Content warning: This story discusses child sexual abuse.
Amy Duggar King is breaking her silence on her cousin Joseph Duggar‘s arrest.
The author of Holy Disruptor spoke about the accusations against the 31-year-old man, who was charged on March 18th with sexually abusing a child. The charges relate to alleged incidents with a 9-year-old girl that occurred in 2020.
In a statement to People magazine on March 20, Amy expressed her shock, sadness, and outrage. She said her immediate concern was for the young victim, who should have been safe, cared for, and surrounded by trustworthy people.
The 39-year-old woman expressed shock about the allegations and Joseph’s arrest, but also admitted she wasn’t surprised to see another person accused of misconduct come forward, given the harmful environment she described.
Amy explained that she’s consistently prioritized honesty, responsibility, and child safety, even when it caused conflict within her family. She referenced her cousin, Josh Duggar, 38, who is currently in prison for 12 years due to charges related to child pornography. Amy emphasized that family relationships shouldn’t automatically guarantee trust or access, particularly when children’s well-being is at stake.
Protecting someone’s reputation at the expense of honesty, and staying quiet instead of taking responsibility, allows abuse to continue, the former TLC star explained. They added that they’ve been working to stop harmful patterns from repeating in both their close and extended families.
Amy commended the young woman for bravely speaking out after keeping a difficult secret for so long. She also expressed her support and prayers for the now 14-year-old and her family, acknowledging the challenging times they face.
Amy also said she’s praying for Joseph’s wife, Kendra, as she deals with this difficult situation, and for the safety of their children. She hopes the truth comes to light and that justice is fully served.
Joseph was arrested in Arkansas, where he lives with his wife and their four children. He’s currently being held while authorities arrange for him to be transferred to Florida, where the alleged crime involving a young girl happened during a family trip.
According to a statement from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the victim said Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap and later to sit next to him on the couch, where he covered them with a blanket. The victim also reported that Duggar inappropriately touched her, manipulating her underwear and grazing her genitals, and that he continued to rub his hands on her thighs.
Joseph apologized for what he did, and the incidents stopped after he admitted his actions to investigators when the victim’s father spoke with him, according to authorities.
In the wake of Joseph’s arrest, his sister Jill Duggar said she was “shocked and heartbroken.”
In a statement released on March 19th, the family strongly denounced the abuse and expressed support for the legal process, hoping for a just outcome. They shared their sympathy with the young victim and her family, offering prayers for strength, comfort, and the resources needed to heal and recover.
For more details on the Duggar family, read on.
This couple, who fell in love in high school, are now parents to 19 children and grandparents to over 36 grandchildren.
Michelle remembers accepting Christianity when she was fifteen. Later, Jim Bob was going door-to-door for his Baptist church when he visited the Ruark family. A friend had mentioned that a newly religious cheerleader lived there, and it turned out to be Michelle.
You know, it’s funny how relationships start! Jim Bob and I first met when his family invited me to Sunday school. He actually told me later he prayed that we’d become each other’s spiritual guides – though honestly, I don’t have a strong memory of that first encounter. A year later, I applied for a job at his parents’ frozen yogurt shop, and that’s where things really started to click. I remember working at the counter, and he came up so shyly to introduce himself. It wasn’t a long conversation, but he was incredibly sweet! Eventually, he worked up the courage to ask me to the junior-senior banquet, and the rest, as they say, is history! It’s been 33 wonderful years since then, and I shared that story on our family blog for his birthday a few years ago.
Michelle and Jim Bob first connected at a dinner held at Shiloh Christian. However, it was the hours they spent talking about the Bible at her parents’ house afterward that truly solidified their bond. As Michelle recalls, that’s when they felt their hearts truly connected. They graduated high school in May 1984 and were married just two months later in July. Michelle was 17 at the time, and Jim Bob was 19.
The couple dedicated themselves to God and each other for the long run.
Jim Bob previously served as a state representative for Arkansas’s sixth district from 1999 to 2002, where he was also vice chair of the House Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee. He ran for U.S. Senate in 2002 but didn’t win the primary, and in 2006, he sought the Republican nomination for the Arkansas State Senate District 35, but was unsuccessful.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are licensed real estate agents and have long been involved in conservative political and social causes. This aspect of their lives led to both strong support for and criticism of their show, 19 Kids and Counting (originally 17 Kids and Counting, which first aired in 2008).
