Nearly two months after Kendra Caldwell and husband Joseph Duggar evicted Kendra’s parents, Paul and Christina Caldwell, due to the couple allegedly turning Joe in to police for the alleged crimes that led to his March arrest, the Caldwells are now reportedly taking steps to remove themselves from their estranged daughter and son-in-law’s lives.
As The Ashley previously reported, the former Counting On star was arrested in March after a 14-year-old girl disclosed in a forensic interview several sexual abuse incidents involving Joe, which allegedly occurred during a 2020 vacation in Florida when the victim was nine years old.
While Amy Paul— a friend of the Caldwells— publicly implied last month that Joe’s alleged victim is part of the Caldwell family, a new motion filed in court this week by Joe pretty much confirms it.
Shortly after Joe’s arrest in March, unrelated charges were filed in Arkansas against both Joe and Kendra, with each receiving four counts of false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. (Both have pleaded not guilty to the alleged crimes.) Meanwhile, Kendra’s parents went on to launch a GoFundMe to raise money for “legal fees and [to] secure safe housing,” prior to speaking out about the Duggar Family’s latest controversy.
According to Us Weekly, Kendra– who has been leaning on Joe’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, following both her and Joe’s arrests– remains on the outs with her parents and is not in communication with her family at this time. Paul and Christina have since vacated the Duggar-owned home they had been living in with their minor children since 2021.
“It has been an extremely stressful time [for the Caldwells], especially given the circumstances,” a source told the outlet. “Relocating is always difficult, especially with a larger family and the stress they are under. They are considering a move out of state. Paul is looking for work to support the family because he had to leave his job.”
The source went on to add that Paul and Christina “want to distance themselves from the Duggars as much as possible,” noting that the Caldwells allegedly “felt unsafe” prior to moving out of their home due to the utilities being cut off by their daughter’s in-laws.
“More than anything, they want to feel safe and start over and to enter counseling to heal,” they noted.
Additionally, the source claimed that the Caldwell Family’s “priority right now is to support” Joe’s alleged victim– something the family expressed themselves in a statement posted to social media on April 15.
“Our family is both troubled and heartbroken over the alleged actions committed by our son-in-law,” the statement read. “We are devastated for the young girl, a child who was courageous in every way to share her truth. We stand by her, both in support and prayer, and forever will. Our love for this child remains at the forefront our of family’s priorities and minds. We are proud of her for being strong enough to share her story while also retaining her own identity and joy … .”
In a fundraising update posted in late April, Paul made it very clear that the money raised would not be used to help anyone but the Caldwells, especially anyone who has been charged with crimes against children.
“None of the funds from this fundraiser are going to help anyone who would harm children in any way,” Paul assured donors, before suggesting that his family’s displacement was a direct result of their decision to speak up about Joe’s alleged crimes. (As you may remember, it was reported by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida that Joe confessed to the crimes when approached by the victim’s father in March.)
“We are willing to stand for the protection of the weak and vulnerable in society, because of that stand we have been put in a situation that has cause[d] the [loss] of our current housing situation and employment, having to relocate on such short notice has left us in a bit of a financial struggle,” he wrote. “We also need to have some time to get some much-needed counseling … .”
At this time, the Caldwells have raised more than $35,000 through their GoFundMe.
UPDATE! Court documents obtained by The Ashley state that, on Monday, Joe filed a motion requesting to amend the no-contact order that was implemented by a Florida judge in March, which states that the 31-year-old “must avoid” his alleged victim. As mentioned above, while it’s been widely reported that the victim is someone close to the Caldwell Family, the identity of the individual has not been revealed. However, Joe’s new motion seemingly confirms that the individual is someone in Kendra’s immediate family, as the documents state that Joe is requesting to amend the no-contact order so that he can “visit” and “maintain” various properties that he owns– including one residence which “the alleged victim and her family have abandoned” and are “no longer residing.”
The motion claims that the existing no-contact order “is causing issues with the Defendant being able to maintain the properties listed,” and clarifies that Joe “is not requesting contact with the alleged victim, nor to be within 500 feet of the alleged victim, as the victim abandoned the property previously listed as the alleged victim’s residence.”
RELATED STORY: Joseph Duggar Wants to Be Able to See His Own Kids; Files to Amend No-Contact Order Put in Place Following Child Molestation Arrest
(Photos: Instagram; TLC; GoFundMe)
2 Responses
JoPedo and his wife are monsters. It was her own sister and Kendra is choosing the se_xual molester over her little sister. Karma will come for these two and I have zero sympathy for them. I am so disgusted. I hope justice is served and his children are all adults by the time he gets out of prison.
The duggers are a horrible despicable family.
No minor is safe around them Jim blob raised monsters in those 2 nonces.
How many more are that way.