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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
A Georgia resident has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of his girlfriend, whom he beat and stomped to death before delaying more than a day to inform the authorities.
Mamadi Tambajang was found guilty of murdering 31-year-old Amber Kelly in their Sandy Springs apartment. He received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 50 years, according to police reports.
On May 15, 2024, Tambajang approached the Sandy Springs Police Department, confessing that he wished to surrender for assaulting his girlfriend. He requested that officers perform a welfare check on her at their residence, as he was unsure of her condition. Upon investigation, they discovered she had been fatally beaten.
“The crime scene was horrific,” Asia Baysah, deputy district attorney for Fulton County, shared with local ABC affiliate WSB. “He was aware she wasn’t alright. She suffered over 25 different blunt force injuries to her body.”
Prosecutors revealed to WSB that Tambajang had been previously involved in two other domestic violence incidents concerning Kelly. Approximately a year prior to her death, she had contacted police for assistance.
“He’s a violent person, and he threatened to murder me twice this week,” she told dispatchers in a call obtained by WSB.
Family told the outlet that it repeatedly advised Kelly to leave Tambajang, but she believed he could be a good man. The abuse continued and eventually led to her death.
Prosecutors said that Tambajang claimed he simply “snapped.”
“He said that he was provoked to inflict those injuries upon Amber,” Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Jazmin Dilligard said in an interview with WSB.
Cops believe the suspect murdered Kelly a day or two before he turned himself in. After he killed her, he reportedly drove to his mother’s house in South Carolina before he drove to Sandy Springs police and expressed concern about Kelly’s well-being.
“It was fake. If he was truly concerned about her, he would have called 911,” said Dilligard. “He did everything but seek medical treatment.”
Kelly’s mother Sharon Henderson recalled when cops knocked on her door to alert her of her daughter’s death.
“I felt like my heart stopped beating the moment I found out that my baby was no longer here with us,” she told WSB.
Queensland‘s iconic Big Red Bash music festival has been cancelled due to widespread outback flooding.
Efforts were underway by organizers to move the festival from Birdsville due to severe flooding caused by heavy rain.
“After thoroughly evaluating our options, we concluded that relocating the Birdsville Big Red Bash for 2026 wasn’t practical,” stated Greg Donovan, the event’s founder and managing director.
The Big Red Bash, the self-proclaimed world’s most remote music festival, is scrambling to find another venue after a rare deluge hit outback Queensland. (Facebook)
“Nature has the final say, and this year, her message was clear,” he added.
Donovan mentioned that attendees were consulted through a survey before opting for cancellation.
The event had already reached 90 percent of its ticket sales.
The 2026 line-up included Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Teskey Brothers, The Living End, Birds of Tokyo, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll, Kate Ceberano, The Whitlams, Tim Finn, among others.
Organisers say next year’s event will go ahead with the majority of this year’s line-up confirmed for 2027.
The three-day event has drawn thousands of campers to the edge of the Simpson Desert for more than 10 years.
Thousands kick up the dust to attempt Nutbush dance world record
“We fully understand and appreciate the planning, excitement and anticipation all our adventurous patrons have when they buy tickets and lock in plans to head into the great Australian outback for the Bash,” Donovan said.
“We also know our own team’s excitement and passion for delivering the festival in this unique and amazing location. It’s a very special and spiritual place.”
Ticketholders can request a refund via Oztix, transfer their tickets to the 2027 Birdsville Big Red Bash or transfer to the 2026 Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash from 20–22 August 2026.
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Rex Heuermann, the alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer, is anticipated to admit guilt in the murders of seven women, potentially bringing closure to a chilling saga that has spanned years.
Victims’ families have reportedly been informed of this unexpected development, according to statements made to Newsday by their relatives.
The 62-year-old, who works as an architect, is slated to revise his plea during his upcoming court session set for April 8.
While specifics of the plea deal remain under wraps, there is still a possibility it could unravel if Heuermann reconsiders or if the prosecutor or judge ultimately rejects the agreement, as reported by Newsday.
Following the news on Thursday, Robert A Macedonio, the lawyer representing Heuermann’s estranged wife Asa Ellerup, told the Daily Mail, “I have no comment on behalf of the family.”
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney and defense attorney Michael J. Brown have been contacted.
Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, 62, is expected to plead guilty
Suffolk County Police conduct a search on December 14, 2010 along Gilgo Beach where four bodies were found
Heuermann was currently charged with seven murders over a two-decade reign of horror running from 1993 to 2011.
The case had haunted the Long Island community for more than a decade, ever since the first of multiple bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway in December 2010.
No arrests were made for more than a decade.
Then, in July 2023, the Massapequa Park local was dramatically arrested as he left his office in midtown Manhattan.
He was initially charged with the murders of three women: Amber Costello, Melissa Barthelemy and Megan Waterman and then with four more victims: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack.
All the victims were working as sex workers when they vanished after going to meet a client.
Their bodies were found dumped along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach and other remote spots on Long Island.
Some of the victims had been bound, others had been dismembered and their remains discarded in multiple locations.
He had pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
The alleged victims clockwise from left: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla
Heuermannn poses for one of his Tinder profile pictures
The pizza box that Heuermann discarded and was recovered by investigators, which eventually matched his DNA
Heuermann was first linked to the murders following a tip about a pickup truck.
According to a witness, Costello had disappeared after going to see a client who drove a green Chevy Avalanche in September 2010.
Following the launch of a new taskforce, investigators learned that Heuermann drove that same type of vehicle at the time of the murders, prosecutors say.
He also matched the description of the client seen by the witness.
As well as the DNA evidence, prosecutors said investigators also found a chilling ‘planning document’ on a hard drive in the basement of Heuermann’s family home in Massapequa Park.
In the chilling document, he allegedly had a section detailed ‘PREP’ and noted that ‘small’ women were preferred.
Heuermann has lived his entire life in Massapequa Park and would commute to his architecture job in Midtown Manhattan, where some of the victims worked and were last seen alive.
He was especially familiar with Ocean Parkway, where the victims’ bodies were dumped, thanks to a job he had at Jones Beach in his 20s, according to prosecutors.
Fears that a serial killer or killers were at large on Long Island began back in May 2010, when Shannan Gilbert vanished in bizarre circumstances one night.
The 24-year-old, who was working as an escort, had gone to see a client in the Oak Beach Association community when she made a terrifying 911 call, saying that someone was trying to kill her.
During a search for Gilbert in December 2010, officers came across the body of Barthelemy in the marshes by Gilgo Beach.
Within days, three more bodies – Costello, Brainard-Barnes and Waterman – had been found.
The four victims, who became known as the Gilgo Four, had been dumped within a quarter mile of each other, some of them bound and wrapped in burlap.
Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 by police investigators near his Midtown Manhattan office
The backyard of Rex Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park during a search in June 2024
Over the following months, the remains of seven other victims were found.
Gilbert’s body was found last. Investigators maintain that she was not a victim, but died by accidental drowning after she fled into the dense thicket that night.
Heuermann has not been charged in connection to the deaths of the other four victims found along Ocean Parkway: Karen Vergata, Tanya Jackson and her two-year-old daughter Tatiana Dykes, and an unidentified victim, known only as ‘Asian Doe.’
Jackson – a US Army veteran – and her infant daughter were finally identified in April 2025 having for years been known only as ‘Peaches’ and ‘Baby Doe.’
Costilla, meanwhile, had never been linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killer case until Heuermann was hit with charges for her murder in 2024.
Her murder expands the timeline that the accused serial killer is alleged to have been actively preying on victims.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — In a significant move that took place in Atlanta, a Georgia Senate Committee has given the green light for Augusta residents to vote this November on a potential amendment to the city charter.
“I’m genuinely thrilled about this development. The essence of our democracy is empowering voters to make the final call. I’m excited about that,” remarked Mayor Garnett Johnson.
The proposed charter change would shift the responsibility for hiring and firing department heads from the commission to a city manager, centralizing executive authority.
“I believe this is a positive step forward. It’s an issue we’ve been deliberating for some time—transitioning to a city management system,” stated Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.
Although the Charter Committee has advocated for adopting a manager-led government, dissent exists. Two members traveled to Atlanta this week to express their opposition, citing unresolved questions about the scope and duties of the proposed city manager position.
“The devil is in the details that is sort of where the apprehension for this bill came from we can want something but if we don’t have the details how it’s going to be implemented there in lies the problem,” said Dr. Sheffie Robinson, Charter Review Committee member.
