MINUTES AGO!! Amy Duggar King releases follow-up statement after Kendra Duggar’s arrest.
TONTITOWN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Amy Duggar King has issued a follow-up statement after her cousin Kendra Duggar’s arrest, which came days after Kendra’s husband, Joseph Duggar, was arrested on allegations of child sexual abuse.
King, a member of the extended Duggar family featured on the reality TV series “19 Kids and Counting,” previously issued a statement expressing concern for victims and calling for accountability. She noted that her initial statement, released Friday, March 20 on her website, was written before she learned of Kendra’s arrest.
“When I wrote that I was praying for Kendra ‘as she begins to process this,’ I was speaking to what I believed at the time — that she was a wife and mother blindsided by devastating news about her husband,” King said.
Kendra Duggar was arrested Friday on four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment. She has since been released.
King acknowledged the severity of the charges, saying, “[these charges] are not the same as Joseph’s charges, but they are not small, and I will not treat them as small.”
King said she will not speculate on Kendra’s knowledge or role in the alleged incidents, leaving that to law enforcement and the courts. Instead, she emphasized her concern for the children involved:
“To the four children in that home — I see you. I pray for you. None of this is your fault, and none of this is your burden to carry,” she wrote.
She also addressed the alleged victim who came forward about Joseph Duggar:
“You did an incredibly brave thing by coming forward. You deserve to have every institution around you work on your behalf — not to protect the people who hurt you, and not to protect the image of a family,” King said.
“I said in my original statement that I was praying for eyes to be opened. I meant it. I still mean it. But open eyes are not enough. Open eyes have to lead to accountability. For everyone. Without exception,” she added.
Before Kendra’s arrest, Joseph’s sister Jill Duggar Dillard issued a statement following his Florida arrest, expressing support for the alleged victim, as well as Kendra and her children.
“We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest. We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports… We are shocked and heartbroken,” Dillard said.
Joseph Duggar, 31, was arrested March 18 by the Tontitown Police Department on charges related to alleged sexual abuse of a minor in Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2020. He remains held in Washington County for the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
Joseph Duggar rose to fame on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting (2008–2015), while his wife Kendra appeared with him on its spinoff, Counting On (2015–2020).
The Duggar family has faced past legal issues involving the exploitation of minors, including Joseph’s older brother Josh, who is serving a 12½-year sentence for possession of child sexual abuse material.
Josh Duggar recently retained attorney Beau Brindley, known for representing R. Kelly, to challenge his conviction.
