Jill Duggar’s 'Terrifying' Confession About 'Strangers' Checking Locked Doors Resurfaces Amid Brother Joseph’s Child Molestation Scandal

Jill Duggar's eerie confession about the "terrifying" nights she experienced as a child resurfaced as her brother Joseph Duggar's child molestation case unfolds.

"People — strangers — would come to our house at random times to make sure there were locks on the doors and that everybody was sleeping where they were supposed to be sleeping," Jill, 34, wrote in her book, Counting the Cost, which released in September 2023.

Jill said the situation began after her older brother Josh Duggar confessed he molested her and several of their sisters when he was a teenager.

According to the TLC alum, "strangers" began visiting the Duggar family's compound in Tontitown, Ark., to ensure the female children were safe behind locked doors.

The passage sparked heated debate on social media, with many slamming their parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.

"They should have taken more steps to protect them, like education, teaching girls to speak up, telling boys it's wrong to touch people, not making girls feel responsible for stirring up feelings in men/ boys," one user wrote.

A second critic added, "They locked the girls and boys bedrooms. Locked them in. Their way of making sure the boys don’t go molesting their sisters at night."

Though Josh, 38, was never criminally charged in the case against his sisters, he was later convicted in 2021 on federal charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.

In a more recent update, Joseph, 31, was arrested in Arkansas on March 18 after being accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old during a 2020 vacation in Panama City Beach, Fla. He was charged with two counts of child s-- abuse and extradited to Florida, where he entered a "not guilty" plea before being released on bail on March 31.

Jill reacted to Joseph's arrest one day after the news hit headlines.

“We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest," she wrote via the Dillard Family blog on March 19. "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. We are shocked and heartbroken.”

The message continued, “We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family,” adding, “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.”