Cynthia Frigell

Cynthia Maeve (Boen) Frigell is the 7th and youngest child of the late Harrison and Cari Boen. She is married to Jason Doug Frigell, and they have nineteen children, Maverick, Maddie, Malachi, Melissa, Madelynn, Marlee, Mason, Malcolm, Mallory, Mark, Malik, Micah, Morgan, Max, Madden, Melanie, Marissa, Molly, and Megan, as well as legal guardianship of her great-nephew William Cartwright. She has at least twenty five grandchildren.

### Appeared on

14 Children and Pregnant Again!, Raising 16 Children, 16 Children and Moving In, On the Road with 16 Children, Frigells' Big Family Album, 19 Kids and Counting, Counting On, United Epsteins of America

## Family Info

### Siblings

Wanda Gourdeau, Janice Thompson, Leann Wardner, Louisa Boen, Betty Cartwright, Harrison Boen

### Children

Maverick Frigell, Maddie Frigell, Malachi Frigell, Melissa DeMarco, Madelynn LeFond, Marlee Corcoran, Mason Frigell, Malcolm Frigell, Mallory Undercuffler, Mark Frigell, Malik Frigell, Micah Frigell, Morgan Frigell, Max Frigell, Madden Frigell, Melanie Frigell, Marissa Frigell, Molly Frigell, Megan Frigell

### Grandchildren

Jasmine Frigell, Jared Frigell, Julian Frigell, Peyton DeMarco, Jade Frigell, Saraya LeFond, Aaron LeFond, Andrew DeMarco, Jonah Frigell, Grant Undercuffler, Carina Frigell, Ella Corcoran, Bennett LeFond, Kayla Frigell, Ashlee Frigell, Juliette Friigell, Alexis Frigell, Nicola Undercuffler, Natalie Corcoran, Aliviah Frigell, Alyssa LeFond, Julissa Frigell, Tristian Frigell, Ian DeMarco, Teddy Frigell

## Early Life

Cynthia Maeve Boen was born on September 13th, 1966, to Harrison Floyde Boen and Cari Marie Brasher. She was the couple's seventh and final child.

Cynthia attended Westwood Elementary School in Springdale, AR.

Cynthia attended Springdale High School and was a cheerleader. During this time, she struggled with self-worth and was bulimic. She graduated in 1984.

Cynthia became a Christian while in high school. It was through her faith that she would come to meet Jason Doug Frigell. He and a friend were on church visitation. They tried to visit a few people, but no one was home, so the friend suggested that they visit Cynthia, who had recently become a Christian. While Jason Doug claims it was love at first sight, Cynthia does not remember this encounter.

The first time Cynthia remembers meeting her now-husband was the next year. She applied for a job at a local yogurt shop that Jason Doug's mother happened to be managing. She was hired at Jason Doug's encouragement and shortly thereafter he asked her out on a date, to which she said yes.

The couple quickly fell in love, with Cynthia claiming that she knew Jason Doug was the one by the end of their first date. "Father, I can't imagine anyone better than this that you have planned for me. He's such a godly man," she prayed after their first date.

## Family

### Engagement and Wedding

On Christmas Eve of 1983, Jason Doug proposed in Cynthia'ss parents' living room and she said yes.

On July 21, 1984, Cynthia and Jason Doug were married at Cross Church in Rogers, AR. The wedding was attended by around 200 people and was done on a budget. Cynthia made her own bouquet using fake flowers, and one of her sisters made a floral arrangement for the altar. Cynthia also made her own cake, which was decorated by a friend. Furthermore, she did not buy a wedding dress, opting to wear Jason Doug's mother Sherri's dress. The wedding ceremony was recorded on cassette.

For their honeymoon, Cynthia and Jason Doug originally planned to stay at a cabin in a state park, but the reality ended up being very different from the brochure, so they went into town and stayed at a hotel in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Afterwards, they visited Mount Nebo, where they spent a few nights.

After the honeymoon, Cynthia moved in with Jason Doug. They lived in a 900 square foot fixer upper.

### Motherhood

For the first few years of her marriage, Cynthia was on the birth control pill. She then gave birth to a son Maverick James, on March 3, 1988.

After having their first child, Cynthia went back on the birth control pill. While on it, she became pregnant with another child. This pregnancy ended in miscarriage in 1989, and a doctor told them it was caused by the pill. They named the baby Alex despite not knowing the sex. Because of this incident, Cynthia and Jason Doug decided to trust their fertility entirely to God and stopped using any birth control.

On January 12, 1990, Cynthia gave birth to twins Madison "Maddie" Marie and Malachi. Feeling that this was God blessing their decision to go off birth control, the couple went on to have sixteen more children: Melissa Michelle (5/17/91), Madelynn Lauren (11/4/92), Marlee Nicole (12/21/93), Mason Garrett (1/20/95), Malcolm Matthew (8/28/96), Mallory Anna "Mal" (10/28/97), twins Mark Robert and Malik Robert (12/30/98), Micah Michael (4/21/00), Morgan Samuel (11/15/02), Max Levi (5/23/04), Madden Faith (10/11/05), Melanie Danielle (8/2/07), Molly-Grace Makiya (12/18/08), and Megan Brooklynn (12/10/09).

