FL - Second Duggar Son Joseph Garrett Duggar, 31, Arrested for Crimes Against a Minor, 18 March 2026

[lonetraveler]

Correct ...Two things can be true at the same time...an abuser or predator may have once been a victim previously. So it is likely a contributing factor/ reason (it doesn't excuse the behavior/crime but can still be a potentially factor/cause/reasoning for the why..)....I think imo it is ok to feel bad for the person who was victimized when they were young while still also being disgusted/repulsed/angry with the person who is the predator....I also have hears that most predators have histories of being victims (obviously there are exceptions) but yes there are other people who are horrifically abused and yet they don't become the predator...and the differentiation between both is really hard to understand and it is more then just not engaging in self control, b/c I don't think people in general have these instincts to victimize children that they are controlling - so I think it is interesting as to what differentiates the victim who becomes a predator and one who does not become a predator.... Note: of course we have no factual idea if he was actually abused s...but I personally usually think predators were victims before unless info comes out that seems to indicate otherwise . I also think that regardless of any background reasons that helped formulate who they became, they shouldn't be free among us anymore as they are a danger imo - JMO only.

This "so-called" religion should be accurately identified as a cult.

 

[TMich6811]

Correct ...Two things can be true at the same time...an abuser or predator may have once been a victim previously. So it is likely a contributing factor/ reason (it doesn't excuse the behavior/crime but can still be a potentially factor/cause/reasoning for the why..)....I think imo it is ok to feel bad for the person who was victimized when they were young while still also being disgusted/repulsed/angry with the person who is the predator....I also have hears that most predators have histories of being victims (obviously there are exceptions) but yes there are other people who are horrifically abused and yet they don't become the predator...and the differentiation between both is really hard to understand and it is more then just not engaging in self control, b/c I don't think people in general have these instincts to victimize children that they are controlling - so I think it is interesting as to what differentiates the victim who becomes a predator and one who does not become a predator.... Note: of course we have no factual idea if he was actually abused s...but I personally usually think predators were victims before unless info comes out that seems to indicate otherwise . I also think that regardless of any background reasons that helped formulate who they became, they shouldn't be free among us anymore as they are a danger imo - JMO only.

All this. You’re preaching my sermon!

And while we can blame it on abnormal genetics and brain wiring (which is a factor) - we actually never truly know the truth of whether an impactful trauma occurred or not.

Often the crack in the ladder is there and then when someone steps on it (aka trauma occurs) the step in the ladder breaks.

 

[PCHS]

I'm a library bookstore volunteer, and whenever one of those Ezzo or Pearl books comes in, I throw it in the recycling bin. The other volunteers know about this too.

p.s. I never had kids, and even I know that with a few exceptions, newborns are NOT to be fed on a schedule. That's just not the way Nature operates.

no kids myself but it always felt wrong. My friends who did it said it was important to teach children they weren't the center of the universe so you shouldn't hold them too much, slings/carriers were horrible etc-Meanwhile I had other friends who were all about slinging etc and again their kids are definitely more self assured as adults now and squeaky clean so to speak...but that could all be coincidence... .. That phase of my life is gone now but yea the philosophies just didn't feel right to me....jmo

 

[PCHS]

This "so-called" religion should be accurately identified as a cult.

I'm not disagreeing, but alot of people I think sadly would imo....we only need look around...

 

[lonetraveler]

I'm not disagreeing, but alot of people I think sadly would imo....we only need look around...

Yes, I know you are right but the children need protection.

 

[PCHS]

Do you really think that these "very programed" children will be willing to talk?

I would doubt it ...I'm of the understanding that some social services agencies have trained experts who know how to get information, but I would presume that would vary of course...

 

[Cool Cats]

This woman does not need to be out of jail.

My opinion and opinion only .... Is that the 4 counts against both her and Joe ... Have to do with their own 4 children. They have 4 children, coincidence?

 

[Serononin]

Horrfiying the disregard these "parents" had for their own children! Decades ago, I read on a message board about child abuse done by MD that she wrote about in a blog (lol remember those?) to other homeschool/quiverfull mothers. When the TV show happened, those posts were wiped, and I'm not sure screenshots really even existed yet. This would have been the late 90s.

However, these forms of abuse have since been documented in the documentary "Shiny Happy People." Some of them were eventually admitted to by MD. Perhaps even more shocking, M&JB (man would that misogynist hate that I just wrote her initial first, haha) were adherents of a "man" named Bill Gothard who wrote literal child abuse manuals that resulted in the murder of at least 3 children and was himself a prolific pedophilic predator.

Article about the documentary with evidence of MD child abuse: ‘Blanket training’: Duggar family documentary shows harsh way babies taught obedience

WS thread on Gothard-linked child murders: To train up a child, book has lead to the death of 3 children

Wikipedia page on Gothard, including 34 disclosures of sexual abuse and more info on his brutal and deadly child abuse practices: Bill Gothard - Wikipedia

Edit to fix link!

The child abuse manual 'To Train up a Child' was actually written by Michael and Debi Pearl, but they are also Gothard followers I believe

 

[PCHS]

I have a hard time with this because while it was drastically worse when the cameras weren’t there, the amount of recording they had over the years means the crew was there a lot a lot a lot. I’m sure the kids were trained to hide it but I am confident they saw much more than they would admit to as they did nothing.