As of October 2024, they were grandparents of 33 with three on the way.
Josh Duggar, the oldest of the Duggar children, was born on March 3, 1988. Like his parents, he became involved in conservative activism, working with the Family Research Council.
Josh Duggar resigned after old police records from 2015 came to light, detailing accusations that he had sexually abused several girls, including his sisters Jessa and Jill, when he was a teenager. In June of that year, Jessa Duggar defended her brother in an interview with Fox News, claiming the accusations were exaggerated and untrue. She stated that, as one of the victims, she knew the claims were false, even if others disagreed.
His wife, Anna Duggar, whom he married on September 26, 2008, in a ceremony shown on the show 19 Kids and Counting, remained supportive, even after he confessed to infidelity.
In 2016, when he began treatment, his parents described it as an important start to his recovery.
Anna and her husband have seven children: Mackynzie (born October 8, 2009), Michael (June 15, 2011), Marcus (June 2, 2013), Meredith (July 16, 2015), Mason Garett (September 12, 2017), Maryella Hope (November 27, 2019), and Madyson Lily (October 23, 2021). Meredith was born on the same day TLC canceled their show, 19 Kids.
In April 2021, Josh was indicted on federal charges for receiving and possessing child pornography, but he maintained his innocence. In 2022, he was convicted on both counts, although the judge later dismissed the possession charge. He received a prison sentence of 12.5 years.
Soon after Josh arrived, Michelle became pregnant again, but sadly had a miscarriage. While they were still sad about that loss and seeking direction, they were overjoyed to discover they were expecting twins.
It felt like a special gift from God, a real encouragement to us,” she explained. “We’re still figuring things out as we go. It’s pretty rare to breastfeed while being pregnant again so soon – my children are very close in age, only about eight months apart. It’s just another unexpected thing that’s happened to us, and we feel blessed by it.
John-David Duggar and his twin sister Jana Duggar were born on Jan. 12, 1990.
John-David and Abbie-Grace Burnett married on November 3, 2018, after a quick romance and engagement. Though they’d been aware of each other for years, they officially met at a church event in Oklahoma, where Abbie grew up.
They welcomed daughter Grace Annette Duggar on Jan. 7, 2020 and son Charlie Duggar in September 2022.
On their 30th birthday in January 2020, Jana shared a heartfelt message about her and John. They’d always been asked if they had a special ‘twin connection’ – that feeling of knowing what the other is thinking or feeling. Jana had always said no, but with the birth of their daughter, Gracie, she realized she truly felt John’s happiness as if it were her own, making her believe the connection was real.
Jana told them, “It’s lovely seeing you and Abbie as parents – you both seem so natural! You’re already a great brother, and that kindness will make you a wonderful father too.”
Abbie and John-David welcomed their third child, a baby girl, in February 2026.
Jana watched eleven of her eighteen siblings get married before she met her husband, Stephen Wissmann. Stephen’s sister, Hannah, is married to Jana’s brother, Jeremiah. Although she sometimes felt frustrated by the wait, Jana believes everything happened according to God’s plan.
Jana explained to People magazine that she’s marrying later in life because she trusts God’s plan for everyone. ‘We all have unique journeys,’ she said, ‘and it would be so dull if we were all the same!’ Her wedding is scheduled for August 15, 2024.
On Dec. 30, 2025, the couple welcomed their first child, son Archie Gerald Wissmann.
Jill Dillard (born May 17, 1991) met her husband, Derick, in a sweet way that reminded people of her parents’ romance. He visited the Duggar family home in December 2011 while caroling with his church group – he grew up just 45 minutes away!
Jim Bob brought Jill and Derick together, and they quickly connected through emails and video calls. That November, Jill and her father visited Derick in Nepal, and their relationship blossomed. In February 2014, Derick formally asked Jim Bob for Jill’s hand in marriage, and they were married on June 21, 2014. They now have three sons: Israel, born April 6, 2015, Samuel, born July 8, 2017, and Frederick, born July 7, 2022.
I was absolutely heartbroken to hear that Jill lost her baby girl back in April. She shared the news, and honestly, it just crushed me. She and Derick were so excited, and to find out they’d lost their first little girl… it’s just devastating. I’ve been sending all my love and prayers their way ever since.
