Content warning: This story discusses child sexual abuse.
Josh Duggar is speaking out.
Just two days after Joseph Duggar, the seventh oldest of the Duggar children, was arrested and accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a minor, his older brother—who is currently serving a prison sentence for possessing child pornography—spoke out about the allegations.
Oh my gosh, I just read this and it breaks my heart! Josh gets it, you know? His lawyer told the Daily Mail that he totally understands what it’s like to be wrongly accused. And even though Josh and Joseph aren’t talking much right now, his lawyer said Josh is still praying for him and hoping he gets through this. It’s just…so sad! He clearly cares so much about his brother, even with everything that’s going on.
Joseph, who has four children with his wife Kendra Caldwell, is awaiting transfer to Florida. He’s been accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl during a family vacation to Panama City Beach in 2020, according to several law enforcement agencies.
On March 18th, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced that police in Tontitown, Arkansas – where the suspect, Joseph, was arrested – informed them that the victim, now 14 years old, has accused Joseph of sexual abuse.
According to the statement, Duggar repeatedly asked the victim to sit on his lap. Throughout the vacation, he also asked her to sit close to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During these instances, he inappropriately touched her, including manipulating her underwear and grazing her genitals, and continued to rub his hands on her thighs.
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The department says Joseph had previously apologized for what happened, and the incidents stopped after that. The day before he was arrested, the victim’s father spoke with Joseph, who admitted to his actions to both the father and the Tontitown detectives.
TopMob News tried contacting the Duggar family for a statement, but they didn’t respond.
The 31-year-old’s arrest happened almost four years after Josh was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville stated that Josh repeatedly downloaded and watched images and videos showing the sexual abuse of children. This included images of very young children and depictions of cruel and sadistic abuse.
As a lifestyle expert, I always emphasize taking responsibility for your actions, and this case is a stark example of that. This father of seven received a twelve-year prison sentence, but his legal troubles don’t end there. He’ll also have to pay a hefty $50,000 in fines, register as a sex offender, and after his release, will be under supervised release for a full twenty years. It’s a long road ahead, and a powerful reminder of the lasting consequences of choices.
For more insight into the Duggar family and its 19 children, read on.
This couple, who fell in love in high school, are now parents to 19 children and grandparents to more than 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 told him that a newly religious cheerleader lived there, and it turned out to be Michelle.
Jim Bob and Michelle first met when they invited her to Sunday school at their church. Jim Bob hoped they would become each other’s spiritual guides, though Michelle doesn’t recall the meeting being particularly memorable. A year later, Michelle applied for a job at the frozen yogurt shop owned by Jim Bob’s parents. She recalled in a 2017 birthday and anniversary post on the family blog that he approached her at the counter, introducing himself shyly but sweetly. She doesn’t remember much of their conversation, except that he eventually asked her to go to the junior-senior banquet with him!
Michelle and Jim Bob first connected at a dinner at Shiloh Christian School, but they truly bonded while spending hours talking about the Bible at her parents’ home. As Michelle recalls, that’s when they felt their hearts connected. They graduated high school in May 1984 and were married just two months later in July. Michelle was 17, and Jim Bob was 19 at the time.
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 vice chair of the House Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee. He ran for U.S. Senate in 2002 but didn’t win the primary. He also sought the Republican nomination for the Arkansas State Senate District 35 in 2006, but was unsuccessful.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, both real estate agents, are known for their involvement in conservative activism. This has made them both strong advocates for and faced criticism regarding their show, 19 Kids and Counting (originally titled 17 Kids and Counting when it began in 2008).
As of October 2024, they were grandparents of 33 with three on the way.
I’ve followed the Duggar family for years, and I remember when Josh, the oldest, was born on March 3, 1988. Like his parents, he became involved in conservative activism, and I know he did a lot of work with the Family Research Council. It was a big part of his public life.
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 Duggar, while he was a teenager. In a June interview with Fox News, Jessa defended her brother, claiming the accusations were exaggerated and untrue. She stated she was one of the victims and felt people were overreacting.
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 19 Kids.
In April 2021, Josh was federally indicted on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, and he initially pleaded not guilty. In 2022, he was convicted on both counts, though the judge later dismissed the possession charge. He received a prison sentence of 12 and a half years.
