Former Counting On and 19 Kids and Counting star Joseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Duggar, were both recently arrested and face serious charges—and Joy-Anna Duggar was the latest member of the TLC family to issue a statement.
On March 18, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida arrested and charged Joseph, 31, with lewd and lascivious behavior—molestation of a victim less than 12 years old, and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, the BCSO announced in a news release shared on Facebook.
Days later, on March 20, Kendra, 27, was arrested and charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment, according to a news release from the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas. Joseph faces these same charges on top of his child molestation charges.
Fast-forward to Thursday, March 26, and Joy-Anna, 28, finally spoke out about the allegations against Joe and his wife. She took to her Instagram Stories with a direct message to her followers.
“What has come out about my brother is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing,” Joy wrote. “My heart is with the victim, and I am grieved by the pain and harm caused.”
Related: Duggar Family Reacts to Joseph’s Arrest & Child Molestation Charges
She continued, “I have been a wreck this week and am taking time to process. I have a few pre-filmed commitments that I have to post, but I will be taking some much-needed time with my family. Thank you for your prayers.”
The alleged incidents involved Joseph and a 9-year-old girl during a 2020 family vacation in Florida.
“The victim reported Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap. As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket, the BCSO news release detailed. “During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs. The victim stated Duggar eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.”
Meanwhile, Kendra’s arrest came after an automatic home study triggered by Joseph’s arrest and charges.
“Apparently, they had two rooms where the lock of the doorknob was on the outside instead of inside,” a source with knowledge of the case told Us Weekly. “They arrested her and took her kids for that, saying it’s evidence that she wrongly detains her kids.”
As of writing, neither Joseph nor Kendra has released a statement.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24 hours a day through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
Next: Duggar Family Scandals Explained After Another 19 Kids and Counting Arrest
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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