In the Amazon Prime Video documentary Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which debuted in June 2023, Jill and Derick Duggar discussed the controversies and religious beliefs connected to their family.
Jim Bob and Michelle’s fifth child, Jessa Duggar, was born Nov. 4, 1992.
Jessa and Ben first met at church, and he began pursuing her in 2013. This traditional way of getting to know someone—called ‘courting’—was new to many viewers of their show. Because they didn’t discuss their relationships before deciding to pursue marriage, Jim Bob explained to People magazine that courting involves getting to know each other with both families involved, and setting goals together to see if they’re a good match. He contrasted this with dating, where couples often spend time alone and it can lead to physical intimacy.
Ben asked for Jessa’s parents’ permission to propose, and he did in August 2014—it was also the first time they held hands! They were married on November 1, 2014. While Jessa was expecting their first child, their show, 19 Kids and Counting, was canceled. TLC then aired a special featuring Jessa and her sister Jill, to raise awareness about sexual abuse. That winter, the sisters starred in their own show, Jill and Jessa: Counting On, which later became Counting On and included more of the Duggar family.
Jessa and Ben have four children: Spurgeon, born November 5, 2015; Henry, born February 6, 2017; Ivy Jane, born May 28, 2019; and Fern, born in July 2021. They sadly experienced a miscarriage during the 2022 holidays, but welcomed their newest son, George, in December 2023.
In August 2025, Jessa announced the birth of son Edward.
The sixth Duggar child, Jinger Vuolo, was born Dec. 21, 1993.
Jinger and Jeremy first connected while doing mission work in Laredo, Texas, and began dating in 2016. They got married on November 5th, 2016—the same day as Jinger’s nephew Spurgeon’s birthday—and quickly faced speculation about whether they were expecting a baby. It’s hard to avoid overlapping important dates when you’re part of a large family of nineteen!
In June 2017, on an episode of Counting On, Jinger shared that she and her family hoped to be settled in Laredo, continuing their ministry and serving God in any way they could.
Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo’s daughter, Felicity, was born on July 19, 2018. They had previously announced in May of that year that they were expecting another child, but shared that they had experienced a miscarriage in the fall of 2017. Their second daughter, Evangeline Jo, arrived in November 2020.
Son Finnegan Charles was born March 29, 2025.
Joseph Duggar, born on January 20, 1995, proposed to Kendra Caldwell in May 2017. They had met through church and had been courting for only a few months when he popped the question at his sister Joy-Anna’s wedding.
Joseph admitted he was nervous when he proposed, but he felt confident she’d say yes, since she had previously told him, ‘I’m just waiting on you!’ Kendra, equally excited, shared with People magazine, ‘I’m so happy and so shocked – I don’t even know what to say!’
The couple has welcomed four children: Garrett, born in June 2018, Addison, born in November 2019, Brooklyn, born in February 2021, and Justus, born in 2022.
In March 2026, Joseph was arrested on charges related to sexually abusing a child. The charges stem from alleged incidents with a girl who was nine years old in 2020.
Eighth in line, Josiah Duggar was born on Aug. 28, 1996.
After publicly dating for only a few months, the couple announced they were engaged in March 2018. He shared that he proposed to Lauren at the same location where her parents had gotten engaged, explaining the property held a lot of family history and was therefore particularly meaningful to her.
Lauren’s future mother-in-law, Michelle, shared in a video on the family blog how much they adore her, calling her a “precious girl.” Jessa and Ben also congratulated the couple and gave them chocolates shaped like hearts and kisses. Michelle playfully hinted, “I’m guessing you want to save your first kiss for the wedding, but if you visit, we’ve got a little something for you…” and held up the chocolates.
Let’s talk about love! Before finding happiness with my current partner, I actually dated Marjorie Jackson for a while. Things didn’t quite work out between us, and we decided to go our separate ways in the summer of 2015. Looking back, we had a really good time together, and we were both really focused on making sure we were following God’s plan for our lives. Ultimately, Marjorie felt the timing wasn’t right, so we decided to take a break – and that break ended up becoming permanent. It’s all part of life’s journey, right?
He and Lauren got married on June 30, 2018, and described their wedding day as “absolutely perfect” in an interview with People magazine. They became parents to daughter Bella Milagro on November 8, 2019—a name meaning “miracle baby,” as Lauren had previously experienced a miscarriage in October 2018. The couple expanded their family with another daughter, Daisy, in 2022, and welcomed a son named Ezra in May 2023.
