Anna Duggar’s Life Upended After Husband Josh’s Sex Offender Conviction

Here is where things stand with Anna Duggar: almost five years after Josh was found guilty on child pornography charges, she has not left him. She is still raising their seven kids, carving out a life away from the main Duggar orbit, and staying largely off the radar. It is a lot, and yes, some of it is surprising.

Where Anna is now

Per someone close to the situation, Anna, 37, has had multiple family members urge her to walk away from Josh, 38. Those talks have been rough because she has consistently stood by him. Her relatives are trying to thread the needle - making their feelings clear without blowing up their relationship with her.

Day to day, Anna is focused on the kids - Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason, Maryella, and Madyson - and keeping life as calm as possible while Josh serves more than 12 years in federal prison. The same source calls the aftermath a long-term nightmare, with one small upside: with Josh incarcerated, he is at least not in the house.

She is also not living with the broader Duggar family anymore. As recently as last year she was reportedly still on the Duggar compound in Arkansas; now, she has moved out and is working on her own setup. The vibe, according to the source: becoming more independent, getting stronger, and intentionally staying out of headlines.

How public - or not - she is

Unlike most of her in-laws, Anna does not maintain a personal social media presence. The only place she pops up is the Instagram for her dog-breeding business, Golden Grove Pups. In February, she posted a video showing three already-adopted golden retriever puppies - Whitaker, Beaumont, and Harrington - and you get a rare glimpse of her in it.

The family pressure - and her stance

"Anna has several family members who have strongly encouraged her to leave Josh."

That is the line from the source, who adds that while loved ones are frank with her, they are also careful to remain supportive because they do not want to lose her. Meanwhile, Anna keeps her focus on parenting first. After the guilty verdict in 2021, another person close to her summed it up this way: the kids are her top priority, she plans to stand by her husband, and she will keep doing the best she can for their family.

Quick timeline

• 2008 - Anna marries Josh, the eldest child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar from 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On.
• April 2021 - Josh is arrested on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. He maintains his innocence.
• November 2021 - Anna gives birth to their seventh child, a few months after Josh’s arrest.
• December 2021 - A jury finds Josh guilty.
• May 2022 - He is sentenced to 151 months in prison - just over 12 and a half years.
• December 23, 2032 - His current scheduled release date.

The other Duggar case that pulled Anna back into the spotlight

Anna has not publicly addressed Josh’s case, but her private emails last month to brother-in-law Joseph Duggar surfaced after he was arrested for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl in 2020. Joseph was extradited to Florida, pleaded not guilty to charges of lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim under 12, and lewd and lascivious behavior by a person 18 or older. He was released on a 600,000 dollar bond.

Anna’s messages to Joseph were supportive - and very practical about the legal process.

"You’ve got our prayers. We love you - however we can help, please let us know."

"Just remember, don’t talk about anything legal unless you are with an attorney. Everything said in these messages, phone calls and video chats are recorded and turned over to prosecutors."

That last part is striking because it is both empathetic and lawyerly - she clearly knows how this works now.

Final note

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text the Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.