showbizA judge in Utah on Tuesday imposed a prison sentence of 4 to 60 years on Ruby Franke (42), a YouTube star who gave her millions of followers parenting tips but abused her children behind the scenes. Her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt (54), who was involved in the abuse of Ruby’s two youngest children, received the same conviction.
LOOK. Ruby Franke sentenced to four years in prison for abusing her children
In a hearing late last year, Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt admitted that they had physically and emotionally abused the two children. They each pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse. Each of them now faces 1 to 15 years behind bars, the judge ruled. These sentences will also run consecutively, which means that both women will have to serve at least 4 years in prison before they are eligible for parole.
Franke and her family – husband Kevin and six children – could be followed for years via the popular YouTube channel ‘8 Passengers’. Franke was known for her ‘tough parenting style’ and gave her followers advice about motherhood in every video. Because Ruby has cited some strange and extreme parenting methods over the years, rumors of child abuse have been circulating for some time. In August 2023, critics also received confirmation of this.
Tied up and starved
Ruby’s 12-year-old son had then climbed through the window to escape Hildebrandt’s house. Visibly emaciated and with wrists and ankles covered in tape, he ran to the neighbors. They decided to call the police. Ruby’s 10-year-old daughter was later found in the same condition in the home, after which both Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested. Franke’s son told police that the women had tied his limbs with ropes and used cayenne pepper and honey to “treat” his cuts.
Mom Ruby Franke was the driving force behind a YouTube channel with 2.5 million followers where she gave advice on parenting. © Youtube
Both women have been behind bars since then. Franke and Hildebrandt were initially charged with six counts of serious child abuse, all six of which they also confessed to. However, they backtracked on two of those charges. Those were later dropped as part of a settlement. Before that, Ruby and Jodi agreed to detail their crimes. For example, Ruby admitted that she had kicked her son with boots, held his head under water and blocked his mouth and nose with her hands. Both women also said they forced the boy into physical labor for hours in the summer heat with limited food and water. Hildebrandt also admitted to forcing Franke’s youngest daughter to jump several times against a cactus and to run barefoot on dirt roads until her feet got blisters.
After the arrests, the boy and girl were taken to hospital and placed under state custody together with two of their sisters. Franke’s other children are already adults.
LOOK. Ruby Franke, who promoted ‘tough parenting’ online, arrested for child abuse
Mother who gave parenting advice to millions of followers on YouTube pleads guilty to child abuse
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2024-02-20 19:23:00
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