Kendra Duggar’s Parents Share Strong Statement from Girl Accusing Joseph Duggar

The family of Kendra Duggar is throwing their support behind the young girl accusing Joseph Duggar of sexual assault while also voicing their concerns about their son-in-law. The Caldwell family shared a message on social media saying that they were “both troubled and heartbroken over the alleged actions committed by [their] son-in-law,” and “devastated for the young girl.”

That “young girl” was, the family said, “courageous in every way to share her truth.” They also said they would “stand by her” and continue to support her as the case proceeds.

“Our love for this child remains at the forefront of our family’s priorities and minds. We are proud of her for being strong enough to share her story while also retaining her own identity and joy,” the family wrote in what they said would be their only statement addressing the accusations.

The family also noted that they “recognize how traumatic this incident has been for our grandchildren” and that their “love for them, and our daughter Kendra, remains”.

Joseph’s accuser sat for a forensic interview with a detective from Arkansas’s Tontitown Police Department back on March 18, the same day that police arrested Joseph. The minor, who is now 14, said that she was just 9 years old and on a family vacation in Florida when “several incidents of sexual abuse” occurred, according to a copy of the affidavit for an arrest warrant filed in the case and obtained by PEOPLE.

Joseph was among the guests on that trip to Panama City Beach, and per the affidavit approached the young girl and “asked [her] to sit on his lap, numerous times.” At first, Joseph would “cradle [her] with his arms,” the minor said during her interview, but that started to change over time.

The minor said that he would then ask her to “sit on the couch beside [him]” and “cover the parties with a blanket,” according to the affidavit. “Once the parties were covered, the defendant would pull the victim’s dress up and touch the victim’s thighs,” Deputy Sheriff Darrell Norris of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office wrote in the affidavit.

While this was happening, the young girl said that “[Joseph’s] hand grazed [her] vagina” and his “hand was outside of her underwear,” according to the affidavit.

This occurred “several times”, according to the accuser, who described feeling “uncomfortable” and “confused.” Joseph eventually apologized to the minor and the incidents stopped, but her father then approached him on March 17.

The father told police that Joseph confessed, at which time the investigation began that resulted in him being charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior. “We pray all victims of crimes can be as courageous as this young girl is,” the Caldwell family wrote. “They should be able to share their story, to trust in the judicial process, and to do so without fear of retaliation.”

The family added: “You are not alone.”