside him. Don’t forget, she’s known about this longer than the public, she knew what he did, knew what his family is like and STILL doest care about her own kids now that she was caught putting them in harm’s way too.
I don’t think she’s as heinous as Joe. Many of her conversations have been about the kids. I hope she leaves him, but unlikely considering JB and Michelle pay her bills and she is estranged from her own extended family.
Exactly none of her conversations with him have been about the kids. So I’m not sure where you got that. She has only mentioned them a couple times. She has said that she doesn’t know how they are doing because she’s not allowed to. She also said moving forward she would have to (not DOES have to) make herself and then them her focus. That’s it, no concern for them at all.
A loving parent doesn’t need to lock tiny children (or any) in a room to keep them safe in their own home. Just think on that for a bit…why would she ever feel this is necessary if she didn’t already have information about their safety being compromised…
1) I doubt God is on the side of somebody that did such evil to a child.
2) Kendra is basically telling him she’s s***idal and racked with guilt and he’s just talking about how jail is uncomfortable.
3) If he really meant what he said about being honest before God and everybody else, he shouldn’t have entered a Not Guilty plea.
4) This exchange did give me a *little bit* of hope that Kendra may actually be on the track of *eventually* seeing the light since she seems to feel some type of remorse and is talking about counseling for the kids. I won’t hold my breath, though, especially with her surrounded by Duggars.
I totally agree. I’m not as biblical literate as some but I remember there are verses about how God and Jesus blessed the children but I don’t remember the next part including blessings for the child abusers…
Also as I was reading this all I could think was Joe listen to your wife…actually hear her. She maybe using their fundy required wife talk but she’s basically s**cidal. She’s not eating and freaking out. Joe…pull your head out and hear her before you lose her.
She is not suicidal ffs, it’s an ACT, she has said they brought people in to coach her behavior and speech.
If she was suicidal, I still wouldn’t care, no one should. She put her children in harm’s way, intentionally, knew her husband was the monster he is, and did nothing.
Let her rot.
There is literally no proof she knew anything before the arrest. Stop writing fanfiction and wait until you actually KNOW. I grew up in this world. I know it. I escaped from it. Stop talking about shit you will NEVER fucking understand. And stop attacking people who don’t think like you. That’s Duggar shit right there.
I prefer to keep my own personal experience with the cult out of discussions, but I know it far better than I’d like. It’s the reason I know what I do (tabloids and the internet aren’t exactly great resources for more than general info, and a lot of speculation, after all).
The locks were put on the doors to keep the children safe in their own home for a reason. Yes, there is evidence, it’s just not been widely broadcast…yet.
“ And stop attacking people who don’t think like you”
And you are doing what precisely. You have no right to police others lamguage.
Response to JustAnotherWeirdo, if The locks were to keep Joseph from getting into the kids’ rooms, that’s a big leap that an adult (even a Duggar one) wouldn’t eventually figure out where the key was (or just pop the latch if it was one of the basic doorknob ones), or just replace the locks on the doors of the house they lived in.
Thank You, that person obviously just wants attention, they know nothing about Kendra and they never will
How the hell would you know? Are you her? I hope you are not responsible for children or any other vulnerable persons. Doubting someone is suicidal is very dangerous, tone-deaf and insensitive.
Why wouldn’t Kendra be suicidal? She just lost custody (and contact with) all her children for at least 30 days.
Yeah pretty sure Jesus condemns anyone who harms a child!
I’m sure her idea of counseling is taking them to the pastor/leader of their creepy ass “church” so don’t be too hopeful.
I’m thinking it might be court-mandated. In the case, the state (typically) requires a licensed psychiatrist. But, sometimes those include Christian counselors or secular counselors. There are some decent Christian counselors that exist, but they can’t be legalistic/fundamentalist.
That’s what I analyzed from this conversation as well. If she wasn’t having a reaction and losing her kids, I would definitely think she was a crappy parent.
I’d say it’s 50-50 she leaves him. I don’t she will until months or years later. They’ve got both of their trials in the future, and they depend on Jim Bob and Michelle financially, and then add into the fact that she’s estranged from her own family.
She did tell Joe in a previous conversation that the kids were her priority over him. So that gives me hope as well.
Did he lose his Bible while he was forcibly touching and sexually abusing a child? Please Joseph, enlighten me. I’d love to hear how Joseph and his equally delusional and stupid wife twist the scriptures to make what he did ok.
Let’s take a simple commandment. “thou shall not lie”. Joseph admits to sexually abusing a child. Then he pleads “not guilty”. That’s a liar in my book.
Reading comprehension and morals are clearly lacking in this Duggar cult.
Right? His daddy said you just have to say sorry and everything is all better. No consequences or accountability for any of their actions. It’s disgusting
The lawyer pled not guilty, not him
Yeah but as the client, Joe would have his lawyer plead in his behalf.
The fact that he admitted to it and then pleaded not guilty is not going to go over well with the judge at his trial. Josh, for example, got more time because he pleaded not guilty even though strong evidence to the contrary was presented.