The Duggar sister said she was unprepared for the news “even though we’ve experienced something very similar before.”

Jinger Duggar Vuolo and husband Jeremy Vuolo react to Joseph Duggar’s arrest

The Duggar sister said she was unprepared for the news "even though we've experienced something very similar before."

By Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino is a writer at *. *She has written for * *since 2025. Her work has appeared in NBC News, Vulture, GQ, and InStyle.

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March 25, 2026 12:41 p.m. ET

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Jinger Duggar Vuolo; Joseph Duggar. Credit:

Jinger Duggar/Instagram; Washington County Sheriff

*19 Kids and Counting* star Jinger Duggar Vuolo is sharing her "pain and heartbreak" over her brother Joseph Duggar's arrest.

Jinger, 32, and her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, 38, addressed the arrests of Joseph and his wife, Kendra Duggar, on Wednesday. Jinger said the situation was "so hard and painful" to learn about.

"It's been one of those weeks that feels like years, and I did not think that my heart could break like it has this week," Jinger said on *The Jinger and Jeremy Podcast *on Wednesday. "The pain and heartbreak that we've had over this and just thinking of how it's affected so many, yeah, that's just unthinkable."

Jeremy Vuolo and Jinger Duggar Vuolo.

Vivien Killilea/Getty

Joseph, 31, was apprehended on March 18 after being accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl. The incident allegedly occurred in 2020 during a family vacation in Panama Beach, Florida. Law enforcement said Joseph had apologized to the girl at the time and admitted guilt to officials when he was confronted on March 17.

The reality star was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old, as well as lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. He waived his right to an extradition hearing, meaning he will be extradited to Florida.

Meanwhile, Kendra, 27, was arrested on March 20 on charges of child endangerment and false imprisonment. Sources told PEOPLE that her alleged crimes were "totally unrelated" to her husband's and came about as a "result of a home inspection, and the door locks being on the exterior of the doors" of their children's rooms.

Jeremy shared a prayer for his brother-in-law's alleged victim and commended her bravery. He added that Joseph's actions would have a lasting impact on the girl, her family, and the Duggar clan for years to come.

"The effect on that young person's life is unimaginable," Jeremy said. "And then to see the ripple effect of that horrific crime just across the board, it just has so many damaging rippling effects."

Jeremy also prayed for "the Lord to expose truth that's been hidden" and for "the officials who are going to, in the months and years ahead, seek to pursue earthly justice so that this doesn't happen to other people." He also shared his concerns for Joseph and Kendra's four children.

Jinger compared the fallout of Joseph's alleged crimes to the experience of learning about their older brother Josh's arrest. Josh, 38, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for child pornography charges in 2022.

"You can't be prepared for news like this, even though we've experienced something very similar before with one of my other siblings who made unthinkable choices and decisions that have affected all of us," Jinger said.

Josh has spoken out about his brother's arrest, with his attorney sharing that he "understands the stigma of being accused." From prison, Josh shared that he was "deeply saddened" by the accusations against his younger brother.

"He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life," Josh's attorney told the *Daily Mail.* "He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction."

The Duggar family.

Jill Duggar Dillard, the second-oldest Duggar sister, has also shared her reaction to Joseph's arrest. She said she was "shocked and heartbroken" to hear the news.

"We strongly condemn abuse," Dillard, 34, wrote on her family's blog. "We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead."

** has reached out to the Duggars for comment. Watch Jinger Duggar Vuolo and Jeremy Vuolo's full statement on Joseph and Kendra Duggar's arrests, above.

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