Josh Duggar's Investigation Record Destroyed by Arkansas Police (report)

By Natalie Stone
The Hollywood Reporter
May 23, 2015

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/josh-duggars-investigation-record-destroyed-797762

Josh Duggar and wife Anna

Investigation records tied to Josh Duggar's alleged sexual molestation of five girls have been destroyed by Arkansas police, a spokesperson told The Associated Press Friday.

Springdale Police spokesman Scott Lewis told AP that Judge Stacey Zimmerman ordered the 2006 offense report destroyed Thursday.

"The judge ordered us yesterday to expunge that record," Lewis said. He added that similar records are usually kept indefinitely. "As far as the Springdale Police Department is concerned this report doesn't exist."

The 27-year-old married father of three resigned from his lobbyist position with the Family Research Council (FRC) on Thursday after reports surfaced that the 19 Kids and Counting star sexually molested five girls as far back as 2002, when Duggar was 14 years old.

Duggar's own sisters were among the alleged victims. Parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar reported their son to police after the alleged incidents, but no charges were ever filed.

Prior to the report's destruction, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Duggar was accused of sexually fondling the five girls in 2002 and 2003, according to The Associated Press.

Springdale Police began their investigation of the then 14-year-old in 2006 when they were notified of a letter that included the allegations. The letter was reportedly found in a book lent by a family friend to someone else.

In Touch published the police report, which states that a member of Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios received an email that contained the allegations prior to the Duggars' scheduled on-camera appearance in 2006. The email warned producers against featuring the family on the program; Harpo Studios' staff members followed the tip with a faxed a copy of the email to Arkansas State Police.

Duggar posted a statement to the Duggar Family Official Facebook on Thursday addressing the surfaced allegations: "Twelve years ago, as a young teenager I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation."

"We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing," Duggar continued, "and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life. I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God’s grace, mercy and redemption."