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

[Ruminations]

MOO as a paralegal - this is a tough question to answer. For example I know a lot of parents of autistic kids who will elope regularly and sometimes parents do decide to utilize a lock on doors.

Different States likely have different rules/statutes about this, for sure. And it could also matter (for example) how young is the kid? Can they escape in an emergency, like a fire? How long were they confined? Was it overnight confinement versus a brief timeout? What is the broader context of why it was happening? Etc.

I know a lot of parents with autistic children who elope, too. We usually affectionately call the kids bolters.

In general, if there were a reasonable explanation and potential to provide supporting documentation, the police wouldn't make an arrest. In the example of there being a "bolter" in the family, there should also be an occupational therapist at the very least engaged by the family. Departments of health and departments of education fund this.

The more reasonable assumption is that the children were locked in their rooms because their father thought it was normal. Which is amazingly deaf to the broader world. When it became clear that a teen molested younger children in the Duggar household (around when Joe was 7 or so) Joes parents said publicly that they implemented changes such as locking doors. Many, many people weighed in on how inappropriate that solution was; it didn't help the young predator, or the younger victims, and only added danger.

Chances are, the Joe and Kendra gave the same explanation for the locked doors that Joe's parents gave, to prevent predation. It demonstrates how isolated from public feedback this family is, in spite of the fact that public attention is their livelihood.

MOO

 

[HarmonyE.]

Their story will probably be that they locked the kids in their room at night because they'd wander about at night and potentially get themselves into trouble.

But we're well into the 21st century now and there is no reason sensors and motion-activated cameras can't be used to alert parents that a child has left his or her bedroom. Locking them in not only leaves them vulnerable in the event of a fire, they can't even access a bathroom if needed.

 

[MsMarple]

I know a lot of parents with autistic children who elope, too. We usually affectionately call the kids bolters.

In general, if there were a reasonable explanation and potential to provide supporting documentation, the police wouldn't make an arrest. In the example of there being a "bolter" in the family, there should also be an occupational therapist at the very least engaged by the family. Departments of health and departments of education fund this.

The more reasonable assumption is that the children were locked in their rooms because their father thought it was normal. Which is amazingly deaf to the broader world. When it became clear that a teen molested younger children in the Duggar household (around when Joe was 7 or so) Joes parents said publicly that they implemented changes such as locking doors. Many, many people weighed in on how inappropriate that solution was; it didn't help the young predator, or the younger victims, and only added danger.

Chances are, the Joe and Kendra gave the same explanation for the locked doors that Joe's parents gave, to prevent predation. It demonstrates how isolated from public feedback this family is, in spite of the fact that public attention is their livelihood.

MOO

I get that the parents were raised in a crazy environment but given what happened in the Duggar household with Josh did it not ever occur to either one to take a step back and analyze why things went sideways?

Most grown, mature adults would question an ultra strict upbringing and maybe try to make some changes in their own home. Instead Joseph and Kendra kept chugging along, making the same unhealthy choices.

Then when father assaults a child the family wrings their hands and go onto social media to say they don’t approve of such behavior. Duh!

JMO

 

[MsMarple]

An insider with knowledge of the case exclusively told Us Weekly that Kendra’s arrest “has nothing to do with Joseph’s” and was a result of a home investigation.

“After his charge, they automatically do a home study if minors live there. They came to her house,” the insider said. “Apparently, they had two rooms where the lock of the doorknob was on the outside instead of inside. They arrested her and took her kids for that, saying it’s evidence that she wrongly detains her kids.”

Amy Duggar Has 'No Idea' Where Joseph and Kendra's Kids Are

Amy Duggar says she has no idea where cousin Joseph and Kendra's kids are and prays for their safety amid Joseph and Kendra's arrests

www.usmagazine.com

So it looks like the kids were removed from the home. And rightly so IMO.

What a hellish way to live.

 

[Ruminations]

I get that the parents were raised in a crazy environment but given what happened in the Duggar household with Josh did it not ever occur to either one to take a step back and analyze why things went sideways?

Most grown, mature adults would question an ultra strict upbringing and maybe try to make some changes in their own home. Instead Joseph and Kendra kept chugging along, making the same unhealthy choices.

Then when father assaults a child the family wrings their hands and go onto social media to say they don’t approve of such behavior. Duh!

JMO

Exactly. It says to me, Joe and Kendra didn't familiarize themselves with the spectrum of reactions to the tragic Megyn Kelly interview or the Shiny Happy People documentary. They are clearly unaware that they are in a bubble if they think their parenting is normal to the world. It's not that they prefer their ways that surprised me. It's that they continue to seem unaware that the world does not universally find their ways superior, in spite of the occurrences throughout Joes adolescence and adulthood.

I am shocked.

In any case, maybe now that Joe apparently confessed to his much more serious crimes, at the very least Kendra can make things right regarding the locks in their home and get some parenting tips to help their children grow up in a safe environment. It very well may be that Joes arrest and her arrest happened before she learned the hard way that the locks didn't add safety.

I commend the local officials on making the door lock charges. If Kendra is amenable, that arrest could save that family from much worse abuse and harm. The arrest *might get them aware of the rest of the world.

MOO

 

[mickey2942]

MOO is that locks on a door is one thing. Based on the CPS cases we have seen on WS, kids are hardly ever removed, until they are dead. And we have read about much worse things than locks on a bedroom door.

So, there is much more here, or Duggars are being held to a far different standard than other people in the community.

 

[HarmonyE.]

MOO is that locks on a door is one thing. Based on the CPS cases we have seen on WS, kids are hardly ever removed, until they are dead. And we have read about much worse things than locks on a bedroom door.

So, there is much more here, or Duggars are being held to a far different standard than other people in the community.

Um, well, the father of these children admitted to assaulting a little girl.

 

[TMich6811]

Um, well, the father of these children admitted to assaulting a little girl.

Yeah but often we still don’t see intervention, I agree with Mickey on that.

IMO it’s leverage to get Kendra to talk against him