The Charter Committee recommended the mayor nominating candidates for manager and then taking part in the vote. However, the senate committee changed that to say the mayor could only vote on the manager if there was a tie, even though a referendum gave the mayor a vote in 2024.
“So here we are again having a discussion about in the event of a tie, how does the mayor break the vote, how do you remove the abstentions,” said Mayor Johnson.
This is not the final step, but Augusta voters are a step closer to a vote on changing the charter after 30 years.
VERMILION COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — As temperatures rise and the urge to declutter grows, residents of Vermilion County have a unique opportunity to jump-start their spring cleaning efforts. The local health department is gearing up to assist with a special event.
In collaboration with Danville Area Community College (DACC) and Keep Vermilion County Beautiful (KVCB), the health department will be conducting a complimentary electronics collection event. Scheduled from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, this initiative aims to make responsible electronic disposal more accessible to the community.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A recent inspection at the Pebble Creek at Lake Mary apartments uncovered “a multitude of issues” affecting all buildings in the complex, as detailed in a report from Seminole County’s building division.
The report, which News 6 received on Thursday, highlighted several problems that led to the evacuation of 85 units earlier in the week.
Building inspectors from Seminole County identified structural deficiencies, particularly with the stairwells across almost every building within the complex.
According to the report, “A total of 53 stair systems, spanning 21 buildings, were found to be structurally compromised. This was due to missing connections to the buildings, deteriorated supports, and significant decay.”
“The frightening part is that until this issue exploded, they let us use those stairways without concern,” remarked Jennifer Falter, who was forced to leave her second-floor residence after the stairwell outside her door was declared unsafe.
Falter told News 6 that apartment management offered her rent credit for a week’s worth of rent.
“I said I want every credit for every day that I’m due that I’m not in here,” Falter said.
Hours after we spoke with Falter, she sent News 6 a screenshot message from Pebble Creek management.
“Relief funds have been approved and will be distributed tomorrow, March 27, 2026 at the clubhouse from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” the message read.
Management has so far declined to comment on the matter.
The report from Seminole County also found two buildings to be dangerous, due to “potential structural failures, and lack of adequate, structurally sound egress systems.”
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For those who regularly follow this column, the latest developments may not be the news they were hoping for. Similar to last year’s buzz around Alexander Isak and Liverpool, the potential transfer of Sandro Tonali to Manchester United is gaining significant traction.
Sources indicate that Manchester United is poised to make an official move for Tonali once the current season concludes. The club has identified three key midfield targets for the upcoming summer, with Tonali now emerging as the leading candidate over Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton. Although Anderson is highly regarded, he seems destined for Manchester City.
In an interesting twist, Manchester United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, has reportedly thrown his support behind the pursuit of Tonali, having been impressed by the Italian midfielder’s abilities.
However, Newcastle holds a strong negotiating position regarding Tonali, as he still has three years remaining on his contract, with the club having the option to extend it by an additional 12 months.
This situation differs from last year’s transfer saga involving Isak, which was marred by executive-level issues at St James’ Park. The mishandling of Isak’s departure was problematic, and its repercussions are still being felt today.
Confidential understands Manchester United will make a formal approach to Newcastle for Sandro Tonali at the end of the season
But Toon skipper Bruno Guimaraes is not on Manchester United’s radar
Rather, sporting director Ross Wilson knows that the club have to trade to move forward and lessons have been learnt from 12 months ago. Should Tonali finally communicate a want to leave – there would likely be a wage hike and Champions League football on offer at Manchester United – then Newcastle would consider what works best for them.
Tonali has been linked with every club from Barcelona to Real Madrid to Arsenal and Manchester City in recent weeks, but my information in the past 48 hours is that Manchester United are moving to the front of the queue. They are not considering a move for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Toon not for sale – but Saudis must act
There has been talk for several weeks now of PIF looking to sell Newcastle, albeit whispers in football circles.
They entered the public domain at the weekend when beIN broadcaster Richard Keys made mention in his column. This was quickly dismissed by PIF sources and, I have to say, they have been consistent on this message for a long time now – Newcastle is not for sale.
Indeed, their empowering of new chief executive David Hopkinson, who is making several key appointments at executive level, does not point to an ownership preparing for sale.
