NBC

Duggar Family Scandal: New Investigation by Arkansas DHS

The Duggars are currently under investigation by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, according to a 911 call made by a state official who was denied entrance into the home of the family at the center of TLC’s series “19 Kids and Counting.”

The DHS representative can be heard asking for assistance in an audio recording obtained by InTouch magazine through a Freedom of Information Act request. The audio aired exclusively on NBC's "TODAY" on Thursday.

The official was not allowed entrance on May 27, only eight days after the Josh Duggar molestation scandal surfaced.

"Well, we're, um, Washington County DHS office and we're out here to, uh, we have, uh, an investigation, and, um, I guess they're, uh, not being cooperative, and we have to see the child to make sure the child is all right. So we just need police assistance or escort," the official said.

The call was transferred and it is unclear what happened next. It is also not known what was being investigated.

Jessa Duggar told Fox News Channel last Wednesday that she was a victim of her older brother Josh Duggar, who inappropriately touched four of his sisters as well as a fifth girl, who is not a member of the family.

The Duggar parents have said Josh Duggar, who's now 27, confessed to the molestation as a teenager. The fondling was done over the girls' clothes and, except in two cases, happened when the girls were asleep, Jim Bob Duggar said.

Josh Duggar apologized for unspecified bad behavior when the story came to light and resigned as a lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group.

"19 Kids and Counting" is one of TLC's most popular shows, coming off a season of strong ratings after featuring the weddings of Jessa Duggar and Jill Duggar. TLC pulled reruns of the show off the air when allegations concerning Josh Duggar surfaced. The network has said no decision has been made about whether the series will continue. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us