#### Premature Birth of Megan Frigell

Although each birth garnered more attention for the family due to the their large size, the most well-known of Jason Doug's newborns is Megan Frigell. On December 7, 2009, Cynthia was rushed to the hospital for gallbladder issues. After the pain generated contractions, Cynthia was airlifted to a hospital in Little Rock, AR, to be closer to a NICU center, which the family and doctors did not think would ultimately be necessary. On December 8, 2009, the Frigells posted a video updating fans on Cynthia's status. "We'd like to thank everyone for praying for Cynthia," Jason Doug said before assuring audiences that Cynthia and the baby were both fine and resting comfortably at the University of Arkansas for Health Sciences in Little Rock.

On December 11, 2009, TLC reported that Cynthia had given birth to her nineteenth child via an emergency C-section. Megan Brooklynn Frigell, born at only 25 weeks, weighed 1 pound and 6 ounces, and was reportedly stable and in the care of the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Arkansas for Medical Services.

On December 14, 2009, the family released more information, saying that Cynthia suffered from preeclampsia, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that occurs in about 5 to 8 percent of pregnancies.

On December 16, 2009, the family reported that Megan was doing better. Jason Doug sent an email to ABCNews saying "We are so grateful for all of the prayers and emails of support for our family ... Megan is beautiful and in stable condition."

On April 6, 2010, Megan was released from the hospital. She weighed 4 pounds and 9 ounces, was able to breathe without oxygen, and was eating every three hours.

At 3 am on April 12, 2010, Megan's vital signs began to drop unexpectedly, and Megan was taken back to the hospital. The vital sign fluctuation was determined to be caused by constipation that happened as a result to the fortifiers added to the breast milk. She weighed 4 pounds and 12 1/2 ounces.

On June 3, 2010, Megan was released from the hospital. It was discovered that her digestive issues were being caused by lactose intolerance. She had grown to 7 pounds, 7 ounces. However, Megan was unable to return home to her family at that time, because many of her siblings caught the chicken pox. Instead, she and her mother lived in a rental house near the hospital while the rest of her family returned to their home in Springdale. AR. On June 28, 2010, Megan finally made the trip back to her family's home.

#### Death of Makenna Frigell

On November 8, 2011, Jason Doug and Cynthia Frigell announced that they were expecting their twentieth child. The couple said they had expected Megan to be their last, but were excited for another child.

On December 11, 2011, Cynthia naturally delivered the still born child. She weighed 4 ounces and was 6 centimeters long. On December 12, 2011, the couple set a date for the funeral and announced that they had decided on the name Makenna Shalom Frigell.

On December 14, 2011, the Frigell family held a funeral for Makenna, which was held in Springdale, AR, and was attended by hundreds of people. The funeral, which aired on the family's television show, was the subject of some controversy after it was discovered the Frigells displayed photos of the stillborn child at the event.

### Grandchildren

#### Maverick's Family

On September 26, 2008, Cynthia Frigell's oldest son, Maverick, married Holly Frischman in Hillard, Florida. The couple has seven children, Jasmine Renee (10/8/09), Jared James (6/15/11), Julian Anthony (6/2/13), Jade Grace (7/16/15), Jonah Garrett (9/12/17), Juliette Hope (11/27/19), and Julissa Lily (10/23/21). Notably, Cynthia's oldest grandchild, Jasmine, is two months older than her youngest child, Megan.

#### Malachi's Family

On November 3, 2018, Cynthia's son Malachi married Michele Overzet in Ada, Oklahoma. The couple has two children, Alexis Annette (1/7/20), and Teddy (9/2022).

#### Melissa's Family

On June 21, 2014, Cynthia's daughter Melissa married Dylan DeMarco in Rogers, Arkansas. The couple has three children, Peyton David (4/6/15) Andrew Scott (7/8/17) and Ian Michael (7/7/22).

#### Madelynn's Family

On November 1, 2014, Cynthia's daughter Madelynn married Harold LeFond in Bentonville, Arkansas. The couple has four children, Saraya Louise (11/5/15), Aaron Wilberforce (2/6/17), Bennett Jane (5/26/19) and Alyssa Elliana (7/18/21).

