Former Friend of Jim Bob Duggar Files Restraining Order

Former Friend of Jim Bob Duggar Files Restraining Order 

Bobye Holt, a former best friend of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, requested a restraining order against her husband, Jim Holt, after appearing together on Amazon docuseries, “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets.”

The series explored the famous family’s involvement in the controversial organization, The Institute of Basic Life Principles.

Bobye requested the order of protection on April 20, 2023, according to a report by The U.S. Sun.  The case was closed on May 8, but a Washington County Court in Arkansas did not confirm if a judge granted the protection order request. Neither party has filed for divorce. 

In another twist, the couple’s son also requested a protection order against his father on the same day as his mother’s filing. The case linked to Jim and Bobye’s son is listed as closed. Bobye and Jim share 11 children together.

The couple appeared happily married in the Amazon special, as they shared about their longtime friendship with Jim Bob, 57, and Michelle, 56. 

Bobye said in footage from the docuseries—“Over the years our relationship with them had grown. [Their oldest son] Josh was our first daughter’s boyfriend. We had known him since he was a baby.”

Bobye and Jim explained that the couple was in a courtship but split after Josh allegedly confessed to molesting five females inside the family home in 2002 and 2003. 

Josh’s younger sisters, Jill, 32, and Jesse, 30, who both stepped forward as victims, appeared in the special. 

Bobye said — “What Jim Bob had said to us was Josh had gotten into some trouble. He’s touched his sisters inappropriately.”

Jim shared — “We found out about it when he was 15. We were like, ‘Well when were you going to tell us?’ Michelle said, ‘Well we weren’t going to tell you guys at all. We were going to have Josh confess to Kayleigh once they were married.”

He added — “I said, ‘Were you using my daughter as a carrot to get him to behave the right way?’ And he said, ‘Yeah kind of.’” 

Bobye and Jim attended Josh’s child pornography trial and his sentencing hearing. Bobye testified for the prosecution, explaining what had occurred during Kayleigh and Josh’s courtship. She testified that the plan was for her oldest daughter and Josh to “get married,” but she and Jim shut down the relationship after learning of the reported molestation. 

She said—“He told us so our oldest daughter would know why the relationship had to end. Josh went to a facility for troubled youth.”

Bobye, who commented that “being here is miserable,” wept during the trial, declaring that she “still” loved Josh, despite his troubling past behavior.  

Josh is currently serving 151 months in prison after being found guilty of possessing and receiving child pornography. He is serving his sentence at FCI Seagoville in Texas. The 34-year-old former reality star filed an appeal to his conviction in October. 

The Duggar family released a statement in response to the Amazon series, writing—”The recent ‘documentary’ that talks about our family is sad because in it we see the media and those with ill intentions hurting people we love. Like other families, ours too has experienced the joys and heartbreaks of life, just in a very public format.” 

“This ‘documentary’ paints so much and so many in a derogatory and sensationalized way because sadly that’s the direction of entertainment these days.”

“We have always believed that the best chance to repair damaged relationships, or to reconcile differences, is through love in a private setting. We love every member of our family and will continue to do all we can to have a good relationship with each one.”

The statement concluded — “Through both the triumphs and the trials we have clung to our faith all the more and discovered that through the love and grace of Jesus, we find strength, comfort, and purpose.”

 

Stay Connected With All About The Tea: Twitter Ι Instagram Ι YouTube Ι Facebook Ι Send Us Tips