I have been saying and writing the same thing for so long now – PIF insist they remain fully invested in the Newcastle project, what they need to do is demonstrate that by way of action. Be that a training ground or stadium announcement, they have to change the optics around the club and signal ambition and engagement. Without it, players like Tonali – and others – are always likely to look elsewhere.
Hopkinson creates new code of conduct
On the back of his 100-day review, Confidential can reveal that Hopkinson has introduced a new cultural framework inside the club, officially known as the ‘Newcastle United Code’.
The CEO had concerns over the culture he inherited at St James’ Park, with different departments seemingly not aligned. He wanted to change that and has set about uniting the myriad subsections that make up the football club.
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson (left) has introduced a new cultural framework inside the club
The Code comprises core values of ‘One Club. Excellence. Relentless. Accountable and Integrity’, and Hopkinson believes that a shift in mindset is key to accelerating progress. He presented his transformation plan to the board in December and was given unanimous approval.
Hopkinson also wants to streamline decision-making, allowing it to be faster and more effective on a local level. One concern of staff previously has been a need for sign-off from PIF and a delay on approval over decisions that would best be made on the ground.
The Canadian continues to reiterate, internally and externally, his and PIF’s ambition to be challenging for the Premier League title by 2030. He told members of the club’s Fan Advisory Board this month of the ‘high performance culture’ he intends to create.
Toon move for South American teen
Newcastle are in talks with Independiente del Valle over a deal for teenager Johan Martinez.
The Ecuadorian winger, 16, is rated as one of South America’s top talents and, if Newcastle do land his signature, he would only move to Tyneside ahead of the 2027-28 campaign, once he turns 18.
But the deal, which is not agreed yet, shows a new direction with regards recruitment under Wilson. He appointed Thomas Federspiel, the highly-regarded German scout, to source players in Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, and Martinez looks set to be the first addition as part of this expanded network.
Miley in line for Palace return
Lewis Miley is back in full training and could even be in line to start when Newcastle return to action at Crystal Palace on April 12. Such is the break between fixtures, the 19-year-old will have at least three weeks of work under his belt by the time that game comes around.
Newcastle have badly missed Miley since the thigh injury suffered at Paris Saint-Germain in late January. But his form before then means a new contract is on the agenda inside St James’ Park. Talks are ongoing and, while an announcement is not thought to be close, there is a want to recognise his importance to the future of the club, and Miley wants to be part of that.
Given the coming months will likely see several players angle for a move away, Miley’s desire to stay and play a key role is a positive. Building around a young English talent such as Miley is perhaps the best way to emerge from what has been a rocky season.
Lewis Miley is back in full training and could even be in line to start when Newcastle return to action at Crystal Palace on April 12
Hall proving a hit in the England camp
Another Lewis who falls into the same category when it comes to improved contract terms and building the team around them is Lewis Hall.
I was at St George’s Park this week watching England train and all of the chatter is that the left-back berth is Hall’s to win. So it should be on the back of his recent form.
It was interesting watching him have a long chat with Jude Bellingham during the warm-up before the session. I’m guessing, of course, but I bet the subject of Barcelona came up, given what happened to Newcastle in the Nou Camp last week.
Afterwards, I asked Hall if this was one summer he did not mind missing his usual cricket fix back in his home county of Berkshire, given the looming World Cup.
‘I didn’t play last summer because I was going through my injury and was so focused on that – and I’m hoping I don’t get to play any cricket this summer either!’ he said.
‘I always played throughout my childhood, like a lot of my friends did. It’s always been a good social thing for me. Although I’m playing at the level I am now with my football, I’m always the same person. So if I was playing cricket at eight years old, even though I’m playing football now, I don’t see a reason to stop. I enjoy spending time with my mates.
‘I wouldn’t say I’m great! A decent enough village player. I was a bit of an all-rounder when I was younger. Now, I’m more of a batsman.’
He’s certainly been knocking it out of the park with his performances for Newcastle this season.
Lewis Hall has slotted into the England camp seamlessly this week and the left-back slot seems to be his to win
Only small tweaks planned for club crest
Finally, Hopkinson has confirmed that any proposed changes to the club’s crest are expected to feature from the start of the 2027-28 season.