Ninth sibling Joy-Anna Duggar was born Oct. 28, 1997.
Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth had been friends for 15 years before they began dating. They quickly fell in love, with Austin proposing in February 2017 and the couple marrying just a few months later on May 26, 2017, at Cross Church in Rogers, Arkansas—the same wedding where Joseph Duggar proposed to Kendra Caldwell!
Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth have three children: Gideon Martin Forsyth, born February 23, 2018; Evelyn Mae Forsyth, born August 21, 2020; and Gunner James Forsyth, born May 17, 2023.
Jed and Jeremiah Duggar, the second set of twins for Jim Bob and Michelle, were born on December 30, 1998.
Jed and Katey Nakatsu got married in April 2021 after dating for a year. They have two children: a son named Truett, born in May 2022, and a daughter named Nora Kate, born in June 2023.
Jed and Katey shared the exciting news in July 2024 that they were expecting twin girls. Elsie Kate and Emma Kate arrived on January 8, 2025.
Jeremiah, a flight instructor, is married to Hannah Wissmann, who is the sister of Stephen (Jana’s husband). They have two daughters: Brynley, born in December 2022, and Brielle, born in February 2024.
They announced the arrival of their third daughter, Emery ‘Emy’ Jane Duggar, on May 18, 2025.
No. 12 Jason Duggar was born on April 21, 2000.
In January 2017, the Daily Mail said Jim Bob assisted Jase in purchasing a run-down house in Prairie Grove, Arkansas—about half an hour from the Duggar family’s home. Jase then launched his own construction business.
He publicly announced his relationship with Maddie Grace on Instagram in May 2024, and they got married in October of the same year.
Charmed No. 13, James Duggar was born July 7, 2001.
He’s not currently dating anyone publicly, but he’s a very loving and devoted uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Mom Michelle described James as the ‘fun uncle’ – someone all the younger boys admire and want to emulate. She wrote this on his 19th birthday in 2019. James is incredibly resourceful and can build or fix almost anything. Even when he was little, he loved taking things apart – from household appliances to anything he could get his hands on – to understand how they worked. He’d always reassemble them, often with his own creative improvements!
James put in a lot of effort this year to earn his commercial driver’s license, and now he’s a skilled driver of large trucks and heavy equipment! We’re excited to see what opportunities lie ahead for him.
No. 14 Justin Duggar arrived on Nov. 15, 2002.
He started dating Claire Spivey in September 2020, and they announced their engagement the following November. They then got married on February 26, 2021.
Jackson Duggar, the fifteenth child of Jim Bob and Michelle, was born on May 23, 2004. He’s pictured here with his older sister, Jill.
On Jackson’s sixteenth birthday, his mom, Michelle, complimented his funny personality and mentioned how eager he was to finally get his driver’s license.
Johannah Duggar was born on October 11, 2005, which is why her family was featured in the original special called 16 Kids and Moving In.
On her daughter’s fifteenth birthday in 2020, Michelle wrote about how much joy she brings to others and how easily she makes friends. She also shared how her younger sisters completely adore her, and expressed her gratitude to God for the privilege of being her mother.
Jennifer Duggar arrived on Aug. 2, 2007, then the baby of the family.
Their TLC show that premiered Sept. 29, 2008, was christened 17 Kids and Counting.
Now, OMG, she’s a teenager.
When her daughter, Jennifer, turned thirteen, Michelle described her as someone who is reliable, loving, and a joy to be around! The nieces and nephews adore her – they often cling to her and don’t want to be put down! Jennifer also has a big heart for animals, diligently caring for her pets each day. She recently showed her nurturing side by helping to raise a litter of seven bunnies!
Here on the right, the penultimate Duggar child was born Dec. 18, 2008.
In 2019, Jordyn-Grace’s mom described her as friendly and sociable, someone who immediately connects with everyone she meets. Her mom also said her laugh always brightens their day.
Josie Duggar, number 19 in her family, is pictured here with her niece Meredith. She was born on December 10, 2009, three months early and weighing just 1 pound, 6 ounces. She spent six months receiving care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Michelle described her daughter, Josie, as incredibly energetic when writing a birthday message for her 11th birthday in 2020. She noted that Josie is constantly on the go, from the moment she wakes up until bedtime.
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2026-03-21 00:49