Amy Duggar King has admitted she “dreads” the day her pedophile cousin Josh is released from prison and doesn’t believe he can be rehabilitated for his “sick” urges and “despicable” behaviour.
Josh, 35, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison in May 2022 after a jury found him guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography.
The father-of-seven attempted to appeal his conviction, but his conviction was upheld on August 7 this year. His earliest possible release date was October 2, 2032. However, Amy argued that he should never be allowed back into society.
Speaking exclusively to , the mother-of-one condemned her relative for his “horrific” crimes and branded him “evil” while praising his sisters whom he had confessed years earlier to abusing them.
When asked if she thinks the Duggar family will come out on a united front when Josh is released from prison, Amy replied, “I dread that day.” I don’t really think you rehab from sick stuff like that can be. And if you have that problem, I don’t think you should be released into society.
Her fear: Amy Duggar King has admitted she is “terrified” of the day her pedophile cousin Josh will be released from prison
Behind bars: Josh, now 35, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison in May 2022
Justice done: Josh, here in 2014, was found guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography
“The kids are so innocent and it just breaks my heart to think that someone would want to destroy that in a little toddler or a child.” It breaks my heart, really, it breaks my heart.
“Well, I dread that day because that’s another monster that’s on the loose.” That’s another monster that… you might not put into action, but he still has those thoughts and he still has the same urge.’
When asked about the fact that Anna, Josh’s wife – and mother of his seven children – stood by him throughout the process and hadn’t filed for divorce, Amy said she didn’t think Anna needed outside help right now .
“I think deep down she believes he’s innocent and I think she’s just going to trust in the love that they have and that she’s going to get on with her kids as best she can,” Amy claimed.
“I have no idea what I would do if I were in Anna’s position. I think it takes so long to even process what happened, how many scandals have come to light and how many heartbreaking messages she has endured. I can’t blame her for not taking any sudden steps because she’s probably just being overcome with so much fear and pain.”
Amy then revealed, “I’ve made it clear in every way I can that I’m there for Anna, that I love Anna and that I’m going to help Anna.” I hope she gets therapy, real counseling, that will really help her able to analyze all of this and approach it from a very healthy perspective, to protect her children and to be the best mom.
“But you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped and that’s so hard for me as a mom and someone who knows her not to lose my mind because it’s so hard for me to understand why you.” would not make any sudden movements.’
Still together: Amy claimed that Josh’s wife Anna “thinks he’s innocent” and doesn’t want any help
Mom’s son: Josh pictured with his mother Michelle before his arrest
United front: Anna supports her husband when he arrives at court in December 2021
Family Photo: Anna and Josh pictured with six of their seven children before his crimes came to light
I dread this day. I don’t really think you can be rehabilitated by sick stuff like that. And if you have that problem, I don’t think you should be released into society.
Amy admitted she prays for Anna and her “beautiful” children “every day” and worries about what the future holds for them.
“It’s hard, it’s really hard, and it’s just absolutely despicable and evil what has happened and what is still happening.” He’s a monster to be put away, and I’ll say that to the end of my time, but there are millions of them out there just like him doing this and watching this kind of crap and I will stand up for children while I’m breathless.’
Amy confirmed she never had any suspicions about Josh as they grew up together and found out about his arrest “like the rest of the world on national TV” in April 2021 and said she was completely shocked by it.
“I texted him two weeks before he was arrested,” she revealed. “It’s just crazy how someone can really live a double life.” To be honest, I just cried and cried and cried some more until there were no tears left. I was not feeling well.
“After the last scandal, you know the hideousness of what really happened and what he saw, I wasn’t feeling well for months afterwards and I’m still shattered. “My whole demeanor has changed, I’m getting shaky, my eyes are starting to water, it’s just awful and I never thought anything like this would ever happen, it’s disgusting,” Amy added.
She also confirmed there was no way she would ever let Josh anywhere near her three-year-old son Jaxton, but said she couldn’t answer that question to her cousins.
“I honestly have no idea,” Amy said when asked about her female relatives, such as Jill Duggar, with whom she has a close relationship.
Jill, 32, appeared alongside Amy in the Amazon docuseries Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which explores the dark side of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP).
In the spotlight: Amy claimed she was portrayed as a ‘crazy cousin’ on TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting
Speaking up: Amy appeared in the Amazon docuseries Shiny Happy People alongside her husband Dillon King
Sad stuff: Jill Duggar, pictured with her husband Derick Dillard, got emotional during her interview for Shiny Happy People
Her Story: Jill Duggar’s memoir Counting The Cost is due out on September 12
The mother-of-three was upset during her interview as she recalled the extreme measures her father took to cover up Josh’s molestation of his own sisters – and how she was forced to defend her brother on national television to prevent the family’s hit reality show from being canceled.
“I hope it’s been some kind of therapy for her and that she just takes the load off of all these secrets and all the things that she wasn’t protecting,” Amy said of Jill’s participation in Shiny Happy People. .
“It must be so incredibly hard, and she’s so light, she really is.” She’s such a sweet person and none of these girls deserve that, they’re beautiful girls inside and out. It hurts me to know that this happened, it really is. “I wish I could have done something about it a long time ago,” she added.
When a explosive report surfaced the internet in 2015, it claimed Josh had admitted years ago to molesting four of his siblings and that his own parents, Jim Bob, now 58, and Michelle Duggar, now 56, knew about it and it didn’t report abuse – it completely ruined the sane on-screen image the family had worked so hard to create over the course of their numerous TLC reality shows.
Jill will detail her side of the story when she releases her new memoir Counting The Cost on September 12, and while Amy hasn’t received a copy of it yet, she certainly believes there are more revelations to come.
“I don’t think it’s the end of the story,” she said. “I believe there is more to come and I’m not ready for that.”
“But eventually it has to be because you don’t just become a monster overnight,” she added, referring to Josh.