Amy Duggar Makes Bold Statement About Cousin Josh Duggar's Prison Experience

Amy Duggar wishes nothing but the worst for cousin Josh Duggar, who is serving a nearly 13-year prison sentence for receiving and possessing child abuse materials.

"I hope every day there is absolute torture for him," Amy, who has long been outspoken about her hatred for Josh's crimes, told People in an interview published on Thursday, April 25. "I really hope that because what he watched and what he was viewing for his own fulfillment is those kids experiencing torture."

Josh was arrested in May 2021 for allegedly possessing and receiving child pornography with some materials including children "as young as toddlers," per USA Today. He was convicted of the receipt and possession of child abuse materials later that year. In May 2022, he was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison, which he is serving at FCI Seagoville Federal Prison in Texas.

"He deserves every second in there, and I hope he gets a longer term," Amy, whose mom is siblings with Josh's father, continued. (Josh's appeal was denied in October 2023 and he was instead given several more months behind bars.) "I hope he messes up again."

Amy has not only "not spoken to" Josh since his time in prison, she refuses to. "When you just cross those evil lines like that, there is no coming back. I just think there's no coming back."

She is also unaware if her cousin is "doing any work" on himself following his conviction. (The Duggar family previously revealed that Josh had molested several of his younger sisters, including Jessa and Jill Duggar, beginning as early as 2002.)

After Josh's arrest for child sex abuse materials, Amy offered to let his wife, Anna Duggar — and their seven children — live with her, which Anna declined. (In addition to the multiple claims against Josh, Anna also weathered her husband's 2015 Ashley Madison scandal, in which the former 19 Kids and Counting star was on the website to seek affairs. He also admitted to an addiction to pornography at the time.)

In Amy's interview with People on Thursday, she revealed that her last interaction with Amy was when they unexpectedly ran into each other at a funeral last year. Anna, for her part, told Amy she "needed space."

"I was shocked to see her. I just looked at her and I said, 'Anna,' and she was like, 'I just need space.' That's all she said to me," Amy told the outlet, adding: "I understand, I can't speak for Anna and I'm not going to try, but I can't imagine what she has to deal with internally, let alone out for the world to see. It's heartbreaking in every direction and I just respected the fact that she needed space and I didn't try to push any further."

Still, Amy said: "If you ask me, I think she is mad. I do. I think she's just really, really mad."

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1 (800) 422-4453, open 24/7.