Jill Duggar‘s family is a source of reprieve after her brother Joseph Duggar was arrested for alleged sexual misconduct involving a child.
“So thankful for some extra family time at the beach over spring break,” Jill, 34, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, March 28, sharing photos with husband Derick Dillard and their three sons. “God knew this week away was exactly what we’d need when we planned it months ago.”
Jill and Dillard, 37, planned to take their kids to Orange Beach, Alabama, before Joseph’s March 18 arrest in Arkansas on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior following 2020 child molestation accusations. The victim, who was 9 at the time and is now 14, told police that Joseph “eventually apologized for his actions” at the time before “the incidents stopped.”
Joseph not offered a plea and is currently awaiting extradition to Florida, where the alleged assault took place.
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Us Weekly confirmed two days later that Joseph is also facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, second degree, and four counts of second degree false imprisonment. Joseph’s wife, Kendra Duggar, was arrested on the same charges and released on bond within hours. (Joseph and Kendra, 27, have been married since 2017 and share four children.)
“Thank y’all for the love and prayers during this difficult time of heartbreak and continued processing,” Jill added in her Saturday post, going on to cite a Bible verse from Lamentations. “‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
Jill initially broke her silence on Joseph’s arrest on March 19.
“We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother [Joseph Duggar’s] arrest,” Jill and Dillard wrote in a joint statement. “We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken.”
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They continued, “We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.”
Jill and Dillard further offered Kendra and her kids support amid the situation.
“We love our sister-in-law, Kendra, and our four nieces and nephews and pray that they feel loved and supported during this time,” Jill’s statement concluded. “We cannot imagine the indescribable pain they feel as they process and grieve everything.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
