Josh and Anna 57: Singing the I'm Stuck in the SHU Blues

[Father Son Holy Goat]

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/9940049/josh-duggar-bleak-christmas-texas-prison-family-visit/
 

I’m taking it with a grain of salt because it’s The Sun, but here’s the highlights

• Josh’s sisters aren’t visiting 
• Josh’s parents aren’t visiting 
• Its sinking in that he’ll be in prison for the foreseeable future 
• Josh hasn’t been outside for rec time (this is the second time we’ve heard this)
• Josh is being threatened and verbally abused by inmates and staff

 

[GuineaPigCourtship]

Hang on, I seem to have misplaced my very tiny violin.

[Expectopatronus]

41 minutes ago, Father Son Holy Goat said:

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/9940049/josh-duggar-bleak-christmas-texas-prison-family-visit/
 

I’m taking it with a grain of salt because it’s The Sun, but here’s the highlights

• Josh’s sisters aren’t visiting 
• Josh’s parents aren’t visiting 
• Its sinking in that he’ll be in prison for the foreseeable future 
• Josh hasn’t been outside for rec time (this is the second time we’ve heard this)
• Josh is being threatened and verbally abused by inmates and staff

 

I agree that a whole pillar of salt is needed for anything The Sun posts but some of this is unsurprising. I can’t imagine that his sisters would visit given that they live in different states and likely didn’t have a super close relationship with him. I could see his parents calling rather than visiting too given the mileage. If Josh or anyone else is being threatened, that is unacceptable. Everyone, no matter what offences they have committed, has the right to safety and dignity. Given the use of the term “source close to the family”, I’m guessing that it’s a slow day and The Sun invented this report based on what they think people will click on and believe. 
 

[Cam]

9 hours ago, Father Son Holy Goat said:

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/9940049/josh-duggar-bleak-christmas-texas-prison-family-visit/
 

I’m taking it with a grain of salt because it’s The Sun, but here’s the highlights

• Josh’s sisters aren’t visiting 
• Josh’s parents aren’t visiting 
• Its sinking in that he’ll be in prison for the foreseeable future 
• Josh hasn’t been outside for rec time (this is the second time we’ve heard this)
• Josh is being threatened and verbally abused by inmates and staff

 

A lot of the story could be so easily made up. Verbal threats and abuse in prison, wrong as they are, seem to be a given in that environment. And Josh has been sitting for a long time with the realization that he’s in there for the long haul. The part where he didn’t leave his cell for three days is old news from November. 

Josh’s older sisters, except for Jana, are his victims from his previous crimes, so why would they visit him? Besides, they lead very busy lives, and a lot of his brothers have the same excuse. His younger siblings barely know him. Why would they travel to see him? Are there visitor records that a Sun reporter is able to check to see who goes to see Josh? I’m not sure what to think about JB and Meech not visiting, but that’s pretty bleak if your parents write you off. Maybe phone calls suffice. 

What about Pa Keller? Does his prison ministry extend to the far reaches of a Texas prison? And I’d love to know how often Anna goes to visit and which of the kids she hauls with her.  But basically, the Sun article sounds more like what’s assumed is going on with Josh because of course prison especially at Christmas is depressing.

 

[gustava]

12 hours ago, Father Son Holy Goat said:

Josh is being threatened and verbally abused by inmates and staff

Given that he's pretty much a nobody, my guess is that he's acting like the somebody he always thought he was, and it's not going over well.

[Idlewild]

JB was arrogant enough to run for office during Josh’s trial. I doubt he has given up on having political influence and probably hopes to relaunch Jed next year. He probably thinks the optics will be better if the case is pending appeal, and their ‘persecution’ whining will be attractive to their target voters.

[anjulibai]

It's interesting that article only notes the sisters not visiting. Do his brothers visit? 

[JermajestyDuggar]

I think the Sun could make this up entirely and no one would bat an eye because it’s so believable. I think it’s what a lot of us assumed already. It’s like writing a story about Anna having a hard time dealing with Josh being in prison over the holidays. Well duh. 

[Father Son Holy Goat]

On 12/29/2023 at 10:26 PM, Expectopatronus said:

 Given the use of the term “source close to the family”, I’m guessing that it’s a slow day and The Sun invented this report based on what they think people will click on and believe. 
 

This wild speculation but what if a source close to the family actually means there’s a hidden source either within or close to the family? I could see one of the lost boys feeding the news information in exchange for some money to finance a move away from the sinking ship of TTTH. 

[gustava]

11 hours ago, Father Son Holy Goat said:

This wild speculation but what if a source close to the family actually means there’s a hidden source either within or close to the family? I could see one of the lost boys feeding the news information in exchange for some money to finance a move away from the sinking ship of TTTH. 

Whether "embroidered" or not, what strikes me is that what was reported is certainly within the realm of possibility, given what we know about the family. 

[CarrotCake]

On 12/30/2023 at 5:22 PM, anjulibai said:

It's interesting that article only notes the sisters not visiting. Do his brothers visit? 

