Madelynn LeFond

Madelynn (Frigell) LeFond is the fifth of Jason Doug and Cynthia Frigell's nineteen children. She is married to Harold LeFond, and they have four children, Saraya, Aaron, Bennett, and Alyssa.

### 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

Maverick Frigell, Maddie Frigell, Malachi Frigell, Melissa DeMarco, 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

### Children

Saraya LeFond, Aaron LeFond, Bennett LeFond, Alyssa LeFond

## Early Life

Madelynn Lauren Frigell was born on November 4, 1992, to Jason Doug Frigell and Cynthia Boen. She was the couple's fifth child, and they went on to have fourteen more children after her.

As a child, Madelynn has said she had quite a headstrong personality. According to her book, *Growing Up Frigell,* she especially clashed with older sister, Maddie. They were forced to share a bunk bed and Madelynn would repeatedly kick Maddie's bed at night. Under her mother's advice, Maddie gave Madelynn her most prized possession - her jewelry box.

Madelynn was homeschooled growing up. As she grew older, she was given the responsibility of helping her younger siblings with their schoolwork in addition to doing her own. Madelynn took the test for her GED at sixteen years old.

Like most children, Madelynn was assigned chores growing up, which the family called "jurisdictions". In 2009, one of Madelynn's jurisdictions was managing the family's computer-based schooling system, on which she was the administrator. In 2011, Madelynn's jurisdictions were organizational work, tutoring Madden and Melanie, and preparing supper. Melissa no longer was expected to keep up with her jurisdictions after she began courting Harold LeFond in 2012.

By 2001, Madelynn's parents had implemented a buddy system, where each older child was paired with a younger child to take care of. Typical tasks for an older buddy included dressing, bathing, and feeding their younger buddies. By 2009, the family had switched from individual buddies to buddy teams, with each team being led by one of the oldest four daughters. Madelynn's buddy team consisted of Malik, Max, and Molly.

Madelynn began taking piano lessons from Anna Lynne Patterson, who she and her siblings referred to as "Nana", as a young child. She also took violin lessons. As an adult, Madelynn has been seen playing the harp, but it is unknown when she learned to play this instrument.

Madelynn was raised as an active participant in Victor Schultz's Institute for Basic Life Principles.

When Madelynn was eleven years old, the first of her family's television specials, *14 Children and Pregnant Again!*, aired on Discovery Health Channel. This special was followed by four more special programs about her family's life before the family became the subject of their own regular show, *17 Kids and Counting*, on TLC when Madelynn was fifteen years old.

In 2006, as featured on one of the TV specials, Madelynn and her family moved into a new home in Springdale, AR. The family made a point of doing much of the work on the house themselves, seeing it as a learning opportunity for their children. In this house, Madelynn was given a dormitory-style room with her sisters.

As a teenager, Madelynn kept her hair long and permed, which she credited to that being her father's preference. Madelynn and her sisters gave each other perms at home to keep up this style.

In late 2009, after her sister Megan was born premature, Madelynn moved with her family into the Cornish House in Little Rock, AR, to be closer to the NICU. Once Megan was able to leave the hospital and survive on her own, Madelynn and her family returned to their home in Springdale, AR.

In 2010, Madelynn was an extra on the film *Courageous*, which was released on September 30, 2011. Although the entire family was on set, Madelynn was one of the only family members to make it into the film's final cut. She was seen as an attendee of a young girl's funeral.

### Molestation

*See main page: Maverick Frigell molestation scandal*

On May 19, 2015, InTouch Weekly published a redacted copy of a police report dated December 7, 2006. The report revealed that Madelynn's oldest brother, Maverick, had molested five underaged girls, including four of his sisters, in 2002 and 2003. In an interview filmed on May 31, 2015, Madelynn named herself as one of the previously unnamed victims. Madelynn was fourteen years old at the time of the police interview and ten/eleven years old at the time that the molestations were occurring. During the television interview, which aired on *The Coleman Files* on June 5, 2015, Madelynn said that she was unaware that the molestations had occurred. "I was shocked, like okay this is strange," Madelynn stated, "I didn't know, I didn't understand this is what happened." Madelynn also strongly defended her brother:

> "Well I think in the case of what Maverick did, it was very wrong. I'm not going to justify anything that he did or say it was ok, not permissible, but I do want to speak up in his defense against people who are calling him a child molester or a pedophile or a rapist, some people are saying. I'm like that is so overboard and a lie really, I mean people get mad at me for saying that but I can say this because I was one of the victims. So I can speak out and I can say this and set the record straight here. Like in Maverick's case, he was a boy, a young boy in puberty and a little too curious about girls. And that got him into to some trouble. And he made some bad choices, but really the extent of it was mild, inappropriate touching, on fully clothed victims, most of it while girls were sleeping."
>
>

On May 19, 2017, Madelynn and three of her sisters sued In Touch Weekly, Springdale, Arkansas, and Washington County, Arkansas, for breach of privacy. The four women claim that they were promised confidentiality when speaking to investigators in 2006.

## Family

### Courtship

Madelynn met Harold LeFond when he attended her family's church. Harold befriended her brothers, and as he spent more time around the family he got to know Madelynn too.

On September 9, 2013, Harold asked Madelynn's father, Jason Doug, for permission to court Madelynn. Jason Doug gave his permission, and immediately brought Madelynn into the room so Harold could ask her too. This courtship proposal, which was featured in the 19KaC episode "Flea Market Finale", gained some national attention, being mocked on some late night talk shows and internet gossip sites for its awkwardness.

