The legal drama surrounding Joseph Dugar‘s arrest received a new update as his in-laws finally spoke out.
Family members linked to the former reality TV star are now forced to deal with public scrutiny and emotional trauma from the disturbing revelations.
Joseph was arrested on multiple child molestation charges relating to the 2020 incident in Florida, where he was accused of lewd and lascivious behavior with a nine-year-old girl.
Kendra’s Family Members React to Joseph Duggar’s Recent Arrest
The Caldwell family has officially addressed the legal crisis surrounding their daughter, Kendra, and her husband, Joseph, expressing that they are “troubled and heartbroken” by the situation. This public statement comes nearly a month after Joseph’s arrest in Florida on March 18.
The Caldwells released a statement on social media, praising the young victim for her incredible courage in sharing her truth and pledging their lifelong support and prayers for her.
“We stand with him, both in our support and prayers, and always will. Our love for this child remains at the forefront of our family’s priorities and minds,” the statement read, according to People Magazine.
“At the same time, we also recognize how traumatic this incident has been for our grandchildren and continue to pray for their strength,” it added.
The Caldwell family’s statement concluded by thanking the public for their prayers and financial support during this dark time, while also asking for privacy in dealing with the ongoing domestic unrest.
They noted that “shedding light in the darkness” is the only path to freedom, even as they continue to support their daughter despite growing legal pressures in two different states.
Notably, in addition to the criminal charges in Florida, Joseph and Kendra are both facing legal issues in Arkansas. The couple was charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have previously addressed the scandal
The response from Kendra’s family came two weeks after Joseph’s parents also came forward to share their grief.
According to The Blast, Jim Bob and Michelle said they were completely heartbroken by the disturbing allegations and subsequent arrest of their son.
In a statement released through a spokesperson, the longtime reality stars made it clear that the news had a profound impact on the entire family.
While the Duggars expressed gratitude for the kind words and public support they received, they also asked for privacy from the family while they process the details of the case.
Kendra Duggar requested privacy after being released from prison
While Joseph’s parents focused on getting the family back together, Kendra made the important decision to avoid her primary residence following her own legal issues.
After being booked into an Arkansas jail on March 20, she was released on bail in just 90 minutes, but did not return to the Tontitown home she shared with her husband. Instead, reports indicate she was immediately taken to a remote, secure location to distance herself from the ongoing investigation.
The move follows a major police search of their property, which led to the couple being charged with multiple counts of false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of children, according to The Blast.
Joseph Duggar’s extended family pleads for divorce
The focus on Kendra’s physical and emotional distance from the family home only intensified when members of the extended Duggar family offered their own public advice.
Deanna Duggar, Jim Bob’s sister and longtime critic of the nuclear family, has openly called on her step-niece to consider a permanent separation.
Expressing that she believes divorce is the most effective way for Kendra to start over, Deanna described the decision as “the best thing to do” for her and her children’s future, The Blast reported.
While Deanna admitted her heart goes out to Kendra, she was candid about the “bad decisions” she says were made within the house. She urged the whole family to “wake up” and repent of their pride, suggesting they have developed a mindset that the world is unfairly against them.
Court imposed strict bail conditions on Joseph Duggar
The risk of a permanent marriage breakdown looms as Joseph faces the full weight of Florida’s legal system. Following his extradition to Bay County, the former TV star recently made his first court appearance to answer serious child molestation charges against him.
At arraignment, a judge set his bail at $600,000 and imposed strict conditions if released, including a complete ban on contacting the alleged victim. Additionally, the court required that Joseph have no unsupervised contact with minors.
The Blast reported that although his attorney argued for reasonable bail by pointing out Joseph’s lack of criminal record, prosecutors stood firm.
Despite the evidence mentioned in police affidavits, Joseph pleaded not guilty and formally requested a jury trial to contest the allegations.