On March 3, Josh Duggar celebrated another birthday in prison, and it seems like it came and went without much fanfare. In fact, it appears Josh's family totally ignored his birthday this year as he turned 35 years old … and it's very likely that included his usually devoted wife, Anna.
There were no social media shoutouts to be had for Josh this year.
Given the circumstances, this is something we probably should have expected — even though his family is big on birthday shoutouts, they've been very quiet on social media lately. Besides, Josh might have been the golden child once, but it wouldn't really benefit Jim Bob and Michelle to speak out in his favor right now as he serves time in federal prison for crimes related to child sexual assault material.
His only hope would have been Anna.
But that's not possible either. Anna deleted all traces of her social media accounts (minus her Twitter) last year, so if he had been hoping for a collage about their sweet memories, that was never happening.
Not that he would have been able to see her posts if she had made them — especially considering his current circumstances.
We do know that Josh celebrated his birthday alone.
Josh has been held in solitary confinement in the Special Housing Unit at FCI Seagoville for weeks now as punishment for being caught with contraband. Reportedly, that contraband was a cellphone he was discovered using, and he may be stuck in the SHU for as long as eight months while he waits for a disciplinary hearing, The Hollywood Gossip noted.
That means no visitors, so Anna couldn't have gone to see him for his birthday even if she wanted to.
Josh is also believed to be cut off from outside communication.
According to what a source with inside info at Seagoville told The Sun, prisoners' family members have been unhappy with what goes on inside the SHU for a while. Apparently, those kept there are allowed one phone call a week, but it doesn't sound like even that's happening now.
"Family members have been complaining that they’re unable to communicate with loved ones in the SHU," the insider said. "The video and phone systems in the SHU have been down in recent weeks. Loved ones have been writing letters to inmates in the SHU."
Outside of the SHU, Josh might have been able to celebrate a bit.
The source went on to say that if Josh had still been in with the general population — and he was well-liked by his other inmates — something may have been done to mark the day.
"The prison doesn't do anything special, but fellow inmates do try to get a cake and stuff for each other," the insider said.
Josh's circumstances may not change for a long time.
Outside of prison, his appeal is ongoing, but it doesn't seem likely that it's going to do much to strike down or even reduce his sentence.
It sounds like it was a very lonely birthday for Josh this year, and it appears he should probably start preparing to have many more just like it in the years to come.
