Kendra Duggar has disclosed that the entire Duggar family has been providing extensive support to her and her husband Joseph Duggar as they navigate serious legal difficulties, according to audio recordings obtained by Us Weekly via Washington County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, April 8.
In a phone conversation with his wife, Joseph Duggar, 31, expressed particular gratitude for his sister Joy-Anna Duggar's assistance to Kendra, 27. "Tell [sister Joy-Anna Duggar] thank you for me, and I love her so much," Joseph said during the call. "She's just been amazing, sounds like for you, through all this."
Joseph also emphasized his appreciation for his mother, Michelle Duggar, who has remained by Kendra's side throughout the ordeal. "I want to be sure that you tell her specifically. And Mama, those two," he continued. "I don't know who all else is involved."
Family Rallies With Comprehensive Support
Kendra reassured her husband that support has extended far beyond just a few family members. She explained that the "entire family" has been actively helping in multiple capacities, from caring for the couple's four children to assisting with legal matters through attorney consultations.
"The whole family, I think they just genuinely are like, 'We love you guys and are here for you,'" Kendra said in the recording. "They said, 'We don't want to make any decisions for you.' They just said, 'We're here to support you.' And I've been struggling because I was like, I just need to know what's going on in some regard, but I can't carry the load at all."
The statement reveals the emotional weight Kendra has been carrying while attempting to manage the family's crisis. Her candid admission that she cannot "carry the load at all" underscores the severity of the situation and her reliance on extended family support systems.
Recognition of Community Needs
Joseph acknowledged the difficulty of accepting assistance during challenging times, while also reflecting on the importance of community connection. He noted that it can be "hard to receive help" but expressed gratitude for his family's involvement.
"That's what we were realizing, actually, right before all this broke out, was that, hey, we actually need to be around people, because we've been away from people for so long, we just need that," Joseph said. "It was healthy for us to be around people. And so I think that's good you're realizing that still."
This reflection suggests the couple had been experiencing social isolation prior to the legal issues, making the family's current support even more significant during this crisis period.
Serious Criminal Allegations
The family support comes as Joseph faces grave criminal charges. Last month, Us confirmed that Joseph was arrested in Arkansas after being accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl, who was 9 years old at the time of the alleged incident. He has been charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. Joseph has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his release, Joseph and Kendra were reunited, the Counting On alum's lawyer confirmed to People on Wednesday.
The audio recordings provide insight into how the Duggar family is managing an extraordinarily difficult situation, with multiple family members stepping forward to provide practical and emotional support to Kendra and her children during this tumultuous period.
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.