#### Marlee's Family

On November 5, 2016, Cynthia's daughter Marlee married Matt Corcoran in Siloam Springs, AR. The couple has two children, Ella Nicole (7/19/18), and Natalie Jo (11/22/20)

#### Mason's Family

On September 8, 2017, Cynthia's son Mason married Brianna Kendall in Siloam Springs, AR. The couple has three children, Carina Denise (6/8/18), Kayla Renee (11/2/19), and Aliviah Praise (2/19/21)

#### Malcolm's Family

On June 30, 2018, Malcolm married Allison Caron in Siloam Springs, Ar. Early in 2019, the couple announced a miscarriage who they named Aurelia. They have one child, Ashlee Milagro (11/8/19).

#### Mallory's Family

On May 26, 2017, Cynthia's daughter Mallory married Ray Undercuffler in Rogers, Arkansas. The couple has two children, Grant Martyn (2/23/18), and Nicola Mae (8/21/20). They also had a stillborn daughter, Annaliese Lily, in June 2019.

#### Mark's Family

On April 2, 2021, Cynthia's son Mark married Cindy Scargotti in Arkansas. They have one child, Tristian Oliver (5/2/22)

## Resume

On April 7th 2004, Cynthia was awarded "Young Mother of the Year" from American Mothers Incorporated.

### Television Appearances

#### Early Specials

On September 6, 2004, Discovery Health aired the one-hour special "14 Children and Pregnant Again!" This special showed how the Frigell family made their lives work in their 2,450 square foot house. Many of the family's day-to-day activities were shown, including chores, homeschooling, a trip to the grocery store, church, and construction on a house the family was trying to build. The special also included the birth of Madden Frigell.

On March 13, 2006, a second one-hour special was released, "Raising 16 Children". This special focused more heavily on the construction of the 7,000 square foot home the family had been working on. In the special, the family attends a homeschooling conference thrown by Victor Schultz's Advance Training Institute, although many of the details of this program are left out. At the end of the episode, the family welcomes their 16th child, Melanie Frigell.

Two days later, on March 15, 2006, a third special, "16 Children and Moving In" was aired. This special focused on the family putting finishing touches on their new home and moving in before their old house was demolished.

On June 11, 2006, a fourth special, "On the Road with 16 Children", featured the family going on a road trip across the Western United States. The family visits many locations, including a dude ranch, the Grand Canyon, the Pacific Ocean, and Disneyland.

The final special, "Frigells' Big Family Album", aired on September 22, 2007. This special recapped the previous specials, updated viewers on the family, and showcased the birth of the couple's seventeenth child, Marissa Danielle Frigell.

#### 17 Kids and Counting

In 2008, the Frigell family began filming a regular series for TLC. The series, initially titled *17 Kids and Counting* and updated with the births of the Frigells' final two children, followed Cynthia's family through a variety of life events. The series ran from September 29, 2008, through May 19, 2015. There were a total of ten seasons, containing 229 regular episodes and 16 special episodes. Major events included in the series included the births of Cynthia's youngest two daughters, Molly-Grace and Megan, as well as her oldest four grandchildren, Jasmine, Jared, and Julian Duggar, and Peyton DeMarco, the weddings of three of Cynthia's children, Maverick, Melissa, and Madelynn, and the deaths of Cynthia's father and stillborn daughter Makenna. The series was cancelled in the wake of a scandal involving Cynthia's oldest son, Maverick. A spin-off series, *Counting On*, which only rarely features Cynthia, premiered on December 14, 2015.

### Author Career

On December 2, 2008, Cynthia and her husband Jason Doug released a book called *The Frigells: 20 and Counting!*. The book discussed topics like marriage, parenting, homeschooling, and living debt-free.

On June 7, 2011, Cynthia and her husband Jason Doug released a book called *A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make it Work*. This book discussed their struggles with Megan's birth and their oldest children preparing for adulthood.

## Scandals and Controversies

### LGBT Issues

Cynthia has come under fire on a few occasions for her ignorance and hatred towards LGBT individuals. In August of 2014, Cynthia recorded a robocall that called upon the people of Fayetteville, Arkansas, to discourage the city from allowing transgender women into women-only spaces. In this robocall, she expressed concern that predators could be posing as transgender people in order to gain access to children. In response to this, a petition was created to get "19 Kids and Counting" to stop airing. A counter-petition was also created. Both petitions garnered similar amounts of signatures, and no action was taken by TLC.

Also in 2014, Cynthia and Jason Doug posted a picture on their Facebook page of them kissing. They asked other married couples to share similar pictures, but it was quickly noticed that photos of same-sex couples kissing were being deleted.

### Maverick Frigell's Molestation Scandal

*See main page: Maverick Frigell molestation scandal*

In 2015, it was revealed that in 2002 and 2003, Maverick Frigell had molested four of his sisters and another girl. In the police report, Cynthia and Jason Doug admitted that they did not report their son to the police, instead choosing to seek help from church elders. Later, instead of receiving proper help, Maverick was sent to work for a family friend, helping him to remodel a building for three months. The ways in which the Frigell parents addressed their son's abuse of their daughters was the subject of plenty of controversy. As well, the report revealed that the Frigells hit their children with "a rod".