Soon after Josh arrived, Michelle became pregnant again, but sadly had a miscarriage. While they were still saddened by this loss and seeking direction, Michelle and Jim Bob were overjoyed to discover they were expecting twins.
It felt like a wonderful gift from God, really encouraging us,” she explained. “We’re still figuring things out as we go. It’s quite rare, because I nurse my babies, but they’re born very close together – I get pregnant again just eight months after having a baby. It’s just another unique part of our journey that we believe God has planned for us.
John-David Duggar and his twin sister Jana Duggar were born on Jan. 12, 1990.
Oh my goodness, I was so excited when John-David and Abbie-Grace finally got together! It wasn’t exactly a surprise – I mean, everyone knew they knew of each other for years! But then they actually met at a church event back in Oklahoma, Abbie’s home state, and it was like… magic! Things moved so fast after that – a quick engagement, and then, November 3rd, 2018! They were married! I was practically glued to social media waiting for updates, and it was the most wonderful thing ever!
They welcomed daughter Grace Annette Duggar on Jan. 7, 2020 and son Charlie Duggar in September 2022.
I’ll never forget what Jana wrote to John on his 30th birthday. They’d always been asked if they had that special ‘twin connection,’ you know, that feeling like they could read each other’s minds. Jana always said no, but then their little girl, Gracie, was born. She said in that moment, she truly felt all of John’s happiness, and realized that ‘twin thing’ was absolutely real! It was such a sweet and touching moment to witness.
Jana said it was lovely seeing them and Abbie as parents, and that they were both natural at it. She added that all the great qualities that made him such a good brother would also make him a fantastic dad.
Abbie and John-David found out they’re expecting a baby girl at a combined baby shower with Jana in November 2025.
Jana watched eleven of her eighteen siblings get married before she met her husband, Stephen Wissmann. Interestingly, 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 recently shared with People magazine that she didn’t always see how things fit together, but she trusts that God has a plan for everyone. That’s why she’s choosing to get married later in life. She believes everyone’s journey is unique, and if we were all the same, life would be pretty dull.
On Dec. 30, 2025, the couple welcomed their first child, son Archie Gerald Wissmann.
Jill Dillard (born May 17, 1991) found love in a way similar to her parents. She first met her future husband, Derick, in December 2011 when he and his church group stopped by the Duggar family home to sing Christmas carols. Derick grew up about 45 minutes away.
Jim Bob introduced Jill and Derick, and they quickly connected through emails and video calls. That November, Jill and her father visited Derick in Nepal, and their relationship blossomed. Derick formally asked Jim Bob for Jill’s hand in marriage in February 2014, and they were married on June 21st of that year. They now have three sons: Israel, born April 6, 2015, Samuel, born July 8, 2017, and Frederick, born July 7, 2022.
In April 2024, Jill announced she and Derick had experienced a miscarriage while expecting their first daughter.
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 met at church, and he began courting her in 2013. This traditional way of getting to know someone was new to many viewers. Because the couple didn’t discuss their relationship before getting engaged, 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 for marriage. He contrasted this with dating, where couples often spend time alone and may become physically intimate.
Ben asked for Jessa’s parents’ permission to marry, and then proposed to her in August 2014—it was the first time they’d held hands! They quickly married on November 1, 2014. Jessa was expecting their first child when their show, 19 Kids and Counting, was canceled. TLC followed up with a special episode featuring Jessa and her sister Jill discussing sexual abuse and raising awareness about the issue. That winter, the sisters then starred in their own show, Jill and Jessa: Counting On, which later became Counting On and included other members of the Duggar family.
Jessa and Ben have four children: Spurgeon, born in November 2015; Henry, born in February 2017; Ivy Jane, born in May 2019; and Fern, born in July 2021. They sadly experienced a miscarriage during the 2022 holidays, but welcomed their fifth child, 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 5, 2016 – which happened to be the birthday of Jinger’s nephew, Spurgeon – and quickly faced speculation that they were expecting a baby. (It’s hard to avoid overlapping important dates when you’re part of a large family of nineteen children!)
In June 2017, on the show Counting On, Jinger shared that she and her family hoped to be settled and continuing their ministry work in Laredo, serving God in any way they could.
Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo welcomed their first daughter, Felicity, on July 19, 2018. Before Felicity’s birth, they shared that Jinger 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.
I was so excited when Joseph Duggar, born on January 20, 1995, proposed to Kendra! They actually got engaged at Joy-Anna’s wedding in May 2017 – it was such a sweet moment. They’d met through church and hadn’t been courting for very long, just a few months, but it felt like a perfect fit. It was lovely to see their romance blossom!
Joseph admitted he was nervous when he proposed, but he felt confident she would say yes, recalling her telling him, ‘I’m just waiting on you!’ Kendra shared her reaction, saying, ‘I’m so happy and so shocked – I don’t even know what to say!’
The couple has welcomed three children: a son named Garrett, born in June 2018, and daughters Addison, born in November 2019, and Brooklyn, born in February 2021.
Eighth in line, Josiah Duggar was born on Aug. 28, 1996.
After dating Lauren publicly for only a few months, the couple got engaged in March 2018. He shared that he proposed to her in the same location where her parents had gotten engaged, explaining the property held a lot of family history and was particularly meaningful to Lauren.
Lauren’s future mother-in-law, Michelle, shared in a video on the family’s blog how much they adore her, calling her a ‘precious girl.’ Jessa and Ben also sent their congratulations, along with chocolate candies shaped like hugs and kisses. Michelle jokingly said, ‘I’m guessing you want to save your first kiss for the wedding,’ then held up the chocolates as a fun alternative if they visited.
Josiah previously dated Marjorie Jackson, but they ended their relationship in the summer of 2015. He told People magazine in March 2016 that they had enjoyed their time together and were both trying to discern what God wanted for them. Ultimately, Marjorie didn’t feel the timing was right, so they decided to take a break.
He and Lauren got married on June 30, 2018, and described their wedding day as “absolutely perfect” to People magazine. They became parents to daughter Bella Milagro on November 8, 2019—a name meaning “miracle baby”—after Lauren 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. Just a few months later, on May 26, 2017, they got married at Cross Church in Rogers, Arkansas – the same wedding where Joseph Duggar proposed to Kendra Caldwell!
Joy-Anna and Austin 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 Duggar, were born on December 30, 1998.
Jed and Katey Nakatsu 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 is a certified flight instructor and 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.
Back in January 2017, the Daily Mail said Jim Bob assisted Jase in purchasing a rundown house in Prairie Grove, Arkansas – roughly 30 minutes from the Duggar family’s property. Jase then went on to launch 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 dating anyone publicly right now, but he absolutely loves being an uncle to his 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, adding that James is incredibly resourceful and can build or fix almost anything. Even when he was little, he loved taking things apart – appliances, toys, anything – to understand how they worked. He wasn’t just taking them apart though; he’d always put them back together, often with his own creative improvements!
James put in a lot of effort this year and earned his commercial driver’s license! He’s now skilled at operating large trucks and heavy equipment, and we’re excited to see what opportunities lie ahead for him.
No. 14 Justin Duggar arrived on Nov. 15, 2002.
He began dating Claire Spivey in September 2020, and they announced their engagement the following November. They were 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 said she knew he was really excited to get his driver’s license.
Johannah Duggar was born on October 11, 2005, which is why her family was featured in the special called 16 Kids and Moving In.
On her daughter’s fifteenth birthday in 2020, Michelle wrote about how much joy she brings to everyone around her. She described her daughter as friendly and sociable, always eager to meet new people. Michelle also shared how much her younger sisters love and admire 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 reliable, loyal, and a joy to be around! The nieces and nephews adore Jennifer – they’re always wanting her to carry them! Jennifer also loves animals and is incredibly dedicated to caring for her pets, even helping to raise a recent litter of seven bunnies.
Here on the right, the penultimate Duggar child was born Dec. 18, 2008.
Jordyn-Grace was described by her mom in 2019 as a friendly and sociable person who easily makes connections with others. Her laugh was also noted as being particularly cheerful and a highlight of 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 in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Michelle described her daughter Josie as incredibly energetic in a birthday post from 2020. She wrote that Josie is constantly on the go, rarely stopping throughout the entire day.
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2026-03-20 14:49