YouTuber Ruby Franke and her ex-partner Jodi Hildebrandt get prison time for abusing Franke’s children
Ruby Franke, a former YouTube star who used to share her family life with millions of viewers, was sentenced on Tuesday to four terms of one to 15 years in prison for abusing two of her children. Her former business partner and therapist, Jodi Hildebrandt, received the same sentence at a court in Utah.
Franke and Hildebrandt pleaded guilty in December to four counts of aggravated child abuse, after they were arrested in August 2023. Police found one of Franke’s sons malnourished, injured, and bound with duct tape at Hildebrandt’s home. He had escaped through a window and ran to a neighbor’s house for help. Another daughter of Franke was also found in a similar condition at the same house.
Franke, who has six children with her now ex-husband Kevin, was once a popular family vlogger. Her channel “8 Passengers” had over two million subscribers who followed her parenting tips and daily adventures. However, she also faced criticism for her strict and harsh parenting style, which included refusing to feed her children, threatening to throw away their belongings, and making them sleep on beanbags.
Franke also collaborated with Hildebrandt, a life coach who ran a controversial program called ConneXions. Some former clients of Hildebrandt accused her of isolating them from their families, destroying their marriages, and manipulating them with her teachings. Franke and Hildebrandt also shared racist, homophobic, ableist, and transphobic views on their YouTube channel.
At the sentencing hearing, Franke apologized to her children, who were seated in the front row with their father. “I will never stop crying for hurting your tender souls. You’re so precious to me, I’m sorry,” she said. Hildebrandt also expressed her desire for the children to heal. “One of the reasons I did not go to trial is that I did not want them to emotionally relive the experience, which had been detrimental for them,” she said.
The judge, however, was not moved by their statements. He said that their actions were “beyond comprehension” and that they deserved the maximum penalty. He also ordered them to pay restitution to the victims and to have no contact with them. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will determine how long they will actually serve in prison.
The case has sparked outrage and debate among the online community, especially those who follow family vlogging channels. Some have called for more regulation and oversight of the industry, which often exploits children for views and money. Others have expressed sympathy and support for the Franke children, who have suffered unimaginable trauma and abuse.
