Amy Duggar King says 'something major' may have happened to Josh Duggar making him his current self

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Amy Duggar King believes her embattled cousin Josh Duggar may have experienced "something major" in his early years that led him to become the way he is now.

The convicted sex offender is currently serving time at Texas' FCI Seagoville federal prison in Texas after he was sentenced to over 12 years in May 2022 for two counts of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. He is expected to be out by October 2032.

Additionally, the former '19 Kids and Counting' star was accused of sexually abusing five young girls, including two of his sisters, Jill (Duggar) Dillard and Jessa (Duggar) Seewald, as a teenager.

Amy Duggar King says something must have gone very wrong while Josh Duggar was growing up

Speaking with PEOPLE Magazine, Amy said, "I believe that something traumatic has to happen in order for your brain to even go near that situation. I don't know what that traumatic event or events was. I think it stems down and it's just so heartbreaking all the way around." 

"I don't know what has happened to Josh. If you ask me, though, I think that something major has maybe happened to him, obviously very, very much so. I don't know why or how or what that looks like, but I know that something's up and something is very wrong," added the 37-year-old. 

Amy Duggar King hopes every day in prison is an 'absolute torture' for Josh Duggar 

Sharing her thoughts on Josh’s imprisonment, Amy told the publication, "I don't really know what I want [him to get] out of prison. I want him to stay as long as he can because he can't hurt children."

She expressed, "He can't view that disgustingness and his kids hopefully are safe as well. I hope every day there is absolute torture for him. I really hope that because what he watched and what he was viewing for his own fulfillment is those kids experiencing torture."

The mother-of-one also stated that her cousin "deserves every second in there, and I hope he gets a longer term. I hope he messes up again."

Amy Duggar King prefers to keep her distance from Josh Duggar

Besides, Amy clarified she won’t be maintaining any relationship with Josh and the people who support him.

She noted, "As far as reaching out or getting involved in any kind of way, I have chosen not to, not at all, just to protect my peace and my family and my little boy."

"That's what matters to me, and that's what I'm going to put as a priority," asserted Amy.