I would think there had to be some indication to the crew that something wasn't right...but I can honestly say while of course I have never ever known of SA or beatings occurring (that I would have reported and more then/there), I have seen parenting in my personal life that I disagree with strongly and I didn't feel good about the people or what was going on...but I didn't think it was anything CPS would do anything about or that the kids would wind up in a better situation, so I have not said anything...I wonder if it was situations like that the crew saw or worse?

 

[Serononin]

Do you really think that these "very programed" children will be willing to talk?

Maybe the very young ones might. Children can sometimes say very revealing things inadvertently because they don't really understand the implications, or the fact that it's not normal

 

[Cool Cats]

MSN

Joseph Duggar booking video: Accused child molester talks about brother Josh, jokes with deputy after arrest​

 

[Serononin]

I have a hard time with this because while it was drastically worse when the cameras weren’t there, the amount of recording they had over the years means the crew was there a lot a lot a lot. I’m sure the kids were trained to hide it but I am confident they saw much more than they would admit to as they did nothing.

There's a 'behind the scenes' clip floating around somewhere - I'm not sure whether it was captured by the actual film crew or just one of the family making a video for social media, but I remember Michelle talking to some of her younger girls (Jennifer and Jordyn, maybe?) in this low, quiet, threatening tone of voice, and then seeing the camera and immediately switching to cheerful, upbeat, "fundie baby voice" mode. Absolutely chilling. It's late here right now but I'll try and find it in the morning

 

[Lore Listener]

Yes it is all about control..and teaching obedience from the beginning...

Thank you.

Teaching women to obey men only enables men to abuse their partners. Teaching children to obey (not talking about boundaries or clear, nonviolent consequences for harmful behaviors, obvi) parents only enables parents--and quite frankly a wide range of other adults--to abuse children. Children should ALWAYS be able to say "don't touch my body!"

 

[Serononin]

I would think there had to be some indication to the crew that something wasn't right...but I can honestly say while of course I have never ever known of SA or beatings occurring (that I would have reported and more then/there), I have seen parenting in my personal life that I disagree with strongly and I didn't feel good about the people or what was going on...but I didn't think it was anything CPS would do anything about or that the kids would wind up in a better situation, so I have not said anything...I wonder if it was situations like that the crew saw or worse?

IIRC there was one cameraman in particular who was there throughout the original run of the show, and possibly even when it became Counting On, too. I'd be very interested in a tell-all from him

 

[PCHS]

IIRC there was one cameraman in particular who was there throughout the original run of the show, and possibly even when it became Counting On, too. I'd be very interested in a tell-all from him

hmmm I know with some of the Teen mom reality shows some crew have said they saw some things....(and clearly did not report)...

 

[Lore Listener]

The child abuse manual 'To Train up a Child' was actually written by Michael and Debi Pearl, but they are also Gothard followers I believe

Thank you, that is true and I really appreciate you posting the correct info! I realized that too late to edit.

It's been a long time since I was researching these particular cult figures (Duggars, Gothard, Pearls). I've been a lot more interested in the Doug Wilson cult out of Idaho lately, which teaches almost the exact same horrific things and also has a history of covering for and protecting pedophiles. It's felt more urgent due to their metastizing influence at the highest levels of our country. But sadly, these old familiar names are back in the news. I guess people who abuse children just keep abusing, years after being exposed. Heartbreaking.

 

[Lore Listener]

I have a hard time with this because while it was drastically worse when the cameras weren’t there, the amount of recording they had over the years means the crew was there a lot a lot a lot. I’m sure the kids were trained to hide it but I am confident they saw much more than they would admit to as they did nothing.

Unfortunately, as we've seen with the Epstein files, when it's money/power/influence vs. doing the right thing by abused children, a lot of adults choose to feign ignorance rather than protect children. It's really messed with my faith in humanity. And I'm a social worker! I'd already seen some very bad stuff prior to the last year or so of nightmare news stories.

 

[mickey2942]

hmmm I know with some of the Teen mom reality shows some crew have said they saw some things....(and clearly did not report)...

Such a slippery slope. Believe me, I learned the hard way what happens to people who blow the whistle. It isn't like a Hollywood movie, where you get kudos.

When you are one person, who makes a stand to uncover abuse, no one thanks you. You get gaslighted, are considered a "bully", even when there is tons of evidence. No one cares. In the end, a lone whistleblower usually ends up with a destroyed professional career, no friends, unemployed, and broken by continual mental abuse.

 

[Knox]

https://www.today.com/video/making-a-duggar-sized-breakfast-44510787657

Savannah Guthrie did this story. I think she said there are four bedrooms. Nine girls in one room and ten boys in another.

It's weird to watch this video with the behind the scenes knowledge we have now. It was all about the money for JBD, probably still is. But now that Josh is in prison, Jill & Jinger escaped/speaking out, and now this with Joseph - I wonder if more victims of other Duggars will come forward?

 

[PCHS]

Such a slippery slope. Believe me, I learned the hard way what happens to people who blow the whistle. It isn't like a Hollywood movie, where you get kudos.

When you are one person, who makes a stand to uncover abuse, no one thanks you. You get gaslighted, are considered a "bully", even when there is tons of evidence. No one cares. In the end, a lone whistleblower usually ends up with a destroyed professional career, no friends, unemployed, and broken by continual mental abuse.

Yes I agree - people like to think they would intervene/say something but the more nebulous the situation the harder it may be also.