Speaking to the Fan Advisory Board, he suggested there would be small tweaks with regards inconsistencies and symmetry. However, time will be taken to get the improved design right and will involve consultation with supporters.
Toon Teaser solution
Last time, we asked you to name the SEVEN players to have scored for Newcastle and Chelsea in the Premier League. They were: Demba Ba, Laurent Charvet, Damien Duff, Geremi, Kenedy, Scott Parker and Loic Remy.
Confidential is taking a break until the Premier League action returns, and Toon Teaser will be back then! Thank you for reading everyone!
Rory McIlroy recently opened up about a tense encounter with Bryson DeChambeau over a pivotal putt during his victorious final round at the Masters last year.
In an Amazon Prime documentary detailing his success at Augusta National, McIlroy provides insight into the much-discussed moment on the ninth green that captivated golf enthusiasts.
The drama unfolded as McIlroy and DeChambeau, who were paired together on the tournament’s last day, lined up for birdie attempts following their second shots. Both players hesitated, neither making a move to play.
According to McIlroy, he was confident that his ball was positioned farther from the hole than DeChambeau’s, which meant he should putt first.
DeChambeau, however, held a different view, leading to a brief exchange between the two. The powerhouse from LIV Golf suggested they resolve the standoff by “throwing a tee up” to determine who would take the initial shot.
‘And I’m like “no, this is the final round of the Masters, this isn’t some game on a Tuesday afternoon somewhere”,’ says McIlroy.
This moment between Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau in the final round of the 2025 Masters.
Rory McIlroy has opened up on his clash with Bryson DeChambeau at last year’s Masters
‘I wasn’t going to wilt in that situation. I was just going to stand firm.
‘So I said “there’s a ref right there, why don’t we get him up to come and measure?”
‘And he said “no it’s fine, you can go anyway. I don’t care”. And I just felt like that was a really big moment.
‘I was proud of myself for holding my ground.’
Speaking earlier in the documentary, Mcllroy said: ‘I thought it very clearly was my putt.
‘I thought his ball was slightly closer than mine. We sort of looked at each other and I’m like, well, “I think it’s me to go”. And he’s like, “well, I think it’s me to go”.
‘It was a very gamesmanship-y matchplay thing. Really, both of us want to putt first, because if you can hole your putt before your opponent has his turn, it puts pressure on them.’
McIlroy went first and sank his putt to move to 13 under par, while DeChambeau missed and was forced to settle for par.
While McIlroy went on to complete the Grand Slam after beating Justin Rose in a dramatic playoff, DeChambeau faded and finished in a tie for fifth at seven-under.
The exchange on the ninth throws into question claims from DeChambeau after his final round that McIlroy ‘didn’t talk to me once all day’.
DeChambeau said he was gifted no insight into McIlroy’s round as the Northern Irishman refused to speak to him.
The American (back) claimed that McIlroy (front) refused to talk to him throughout the round
‘No idea. [McIlroy] Didn’t talk to me once all day,’ the 31-year-old said when asked how McIlroy was feeling following his victory.
‘He wouldn’t talk to me,’ he doubled down when asked again if he attempted to initiate conversation with his opponent.
In response, McIlroy said: ‘I was not there to be his best friend. We were trying to win the Masters.’
The reaction prompted fans to dig out footage from December 2024 in Las Vegas, where McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler faced DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in ‘The Showdown’ – a LIV vs PGA event where the two traded digs on the driving range.
A mic’d up McIlroy said he’d like to face DeChambeau again on the final day of a major championship to ‘try to get him back for what he did to me at the US Open.’
DeChambeau replied: ‘Well, to be fair, you kind of did it to yourself.’
The pair were referencing McIlroy’s horrific collapse at Pinehurst in 2024, where he missed two short putts in the final three holes to win the tournament while some DeChambeau magic from the bunker on the 18th saw him capitalise for glory.
Michigan authorities have recently unveiled a series of alarming charges against a former Detroit police sergeant, accusing him of leading a “double life” as a serial rapist.
Benjamin Wagner, 68, is facing 14 charges, which include eight counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and five counts of kidnapping. These charges relate to alleged assaults on five young women and girls over a span from 1999 to 2003.
The ages of the victims at the time of the alleged incidents ranged from 15 to 23 years old.
