Ruby Franke and her family (YouTube/Law&Crime Network screenshots)
Former YouTube vlogging star Ruby Franke appeared in a Washington County, Utah, state court on Monday where she pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree felony child abuse, authorities confirmed to Law&Crime. She is currently scheduled to appear in court again in February 2024.
Under state law, a second-degree felony child abuse charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a $19,000 fine.
Attorneys at Winward Law representing Franke in the case on Friday announced that she would be entering into the plea agreement with prosecutors in the hope of “resolving this matter quickly.”
Franke was initially arrested in August and charged with six counts of felony child abuse after her 12-year-old son — who was emaciated and had “open wounds” — climbed from a window and escaped from a home where he had allegedly been starved and bound with duct tape.
The home from which Franke’s child escaped belonged to Franke’s business partner and podcast co-host Jodi Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt, a self-help guru, was also charged with six counts of child abuse in connection to the children’s treatment.
Hildebrandt is the founder of “Connexions Classroom,” a parenting workshop class aimed at creating “joy in your life and your relationships.” Connexions has been the subject of criticism for allegedly espousing extreme methods of parenting, which include rejecting young children who fail to live by their parents’ beliefs and cutting off communications with people who don’t abide by the program’s teachings.
Jodi Hildebrandt (YouTube screenshot)
In the statement from her attorneys, Franke claimed she was manipulated into abusing her children by Hildebrandt.
“Ruby Franke is a devoted mother and is also a woman committed to constant improvement. Initially, Ms. Franke believed that Jodi Hildebrant had the insight to offer a path to continual improvement. Ms. Hildebrant took advantage of this quest and twisted it into something heinous,” the statement says. “Over an extended period, Ms. Hildebrant systematically isolated Ruby Franke from her extended family, older children, and her husband, Kevin Franke. This prolonged isolation resulted in Ms. Franke being subjected to a distorted sense of morality, shaped by Ms. Hildebrandt’s influence.”
During the 3 1/2 months she has been incarcerated since her arrest, Franke has “engaged in introspection” allowing her to “reset her moral compass” and now fully understands the weight of her actions, her attorneys said.
“Ms. Franke is committed to taking responsibility for the part she played in the events leading up to her incarceration,” her attorneys said. “Demonstrating a sincere dedication to personal growth and rehabilitation, she has actively begun the process by reaching out to members of her family. Through heartfelt apologies, she seeks to mend relationships and contribute positively to the healing journey of her family.”
As previously reported by Law&Crime, police at about 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30 responded to a call at a residence located in Ivins, Utah, regarding a possible case of child abuse. The calling party told the dispatcher that a juvenile had shown up at their door asking for food and water. The caller said that the child “appeared to be emaciated and malnourished, with open wounds and duct tape around the extremities,” police wrote in the release.
The child who escaped from the home was identified as a 12-year-old boy with “deep lacerations” due to being tied up with rope and duct tape.
Police said the 12-year-old’s condition was “so severe” that Santa Clara-Irvine Emergency Medical Services personnel were dispatched to the scene and examined him before transporting them to St. George Regional Hospital for medical treatment.
Investigators then learned that there was a 10-year-old girl who was also believed to be “in a similar condition” still at the home from which the 12-year-old escaped.
“Officers arrived at the home and searched the residence, locating another juvenile in a similar physical condition of malnourishment,” police said. “That juvenile was also transported by EMS to the hospital for treatment.”
The other child found in the home was said to be the 12-year-old boy’s younger sister.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home in connection with the condition of the children. During that search, police said they recovered evidence “consistent with the markings found on the juvenile.”
Franke’s “8 Passengers” YouTube channel, which had more than 2 million followers at one time, featured videos of her, her husband Kevin Franke, and their six children. However, the channel was taken down earlier this year amid allegations of child abuse and other disturbing behavior.
Kevin Franke has since filed for divorce from Ruby Franke.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
