Kendra Duggar has been leaning on her mother-in-law, Michelle Duggar, while navigating the aftermath of her husband Joseph Duggar’s arrest.
“Your mom and I, we got to visit this morning, and she was encouraging me with how to live humbly,” Kendra, 27, told Joseph, 31, during a recent call while he was incarcerated at the Washington County Detention Center, according to People. “[Michelle said] that God, he’s gracious to the humble, so I thought I wanted to encourage you with that.”
She continued, “I know you’ve been trying to be, I feel like you were trying to walk humbly.”
According to Kendra, Michelle, 59, has been “so sweet.”
Joseph, 31, is one of Michelle’s 19 children with husband Jim Bob Duggar. Joseph was arrested on March 18 in Arkansas on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior after allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl in Florida in 2020. The victim, now 14, told police that Joseph “eventually apologized for his actions” at the time before “the incidents stopped.”
Two days later, news broke that Joseph is also facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree, and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment. Kendra was arrested on the same charges and released on bond within hours.
A source told Luxury Handbag Shopping that Kendra’s arrest was unrelated to Joseph’s incarceration.
“Kendra’s arrest has nothing to do with Joseph’s — although one precipitated another,” the insider with knowledge of the case told Us last month. “After his charge, they automatically do a home study if minors live there. They came to her house. Apparently, they had two rooms where the lock of the doorknob was on the outside instead of inside. They arrested her and took her kids for that, saying it’s evidence that she wrongly detains her kids.”
Joseph was extradited to Florida, where he pleaded not guilty and was released from police custody after posting $600,000 bail.
Jim Bob, 60, and Michelle, for their part, broke their silence on Joseph’s arrest shortly before their son’s prison release.
“Jim Bob and Michelle are heartbroken over this entire situation,” a spokesperson for the Duggar family told Us in a Monday, March 30, statement. “Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time. They are praying for the victim. They ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.”
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.