“The appalling reality of this case is that the individual we are charging today has lived a double life as a law enforcement officer and a serial rapist,” stated Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. “These charges represent the culmination of a lengthy pursuit of justice. The alleged details of this case are deeply disturbing, unsettling, and infuriating.”
A mugshot of Benjamin Wagner, undated, is available. (Courtesy of FOX 2 Detroit)
Authorities said Wagner targeted victims during the early morning hours on Detroit’s northwest side while they were walking to school, home from work, or visiting friends.
In each attack, he allegedly approached the victims from behind, pointed a pistol at them, forced them to an isolated location, and sexually assaulted them without a condom, according to Worthy.
The attacks happened just miles from his home, though officials denied his house being the “isolated location” the victims were brought to.
Prosecutors and Detroit Police announced the charges at a news conference.(FOX 2 Detroit)
Wagner served with the Detroit Police Department (DPD) from 1989 until he retired with commendations in 2017, working in various units including criminal investigations and tactical services.
The breakthrough in the case was the result of a multi-year investigation connected to the 2009 discovery of more than 11,000 untested sexual assault kits abandoned in a DPD warehouse.
Wagner was arrested earlier this month in Greenville, North Carolina — where he had been living since he left the department, and waived extradition to face charges in Michigan.
Benjamin Wagner is pictured at a virtual court hearing via Zoom.(FOX 2 Detroit)
He will not face time for potential weapons charges associated with the case, as the statute of limitations for that crime in Michigan is only six years.
The five victims who joined the case promptly reported the crimes when they happened and had sexual assault kits collected at that time.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy speaks at a news conference about the case.(FOX 2 Detroit)
Officials urged any other potential victims who may have been assaulted by Wagner to contact the Detroit Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit, noting cases may have gone unreported.
Worthy did not confirm if Wagner had any contact with the victims while he was on duty, or had ever been the subject of internal affairs investigations or other criminal allegations during his career.
Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news, with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.
She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.
Several members of the Duggar family have responded to the arrest of Joseph Duggar, who is facing charges of child molestation.
Joseph Duggar, a familiar face from the reality TV show 19 Kids and Counting, was detained following allegations that he molested a 9-year-old girl during a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, back in 2020. The arrest was carried out by the Tonitown Police Department in Arkansas on March 18, 2026, after the Bay County Sheriff’s Department issued a warrant for his arrest.
According to a press release from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, “The victim reported that Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap.” The statement went on to detail that during the vacation, he also invited her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket.
The release further elaborated, “During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and touched her genitals. Additionally, Duggar continued to rub his hands on her thighs.”
Joseph Duggar, a former star of TLC, was apprehended on Wednesday, March 18, following accusations of molesting a 9-year-old girl in 2020. This arrest marks the Duggar family’s second scandal involving child sex abuse, as Joseph’s older brother, Josh Duggar, was previously convicted on child pornography charges and sentenced to 151 months in federal prison in December.
Joseph was ultimately charged with one count of lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and a second count of lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.
Joseph appeared in court on March 20 and waived his right to an extradition hearing and ultimately agreed to be transferred to Florida to face the charges.
Days after his arrest, news broke that Joseph was also facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, second degree, and four counts of second degree false imprisonment alongside his wife, Kendra Duggar. Kendra was arrested on March 20, 2026, and released the same day on bond.
Many members of the Duggar family spoke out about Joseph’s arrest, including his siblings Jill and Josh. (Josh is currently in prison after being convicted for possession of child pornography.)
Keep scrolling to see what the Duggars have said about Joseph:
Jill Duggar
Jill Duggar released a statement on her family blog about Joseph Duggar’s arrest.
“We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest,” the post began. “We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020.”
Jill added that she and husband Derick Dillard are “shocked and heartbroken” over the allegations.
“We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved,” she continued. “Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.”
Josh Duggar
Josh Duggar spoke out while behind bars about his brother’s arrest, sharing he was “deeply saddened” about the allegations against Joseph Duggar.
“Josh understands the stigma of being accused. He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life,” Josh’s lawyer said in a statement to The Daily Mail on the reality star’s behalf. “He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction.”
The statement added that while “Josh and Joe are not in frequent communication” Josh “hopes and prays for his brother’s well being in this difficult time.”
