Savannah Chrisley Had To Take Care of Her Siblings After Todd And Julie Chrisley Were Jailed

Summary

• Savannah Chrisley had to step up as the primary guardian for her family's minors after her parent's 19-year sentence for fraud.
• The Chrisleys opened up about their struggles and journey while navigating the prison system, with Savannah giving regular updates.
• Despite facing reduced sentences, Todd and Julie Chrisley found themselves in a challenge, growing closer as they navigated life in prison.

The November 2022 sentence of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley brought about a swift change in their family, albeit negative. The Chrisley Knows Best stars’ show came to an abrupt end when their young adult daughter, Savannah Chrisley, had to step up as the overseer of the affairs in the family. Todd and Julie were sentenced to a combined 19 years after being found guilty of fraud and tax evasion charges.

The impact of their guilty verdict was quite profound on every member of the family, including Savannah Chrisley, who found herself shouldering responsibilities she never envisioned. The “Growing Up Chrisley” star had a hard time adjusting to her family’s new normal, and she never shied away from opening up on her struggles. During this period, many fans worried about what could become of the Chrisley kids while their parents were locked up. This article will take a look into Savannah’s life following her parents’ prolonged absence, as well as Todd and Julie Chrisley’s updates in prison.

Savannah Chrisley’s Life After Todd and Julie Chrisley’s Sentences

Once Todd and his longtime wife, Julie Chrisley, were found guilty and resumed their sentences in Florida and Kentucky, respectively, Savannah Chrisley immediately assumed the position of primary guardian for the family’s minors. She became the primary caregiver of her parent’s youngest child, Grayson, and niece, Chloe. Prior to going to jail, Todd and Julie were Chloe’s guardians.

Savannah Chrisley also made sure to check on the family’s matriarch, Nanny Faye, regularly. A few days after Todd and Julien Chrisley reported to their holding facilities, Savannah opened up on how her life took a worse turn. In an episode of her “Unlocked” podcast, the TV personality stated that her life “was falling apart.” In April 2024, the star revealed how she was struggling, as she stated:

“I’m still sitting here struggling to catch my breath. Whether it’s financially, with the kids, trying to parent, me in a relationship.”

The TV star continued, noting that each time she felt some relief, she immediately faced another challenge. In her words, “It feels like ‘Alright’, I can come up for air, and then another blow hits.” Savannah Chrisley noted that she felt like she was stuck in the same place while others had moved on. She stated how her parents also felt the same way about their situation:

“What's tough for me is how Mom and Dad have that feeling that life is just continuing to move on without them. In a way, I have that feeling with people in my life because it's like they just continue on living their lives."

Savannah Chrisley further opened up on how she and her younger relatives had been navigating their emotions while continuing to strive for how to get her parents out of jail. She noted that they signed up for therapy as a way to adjust to their new normal. She explained, “Both the kids are in therapy every week," she shared. "Unfortunately, they have to grow up a lot faster, but I would rather help teach them what's going on in the right way than have the world interject and maybe teach them something that isn't factual."

Todd and Julie Chrisley’s sentence became quite a teaching moment for their daughter as she learned more about the prison system. According to Page Six, Savannah decried the state of prisons, stating, “It really started to alarm me just how broken and abusive our system is.” She recalled being “tone-deaf” to such issues prior to her parents’ experience.

“I was so tone-deaf. I lived such a privileged life. I didn’t [ever] have to endure any of these things, and so, to me, if it wasn’t happening to me, it wasn’t happening at all,” Savannah Chrisley explained. When asked about how her parents were coping with the system, the former Miss Teen USA contestant revealed every day was a “challenge.”

Todd Chrisley's career profile and net worth after prison, according to Parade

Inside Todd And Julie Chrisley’s Lives In Prison

Todd and Julie Chrisley were sentenced to serve 19 years behind bars after being found on charges of fraud and tax evasion. While Julie was given a seven-year sentence and 16 months of probation, Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison with 16 months of probation. By December, the couple were ordered to report at their respective holding facilities.

On January 17, 2023, the TV stars reported to prison after their motion for bail was denied. Julie reported to Federal Medical Center Lexington in Lexington, Kentucky, while Todd was booked in at the Federal Correctional Institution, Pensacola, Florida. The Chrisleys were placed in minimum security prisons.

Todd and Julie Chrisley could no longer communicate with their fans, but Savannah continuously gave regular updates through her “Unlocked” podcast. In one of the post-sentence episodes, Savannah explained how it felt really weird to visit her father in prison with his gray hair becoming more visible.

Savannah Chrisley became really weary of her parents’ condition in prison as she lamented about the weather conditions and medical care, among others. In September 2023, Todd and Julie Chrisley received reduced sentences, which stated that they would be allowed to leave prison two years before the original release date.

The “Chrisley Knows Best'' stars' lives in the spotlight experienced a downward spiral in April 2019 when they were indicted on tax evasion charges. According to court documents obtained by ET, the couple were charged with multiple counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy, and tax fraud.

At the time, Todd Chrisley took to social media, denying the allegations while stating that a former disgruntled employee set them up. Todd and his wife would later be cleared of state tax evasion charges. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue, the reality stars overpaid their taxes for some years. However, their federal charges still stood.

Todd and Julie Chrisley’s three-week trial kicked off in May 2022 as they were accused of exaggerating their earnings to banks to borrow over $30 million. The trial eventually culminated in them being found guilty on all counts of their federal charges. In the days before they reported to prison, the Chrisleys opened up on how they felt on their "Chrisleys Confessions" podcast.

Julie Chrisley referred to their situation as a “nightmare.” She, however, mentioned being grateful that it made her and her husband grow closer instead of driving apart. The pair revealed in another episode that they were living every day as though it was their last.