Joy-Anna Duggar Speaks Out About Brother Joseph’s Arrest: ‘Deeply Disturbing'

Joy-Anna Duggar, 28, is sharing her first words on her brother Joseph Duggar’s arrest.

Joseph, 31, was arrested in Arkansas on March 18 on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old, and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.

Joseph and his wife Kendra are also facing additional unrelated charges, including four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment.

Joy-Anna reacted to the news on Instagram Stories on Thursday, writing, “What has come out about my brother is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing. My heart is with the victim, and I am grieved by the pain and harm caused.”

She added, “I have been a wreck this week and am taking time to process.”

Joy-Anna explained she had some “pre-filmed commitments that I have to post,” but would otherwise be taking some “much-needed time with my family.”

She told followers, “Thank you for your prayers."

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida revealed in a Facebook post that Joseph’s alleged crimes occurred with a then 9-year-old victim during a family vacation to Florida in 2020.

The post stated, "The victim reported Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap. As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs.”

According to law enforcement, at one point Joseph apologized to the alleged victim and the abuse stopped.

The post goes on, "Investigators discovered the victim’s father confronted Duggar about these incidents on March 17th, 2026. Duggar admitted his actions to the victim’s father and to Tontitown Detectives.”

The additional charges against Joseph and Kendra were brought after a home inspection stemming from Joseph’s arrest.

A family source told People magazine that they were arrested because of "door locks being on the exterior of the doors.”