Shock: Who is Joseph Duggar’s wife? What happened to Kendra Caldwell and their four children after he was arrested?
The Duggar family has been in the media spotlight ever since their reality show 19 Kids and Counting premiered on TLC back in 2008 and that scrutiny will certainly continue with the recent news that Joseph Duggar has been arrested for child molestation.
According to Florida news outlet WJHG 7, the 31-year-old former TV star was arrested and charged on March 18 with Lewd and Lascivious Behavior, involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor. The incident reportedly took place in 2020 during a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida; the alleged victim was only nine years old.
It’s just the latest scandal for the larger Duggar clan, which is helmed by parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar — Joseph’s older brother Joshua Duggar was previously the subject of his own child molestation allegations, including several of his own sisters (Jill, Jessa, Jinger, and Jana), as well as an Ashley Madison data breach.
Those scandals had ripple effects throughout the Duggar family, leading to the cancellation of their two TLC reality series, and it’s no doubt that Joseph’s actions will be similarly burdensome for his wife and young kids.
With that in mind, here’s what we know about Joseph Duggar’s wife Kendra Caldwell and their four children.
Who is Joseph Duggar’s wife, Kendra Caldwell?
Joseph Duggar has been married to wife Kendra Caldwell since September 8, 2017; they wed at First Baptist Church in Siloam Springs, Arkansas when the pair was 23 years old and 19 years old, respectively. “It is an amazing feeling to be husband and wife,” the young groom said at the time, per PEOPLE. “It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of to have a wife and to raise a family in a way that honors the lord. We are very excited to see what God has in the future for us.”
Kendra is the daughter of Paul Caldwell, a Baptist pastor, and Christina Caldwell. She was raised in a conservative and strictly religious household in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and was homeschooled, graduating in 2016.
How long have Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell been married for?
Joseph Duggar and wife Kendra Caldwell have been married for eight years. The former proposed on May 26, 2017, at his sister Joy-Anna Duggar‘s wedding reception, as shown during an episode of the family’s reality show Counting On — during the customary bouquet toss, the blooms were pointedly given to Kendra, signifying that she would be next in line to get married. Her future husband got down on one knee then and there.
How did Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell meet?
Joseph and Kendra Duggar first met while attending the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas; Kendra’s father was the pastor there and the Duggar family were patrons. The young Duggar reportedly asked Mr. Caldwell for permission to court his daughter; he later presented Kendra with a promise ring, per PEOPLE.
“I’ve known Kendra for about five years now and we met at their church. We’ve been talking for close to six months. I guess we would call it more of a friendship stage,” Joseph said of their first date, which was detailed in the season three premiere of Counting On. “Our plan is to go to the car auction and use this as a decoy so she won’t catch on to what we’re actually planning on doing.”
“Once we’re finished up with the auction, I’m going to take her to the house where I was actually born. It’s kind of on the way home, and then I’ll pop the question to her and ask her if she’ll start a courtship with me,” Duggar explained. “It’ll show her where I started my life and then maybe we’ll be able to start a new portion of life with her there.”
How many kids do Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell have?
Joseph and Kendra have four children thus far: son Garrett David (born June 8, 2018), daughters Addison Renee (born November 2, 2019) and Brooklyn Praise (born in February 2021) and the newest addition to the Duggar clan, son Justus Joseph, who was born in spring 2022.
Garrett David Duggar (Age 7)
The eldest Duggar child is described as a “deep thinker” with a “serious personality,” per The Duggar Family website. The soon-to-be eight-year-old reportedly enjoys playing with trucks, cards and “anything with wheels” and loves giving hugs and kisses to younger sister Addison, who he calls “A-DDIE.”
Addison Renee Duggar (Age 6)
“Bundle of joy” Addison is quick with a smile and a laugh, per the family website. The six-year-old “enjoys following her big brother around, trying new foods, and holding baby dolls.”
Brooklyn Praise Duggar (Age 5)
Youngest Duggar daughter Brooklyn just celebrated her fifth birthday last month, on February 19. Back when she was a “sweet newborn,” however,” proud parents Joseph and Kendra shared on the family website that they were “looking forward to discovering more about her personality in the coming months.”
Justus Joseph Duggar (Age 3)
Less is known about the littlest Duggar, Justus Joseph, including his set birthdate — it’s been reported that the boy was born between late May 2022 and early June 2022, which would make him three years old.
When were Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell last seen together?
The Duggars have shared updates on their family and insights into their everyday lives via their shared social-media handle, @littleduggarfamily on Instagram, where the couple has more than 500,000 followers.
Their most recent grid post is from November 2021, in which they publicly celebrated the second birthday of daughter Addison Duggar. Two months earlier, the pair also posted a selfie from an anniversary trip, during which they reportedly took in a stage performance of Sight & Sound: JESUS. “We had a blast!” they captioned the pic.
Where is Josh Duggar now?
Joseph’s older brother Josh Duggar is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Seagoville, a low-security prison in Seagoville, Texas.
Despite his incarceration, Duggar remains married to his wife Anna Duggar; the couple wed in 2008 and share seven children, including Mackenzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason, Maryella and Madyson.
How long is Josh Duggar in jail for?
The Duggar son is presently serving a sentence of 151 months — a little more than 12.5 years — following his December 2021 conviction on federal charges of receiving child sexual abuse material. As of early 2026, Josh Duggar is expected to be released from prison in October 2032.
What was Josh Duggar arrested for?
Josh Duggar was arrested on April 29, 2021, on two charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse materials following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Fayetteville beginning in November 2019. Duggar pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the grand jury ultimately found him guilty on both counts of knowingly receiving and possessing child pornography in December 2021.