Amy Duggar King
Joseph Duggar’s cousin, Amy Duggar King, broke her silence on his arrest.
“In light of the recent allegations involving my cousin, Joseph Duggar, I am sickened, heartbroken, and deeply angry,” Amy said in a statement to Us Weekly. “My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected, and surrounded by people she could trust. The courage it took for her to come forward, especially after years of carrying something so heavy, cannot be overstated. That bravery deserves to be honored above all else.”
Amy added that she was “utterly shocked” by the allegations against Joseph but also addressed the family’s “toxic system.”
“For years, I have spoken out about the importance of truth, accountability, and protecting children, even when it meant going against my own family,” she continued. “Family ties should never equal automatic trust or access, especially when it comes to the safety of children. When an image is protected over truth, and silence is chosen over accountability, it creates an environment where abuse can thrive.”
Amy shared that she has “worked hard to break cycles” in her family and has advocated “for the protection of children.”
“I am praying for the victim and her family as they walk through what is sure to be an incredibly difficult road ahead,” she shared. “Recognizing that we do not yet know the full picture, I am also praying for Joseph’s wife, Kendra, as she begins to process this, and for the protection of their children. I’m praying for eyes to be opened and above all, I pray that justice will be served to the fullest.”
Amy was later seen crying in a social media video after news broke that Kendra was also arrested that week.
Joseph Duggar‘s family has spoken out about allegations that he molested a child, but where did the Duggars stand with him and wife Kendra Duggar before their shocking arrests? Reality TV fans were introduced to the Duggar family in 2008 with the premiere of TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting. The show followed Jim Bob and […]
Jessa Duggar
Jessa Duggar issued a statement on behalf of herself and her husband, Ben Seewald, on March 20, 2026.
“We learned of this saddening news along with the rest of the world on Wednesday, and we are in complete shock,” the statement read. “Our hearts are grieving for this innocent young girl, and we know this is deeply grievous to God, who cares tenderly for children and the vulnerable. We are keeping her in our prayers.”
Jessa later deleted her upload that same day.
Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo
Jinger spoke out about her brother’s arrest during the March 25 episode of her “Jinger & Jeremy” podcast.
“It’s been one of those weeks that feels like years. And I did not think my heart could break like it has this week,” she said. “The pain and heartbreak that we’ve had over this and just thinking of how it’s affected so many, yeah, it’s just unthinkable. So hard and painful on many levels.”
She added, “Even though we’ve experienced something very similar before with one of my other siblings who made unthinkable choices and decisions that have affected all of us. And yet, the pain and hurt that’s caused to us … it’s hard to know what to do sometimes, moving forward. You just feel the weight of it.”
Jeremy chimed in to add that he and his wife are “praying for the victim” that came forward.
“Thinking about the victim who was brave enough to share her story has been heartbreaking,” he added. “Just the effect on that young person’s life is unimaginable. And then to see the ripple effect of that horrific crime across the board.”
Footage from Joseph Duggar‘s arrest for unlawful sexual activity with a minor has been released. A video shows Duggar, 31, being processed on Wednesday, March 18, at Arkansas’ Washington County Jail. Us Weekly obtained footage showing Duggar in a gray long-sleeve shirt, black pants and sneakers as he was escorted by a police officer to get […]
Jason Duggar and Maddie Grace Duggar
“We, like many, have spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions,” Jason Duggar and his wife, Maddie Grace Duggar, wrote in a joint statement shared via Instagram on March 26, one week after Joseph Duggar was arrested. “We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother, however, this isn’t about how it’s impacted our lives.”
The pair shared, “Our hearts are burdened because a child’s life has been turned upside down due to evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable. This is something unthinkable.”
“We are angered by what has happened, and we pray [that] God’s righteous hand and the court system will serve justice in the situation as deserved,” the statement continued. “Maddie and I have always had a special place in our hearts for the vulnerable around us, and we will continue to do so. To fathom that someone would abuse their authority to harass the innocent is vile.”
They added: “We ask that you pray for the victim who has been brave enough to share what has happened. We also ask that you pray for his family at this time, as his children must face the reality of losing a father that should have been a spiritual leader in their lives,” referring to Joseph’s four children, whom he shares with wife Kendra Duggar.
“We stand with innocent children. Always,” Jason and Maddie concluded.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
