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Joseph Duggar's Wife Kendra Duggar Reveals What Family Really Thinks in Jail Phone Call
Kendra Duggar’s children remain her no. 1 priority.
During a phone call to her husband Joseph Duggar ahead of his extradition to Florida to face charges in a child molestation case, Kendra shared insight into her journey to reunite with their children.
Kendra, 27, and Joseph’s four kids are seemingly not with her—as she has referred to their absence in multiple phone calls with Joseph—following her March 20 arrest on child endangerment and false imprisonment charges. Just two days earlier, Joseph was taken into custody after being accused of sexually abusing a then 9-year-old during a family vacation in Florida in 2020.
Describing the days of her and Joseph’s arrests as “crazy hard” in a March 24 prison phone call to her husband, per audio obtained by People, Kendra continued, “But it's just like, when you then take my babies from me, they were who I was just going to pour my life into."
According to the outlet, Joseph, 31, affirmed in his response that the children are Kendra’s “purpose right now.”
During a separate March 22 phone call, per People, Joseph, 31, asked how their children were doing, to which Kendra replied, “From what I hear, they’re doing good.”
In an additional phone call obtained by the outlet, Kendra once again confirmed where her priorities lie.
"I'm fighting for the kids and they're my number one priority right now," she told her husband of almost nine years, who replied that he was “100 percent behind” her, confirming she “should be fighting for them the most.”
Office of the Sheriff Washington County, Arkansas
She added, "I just want you to know, through all of this, whatever happens, that's who's coming first. Then we'll just see where the rest of it leads us and try to put the pieces together."
Kendra and Joseph have each been charged with charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree, according to jail records viewed by E! News.
As for Joseph’s sexual abuse case, where he faces charges of lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor, he entered a plea of not guilty during his March 31 hearing.
Joseph Duggar/Instagram
E! News has previously reached out to the Duggar family for comment but has not heard back.
As for how the Duggar family has reacted to Joseph’s charges, Kendra told him in a prison phone call obtained by TMZ March 31, “Just know that everybody loves you—even if they're disappointed. Just understand that they love you, too."
Some members of the Duggar family, however, have not been so loving in their public remarks. For more on how Joseph’s family has responded to his arrest, read on.
Duggar Family/Instagram
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar
Joseph's parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar broke their silence in a statement on March 30.
“Jim Bob and Michelle are heartbroken over this entire situation,” a spokesperson for the Duggar family told Us Weekly. “Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time."
The spokesperson added that the couple was "praying for the victim. They ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.”
Jill Duggar Dillard & Derick Dillard
“We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest,” the couple wrote in a blog post March 19. “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.”
Derick and Jill—who spoke out against the family in the 2023 book Counting the Cost—said they “strongly condemn abuse.”
Jason Duggar & Maddie Duggar
The couple, who married in 2024, said they are "angered" by the "unthinkable" actions of his brother Joseph.
"We, like many, have spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions," Jason and Maddie said in a statement shared on Instagram March 26. "We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother, however, this isn't about how it's impacted our lives. Our hearts are burdened because a child's life has been turned upside down due to evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable."
"Maddie and I have always had a special place in our hearts for the vulnerable around us, and we will continue to do so," their message went on. "To fathom that someone would abuse their authority to harass the innocent is vile."
They asked for prayers for the "brave" victim as well as Joseph's family, saying, "His children must face the reality of losing a father that should have been a spiritual leader in their lives."
Kris Connor/Getty Images
Josh Duggar
"Josh understands the stigma of being accused," his attorney told the Daily Mail in a story published March 20. "He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction."
Noting that Josh—who is serving 12 years in prison for child pornography—is "not in frequent communication" with Joseph, the attorney said Josh "hopes and prays for his brother's well being in this difficult time."
Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth
"What has come out about my brother is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing," Joy-Anna wrote on her Instagram Stories March 26. "My heart is with the victim, and I am grieved by the pain and harm caused. I have been a wreck this week and am taking time to process."
She added, "I will be taking some much-needed time with my family."
Jinger Duggar Vuolo & Jeremy Vuolo
As Jeremy put it in March 25 episode of The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast, “It’s been a really difficult week for us to process and think through and pray through this with the podcast.”
As for Jinger—who moved to Los Angeles with Jeremy in 2019—she said, “I did not think my heart could break like it has this week,” adding, “The pain and heartbreak that we’ve had over this and just thinking of how it’s affected so many. It’s just unthinkable. It’s so hard and painful on many levels.”
“It’s hard,” she continued. “All we can do in those moments is cry out to God and ask him to sustain us and give help because you can’t just be prepared for news like this.”
Amy Duggar King/Instagram
Amy Duggar King
"I am sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry," Joseph's cousin said in a March 20 statement to People. "My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust."
Amy explained she was "utterly shocked to hear about these allegations and Joseph’s arrest."
"For years, I have spoken out about the importance of truth, accountability and protecting children, even when it meant going against my own family," she added. "Family ties should never equal automatic trust or access, especially when it comes to the safety of children."
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