Ruby Franke Story: Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt Sentenced to Up to 30 Years in Prison for Child Abuse.

Ruby Franke Story: Ruby Franke, a popular parenting YouTuber, and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt have been handed prison sentences after pleading guilty to child abuse charges. The charges were filed after one of Franke’s children managed to escape from Hildebrandt’s residence in August and sought help from a neighbor. The prosecutor stated that both individuals could potentially face up to 30 years in prison, which is the maximum penalty allowed by Utah law.

According to media affiliate KUTV, Franke has been sentenced to four consecutive prison terms, with each term ranging from one to 15 years. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will be responsible for determining the duration of Franke’s prison time. Franke also has a 30-day window to appeal the decision.

Similarly, Hildebrandt has received the same sentence of four consecutive prison terms, as reported by KUTV. Just like Franke, Hildebrandt’s prison time will be determined by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.

It is worth noting that Franke, known for providing parenting advice on her now-defunct “8 Passengers” YouTube channel, and Hildebrandt, who operated a counseling business called ConneXions Classroom, were initially charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony. Each count carried a potential penalty of one to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

During the sentencing recommendation review, state prosecutor Eric Clarke drew parallels between the environment Franke’s children were exposed to and a “concentration camp-like setting,” emphasizing that Franke had “committed horrible acts of child abuse.” When discussing Hildebrandt’s charges, Clarke labeled her as a “significant threat” to the community.

Both defendants had the opportunity to speak in court prior to their sentencings. Hildebrandt expressed willingness to “accept the appropriate amount of time served as determined by the state.” Franke acknowledged that she and Hildebrandt were responsible for causing harm to her children. She mentioned feeling misled into thinking the world is a malevolent place and clarified that Hildebrandt was not her “business responsibility,” but rather someone she had hired as a mentor. Franke also expressed gratitude towards the public safety officials who rescued her children, referring to them as “angels,” as reported by KUTV.

“I accept my charges,” Franke stated. “They ensure the safety of my family and uphold accountability to the public.”

What did Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt do?

In December, Franke entered a guilty plea for four counts of child abuse and confessed to subjecting her children to torture, including her 12-year-old son who managed to escape from Hildebrandt’s residence. The plea agreement contained explicit descriptions of the abuse, with Franke revealing that her son was frequently bound and her nine-year-old daughter was forced to perform laborious tasks outdoors under the scorching sun without any water or shoes. Both children were repeatedly told that they were possessed and that their punishments were necessary for their own benefit.

According to court documents reviewed by KUTV, the boy informed officials that Hildebrandt had restrained him and utilized homemade remedies to treat the wounds caused by the restraints.

As part of the plea deal, Franke consented to a prison sentence and agreed that her sentences would be served consecutively. Additionally, she agreed to provide testimony against Hildebrandt.

Hildebrandt, who pleaded guilty just days after Franke, also faced four counts of child abuse. Her plea agreement stated that she either actively tortured the children or was aware of the abuse. The agreement further revealed that Hildebrandt had “physically forced or coerced” Franke’s daughter to repeatedly “jump into a cactus.”

Washington County Attorney Eric Clarke stated that the crimes were driven by religious extremism. He remarked, “This case revolves around religious fanaticism. The defendants genuinely believed that the abuse they inflicted was necessary to teach the children how to repent for imagined ‘sins’ and to rid their bodies of evil spirits.” Clarke added that Hildebrandt frequently claimed to receive direct communication from God and followed divine instructions, while Franke accepted Hildebrandt as her leader and adhered to her guidance.

What is the current location of Ruby Franke’s family?

Prior to facing criminal charges, Franke faced backlash on YouTube for her strict disciplinary measures towards her children. One incident involved banning her child from his bedroom for seven months as a consequence for pranking his younger brother. The YouTube channel, which had been active since 2015, came to an end after seven years.

Recently, Franke’s husband, Kevin Franke, initiated divorce proceedings. In early September, Kevin Franke’s lawyer informed CBS News that he was focused on ensuring the well-being of their children and could not comment on Ruby Franke’s arrest.

During a court appearance on Friday, Kevin Franke stood alongside Franke’s two eldest children. Franke took the opportunity to apologize to her ex-husband, expressing that he was the love of her life and describing the end of their marriage as a tragedy, as reported by KUTV.

Ahead of Franke’s sentencing on Tuesday, her parents and brother submitted statements to the court, attributing Hildebrandt’s influence as the cause of her actions. Franke’s brother, Beau Griffiths, revealed that he too had been involved in Hildebrandt’s ConneXions program and claimed that Ruby had been manipulated and isolated by Hildebrandt.

Franke’s sisters, Julie Griffiths Deru and Bonnie Hoellein, who are also YouTubers, released videos explaining Franke’s separation from the family and expressing their lack of awareness regarding her actions.

In their statement to the court, Franke’s parents, Chad and Jennifer Griffiths, revealed that they had minimal communication with their daughter over a three-year period. They described her as delusional and deeply brainwashed, making it difficult for them to recognize her, according to KUTV.