I'm not sure how close Justin is but he lives in Texas right?

It might be that he is being asked by the family to visit once in a while and/or bring stuff (if that is allowed).

[Idlewild]

4 hours ago, CarrotCake said:

I'm not sure how close Justin is but he lives in Texas right?

It might be that he is being asked by the family to visit once in a while and/or bring stuff (if that is allowed).

I’m sure his new mummy, Mrs Spivey, would leap at the chance to visit Josh 🙄

[Four is Enough]

@CarrotCake When my child was in prison, we were not able to bring anything in. We were able to send a check for commissary money.  He never touched it; it was placed automatically into his account He could buy toiletries, T shirts, socks, and snacks. coffee. We could send books, sealed, from the publisher. Nothing could pass from us to him but handwritten letters. No cards or anything with glitter. (could have drugs in them)

I think most prisons are pretty strict with that sort of thing.

[Father Son Holy Goat]

Apparently being Josh Duggar’s lawyer isn’t a big resume booster.

https://baptistnews.com/article/little-rock-church-hired-josh-duggars-lawyer-then-reversed-course-after-lay-leaders-protest/

[Expectopatronus]

I wouldn’t call him the most skilled lawyer either; why the heck would the church have hired him? It’s not like he put forth a brilliant defence.

[Coconut Flan]

Travis wasn't the main lawyer in Josh's case.  He doesn't seem to be a great one though.

[marmalade]

4 minutes ago, Coconut Flan said:

Travis wasn't the main lawyer in Josh's case.  He doesn't seem to be a great one though.

Right. They needed a lawyer who had experience with Federal cases. Justin Gelfand was the lead attorney and is the one petitioning the Supreme Court. Travis Story is just the Duggar family lawyer. 

[Father Son Holy Goat]

15 hours ago, Expectopatronus said:

I wouldn’t call him the most skilled lawyer either; why the heck would the church have hired him? It’s not like he put forth a brilliant defence.

In his defense, Josh’s first reaction to being raided was to ask if they were looking for child porn. He didn’t have much to work with 

[Shannonsnarks]

I saw in another thread that the M boys were bullying kids in church?

[Father Son Holy Goat]

3 hours ago, Shannonsnarks said:

I saw in another thread that the M boys were bullying kids in church?

I heard that too. I hope a responsible adult has a handle on it but I’m doubtful 

Edited January 8 by Father Son Holy Goat

[mango_fandango]

I can totally understand why kids in that sort of situation (parent in prison for a reason the kid likely doesn’t understand) would act out. How the other parent/adults in those kids’ lives deal with it is the important thing. 

[JermajestyDuggar]

6 hours ago, mango_fandango said:

I can totally understand why kids in that sort of situation (parent in prison for a reason the kid likely doesn’t understand) would act out. How the other parent/adults in those kids’ lives deal with it is the important thing. 

Those kids have it hard. Other kids will know their dad is in prison. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought it up to the M kids. 

[Mama Mia]

1 hour ago, JermajestyDuggar said:

Those kids have it hard. Other kids will know their dad is in prison. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought it up to the M kids. 

And the oldest two boys are now 10 and 12, they - and their 14 year old sister - likely have some idea of what the crimes are. I can’t imagine how awful that would be for tweens/young teens to hear whispers and taunts about their dad being in prison for what he’s in for.

 I do think it’s likely good they aren’t in a large public school, unless they were to change their last name. The kids can’t pull a fake story like their dad is away in the military, or isn’t in the picture, or even is in prison for running drugs or evading taxes.

It isn’t like any previous generation where a nasty crime by a mid celebrity would quickly come and go in the papers or news. All their peers can do a quick name search on their phone and there it is - forever. 

[JermajestyDuggar]

5 hours ago, Mama Mia said:

And the oldest two boys are now 10 and 12, they - and their 14 year old sister - likely have some idea of what the crimes are. I can’t imagine how awful that would be for tweens/young teens to hear whispers and taunts about their dad being in prison for what he’s in for.

 I do think it’s likely good they aren’t in a large public school, unless they were to change their last name. The kids can’t pull a fake story like their dad is away in the military, or isn’t in the picture, or even is in prison for running drugs or evading taxes.

It isn’t like any previous generation where a nasty crime by a mid celebrity would quickly come and go in the papers or news. All their peers can do a quick name search on their phone and there it is - forever. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if Mack wanted to get married and move out of Arkansas at 18 so she could get a name change and a new town. 

[Father Son Holy Goat]

14 hours ago, mango_fandango said:

I can totally understand why kids in that sort of situation (parent in prison for a reason the kid likely doesn’t understand) would act out. How the other parent/adults in those kids’ lives deal with it is the important thing. 

The parent/adults in these kids lives are Jim Bob and Michelle who failed to deal with the problem, Anna who wants to stand by her man, and a pecan thief. The kids are screwed.