****Note: The following story is profoundly disturbing. It involves details of child molestation. Trigger warning
You just knew it was going to get worse, but even this stunned me. Earlier this week, In Touch Weekly reported that back in 2005, Jim-Bob Duggar (the patriarch of the Duggar family/cult) turned in his oldest son Josh to the local Arkansas police. At the time, Josh was 17, and the police opened up an investigation after Jim-Bob said that he caught Josh sneaking out of a bedroom belonging to a female minor. The earlier report was extremely vague, but yesterday In Touch released a longer, more detailed report, based on a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) filig for the police report concerning Josh Duggar – you can see the documentation here at ITW. As it turns out, the actual crimes took place more in the 2002-03 years and by the time the police investigation was opened, the statute of limitations was passed in most cases. In Touch Weekly’s reporting (based on redacted police reports) is detailed, and I’m only publishing a portion:
Jim Bob Duggar waited more than a year after his son confessed to sexually molesting several female minors before contacting police. What’s more, Jim Bob informed the elders of his church about Joshua’s actions and they waited three months before contacting authorities. Jim Bob also refused to allow police to interview Josh when they opened a felony investigation in 2006. (Note: that Josh’s name is redacted from the police report but In Touch has confirmed the passages that refer to him.) Josh Duggar was investigated for multiple sex offenses, including forcible fondling, against five minors. Some of the alleged offenses investigated were felonies.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar were interview by the Springdale Police department on Dec. 12, 2006. The report says that James told police he was alerted in March, 2002 by a female minor that Josh had been touching her breasts and genitals while she slept. This allegedly happened on multiple occasions. Josh turned 14 on March 3, 2002. In 2006, Jim Bob told police that in July, 2002 Josh admitted to fondling a minor’s breasts while she slept. “James said that they disciplined (redacted, Josh) after this incident.” The family did not alert authorities. Jim Bob told police that about nine months later in March, 2003 “there was another incident.” Josh was again accused by a female minor of touching her breasts and genitals. Josh was accused by several minors of touching their genitals, often when they slept, but at times when they were awake.
Jim Bob then “met with the elders of his church and told them what was going on.” No one alerted the police or any other law enforcement agency. Instead they decided to send Josh to a “program [that] consisted of hard physical work and counseling. James said that [redacted, Josh] was in the program from March 17, 2003 until July 17, 2003.” He said the program was a “Christian program.” Michelle Duggar later admitted to police that Josh did not receive counseling and instead had been sent during that time to a family friend who was in the home remodeling business. Asked about the training center that Jim Bob said Josh was sent to, Michelle told police, according to the report, “it was not really a training center. Det. [Darrell] Hignite asked if the guy [redacted, Josh] talked to was a certified counselor. She said no. She said it was a guy they know in Little Rock that is remodeling a building. Det. Hignite asked if the guy was more of a mentor. She said “kind of.”
The Duggars told police that Josh “apologized” to the female minors and that they had “forgiven” him. An alleged victim told police in 2006 that Josh had told “mother and dad what had happened… (and) asked for forgiveness. The report notes the alleged victim says Josh “sought after God and had turned back to God.” Jim Bob told police that “several members of their church were aware of the situation and had been supportive of the family.” Police interviewed several of the alleged minor victims in December, 2006. They told police that Josh had touched their breasts and sex organs.
Jim Bob told police in 2006 that when Josh returned home in 2003 Jim Bob, accompanied by some of his church elders, took Josh to Arkansas State Trooper Jim Hutchens. Jim Bob knew Hutchens personally. Hutchens did not take any official action and instead gave Josh a “very stern talk.” As In Touch magazine reports exclusively in this week’s issue, Hutchens is now serving 56-years in prison for child pornography. He took no action on the Duggar case.
[From In Touch Weekly]
Just a few hours after In Touch Weekly’s report came out, TMZ had more details about the actual numbers – Josh was investigated for molesting five girls, “some of whom are his sisters.” Which is horrific. TMZ also says that the police are going to destroy the investigation reports because one of the victims is concerned that her name will become public.
Then late last night, the Duggars issued statements to People Magazine exclusively – you can read the statements here. Josh admits to the crimes, saying:
“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends,” Josh, 27, tells PEOPLE in a statement. “I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life. I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions. I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God’s grace, mercy and redemption.”
[Via People]
He also resigned from his position as a lobbyist for the Family Research Council, because of course he did. People also got statements from Jim-Bob and Michelle about how difficult Josh’s actions were for them (no mention of his victims, some of whom were their daughters?). There’s also a statement from Josh’s wife Anna, who says that Josh came clean with her about his previous assaults on children before he and Anna even got married.
Oh and just FYI, in case you were wondering… Josh is the father of three children, Mackynzie, Marcus and Michael.
Update by Celebitchy: TLC seems to have realized that it wasn’t the best PR move to air a 19 Kids and Counting marathon in the midst of this horrible news. TMZ reports that TLC has pulled all future episodes of the show from the schedule and that while “they absolutely have not made a long-term decision… it’s clearly a bad sign for the show.”