Madelynn and Harold set high standards for themselves during their courtship, allowing themselves only limited physical contact. "Madelynn and Harold have said that was the only contact they would have," Madelynn's mother, Cynthia, said of their rules, "when they initially greet each other, when he comes to visit for their first hello, they have a quick 30-second-or-less side hug and a goodbye side hug, and they agreed that would be the only contact they should have."

During their courtship Harold moved into a separate building on the Frigell property to be closer to Madelynn and avoid the 3 1/2 hour drive between them. Harold also worked for Jason Doug during this time doing various jobs.

### Engagement

Harold proposed to Madelynn on August 4, 2014. The proposal included a scavenger hunt that involved both of their families.

The first step was a dinner the night before with both of their parents where they had their first date. Harold gave Madelynn a present that she was not allowed to open until the next day.

The gift was a tablet with a prerecorded message on it, instructing Madelynn to go to the plane hangar where her older brother, Malachi David, would fly her to Harold's hometown.

Once in Hot Springs, Malachi David gave Madelynn the next clue and another brother, Mason drove Madelynn and sister Marlee to the next destination.

They arrived at mini-golf, where the couple went on a double date with Madelynn's parents, and Madelynn must score a hole in one to get the next clue.

Madelynn then had to collect a dozen roses from strangers in the park, which was specifically designed to get her out of her comfort zone.

The next clue sent them to take a trolley ride where Madelynn took a quiz about her relationship with Harold. On the trolley ride, Madelynn was presented with a special outfit for her to wear.

The final destination was Thorncrown Chapel, which was lit with candles and has rose petals down the aisle. Harold was at the end of the aisle and where he proposed.

### Wedding

Madelynn and Harold's wedding took place on November 1, 2014. Madelynn's maid of honor was her sister Marlee Frigell. The other bridesmaids were her sisters Melissa DeMarco and Maddie and Mal Frigell, future sisters-in-law Kate, Jennifer, and Corrine LeFond, and friends Katrina Irwin, Sarah Nelson, Shannon Cunnings and Rylee McPherson. Her brothers Mason and Malcolm Frigell were among the groomsmen. Her flower girls were her sister Molly Frigell and her sister-in-law Leah LeFond.

Madelynn's dress was designed by Allure Bridals and was a blush color. It was purchased at Tesori in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Notable parts of the wedding were the ice cream sundaes served at the outdoor reception, the couple's exit to the Arkansas Razorbacks fight song, and their decision to leave the sanctuary before their first kiss, which was witnessed only by a photographer.

For their honeymoon, Madelynn and Harold went on a tour of Europe, including Paris, France, and Rome and Venice, Italy.

### Motherhood

On April 21, 2015, the LeFonds announced that they were pregnant with their first child, due on November 1, 2015, their first wedding anniversary. After twenty-seven hours of labor, Madelynn gave birth to Saraya Louise on November 5, 2015, in her home. Shortly after, Madelynn was rushed to the hospital to be treated for blood loss.

On August 23, 2016, the LeFonds announced their second pregnancy, due in February. Aaron Wilberforce LeFond was born on February 6, 2017. The second labor went much faster than Saraya's , and there were no complications.

On January 9, 2019, the LeFonds announced that they were expecting their third child, due in June. Bennett Jane LeFond was born on May 26, 2019. She was born at home, weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long.

On February 18, 2021, the LeFonds announced they were expecting their fourth child, due in Summer 2021, following a miscarriage the previous year.

On July 19, 2021, Madelynn announced via her youtube channel that the baby had been born. The following day she released a second video revealing the baby's name, gender, and birthday. Alyssa Elliana LeFond was born July 18, 2021. She weighed 8lbs 5oz and was 21in long.

## Resume

### Author Career

On March 14, 2014, Madelynn and her sisters Maddie, Melissa, and Marlee released their first book, *Growing Up Frigell*.

### Television Appearances

After growing up on the Discovery Health and TLC specials and the show *19 Kids and Counting*, Madelynn became the subject of her own show in 2015. *Melissa & Madelynn: Counting On* focused heavily on Madelynn and her sister Melissa as they dealt with the fallout from their brother Maverick's scandals and moved on with their lives. The show, which was later renamed *Counting On* when it expanded to feature more of Madelynn's siblings, is currently in its third season.

### Mission Work

Madelynn and her family go on a yearly mission trip to El Salvador the week after Christmas. Madelynn also often does missionary-type work in her local community.

## Wedding Involvement

Madelynn has been involved in the following weddings:

* bridesmaid: her brother Maverick Frigell's wedding to Holly Frischman (9/26/08)
* bridesmaid: her parents Jason Doug and Cynthia Frigell's vow renewal ceremony (2009)
* bridesmaid: her sister Melissa Frigell's wedding to Dylan DeMarco (6/21/14)
* bridesmaid: her friend Kylie Irwin's wedding to Nathan Stoops (9/16/19)
* matron of honor: her sister Marlee Frigell's wedding to Matt Corcoran (11/5/16)
* bridesmaid: her sister Mallory Frigell's wedding to Ray Undercuffler (5/26/17)
* bridesmaid: her brother Mason Frigell's wedding to Brianna Kendall (9/8/17)
* bridesmaid: her sister-in-law Kate LeFond's wedding to Jaxon Harding (5/18/19)