Ruby Franke, the former family vlogger on the “8 Passengers” channel, and her former business partner Jodi Hildebrandt are being sentenced today for – counts of child abuse. Here’s why parents should care and what lesson we must take from their downfall.

Who are Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt?

Ruby Franke was a successful family vlogger on her 8 Passengers YouTube channel, where she documented her and her husband Kevin’s extreme and often vicious parenting methods. Franke was essentially forced to shut it down after multiple years of complaints, including how they punished their teenage son by making him sleep on a beanbag chair and not have a bedroom.

Jodi Hildebrandt was a mental health practitioner who ran the business Connexions, allegedly heavily endorsed by the Mormon Church. The main focus of her “therapy” seems to amount to breaking up families by convincing the wife that her husband is lying and abusive. In one case, she allegedly manipulated the narrative to convince a wife and mother that her husband, a victim of sexual abuse himself, was an abuser and not safe for their children to stay around.

The Arrests and Aftermath

We detailed much of their history and the details known about the arrest here, and since then, much more has been released or alleged.

• Hildebrandt had a long and harried history with her patients, the Mormon Church, and her own family.
• Franke pleaded guilty to four out of six counts of abuse and neglect in December with the understanding that she would testify against Hildebrandt and avoid putting her children on the stand.
• Hildebrandt quickly followed suit and pleaded guilty.
• Both of Franke’s children found at Hildebrandt’s house were malnourished and dehydrated, with mounting evidence of torture that includes forcing the daughter to jump into a cactus.
• The children found in Hildebrandt’s hidden room are still in the care of Utah DCFS (Department of Child and Family Services).

Sentencing Franke and Hildebrandt

We’re watching the live coverage on the Law&Crime Network to learn whether there will be a victim impact statement and how long these two women will go to jail.

Live Updates

• Kevin, Shari, and Chad Franke are present at the sentencing. According to reports, Kevin is crying.
• 12:10pm – The main question is whether or not the sentences will be consecutive or whether Franke and Hildebrandt will serve their sentences at the same time.
• Franke was called “a delightful” person by her legal counsel.
• Franke asserts that Hildebrandt was never her business partner.
• 12:20 pm – The State requested consecutive prison terms for the four counts she pleaded guilty to committing.
• The State refers to “a concentration type setting” for the two children.
• The Board of Pardons and Parole will determine whether HIldebrandt or Franke might serve longer sentences.
• Franke’s attorney claims that “Ruby Franke has become a serious student of her own actions” and is “horrified” at what she’d done.
• 12:30 pm – “I was led to believe that this world was a hostile place…husbands who refused to protect and children who need [inaudible] abused,” Franke states in court.
• “The moment she [police officer] handcuffed me is the moment I gained my freedom,” Franke continues.
• Franke runs through a long list of those around her and her family who she says tried to help.
• 12:38 pm – Four counts (1-15 years) for aggravated child abuse, to be served consecutively. The judge also informed her that Franke only has 30 days to file a notice of appeal. Restitution will remain open for a period of eight months.
• 12:40 pm – Hildebrandt has now entered the courtroom. The State requested consecutive prison terms and repeated the statements made for Ruby Franke, acknowledging that he is only changing the names of each defendant.
• “They [the children] each believed to some degree, that they deserved what had been done to them,” The State states. Hildebrandt affirmed this statement after her arrest, now being held against her in court.
• Hildebrandt’s attorney opens by claiming there are always two sides to each case. “The only facts in this case that are adjudicated facts are in the plea agreement.”
• Hildebrandt’s statement: I sincerely love these children. I desire for them to heal physically and emotionally.” She stated she did not want to go to trial so that they would not have to testify. (The children testifying would likely have not gone well for either her or Franke, according to legal sources.
• Judge: “In this case, you terrorized children and the results have been tragic.” He takes a moment. “What happened to these children and your philosophy in dealing with them frankly seems detached from reality and decency, or even common sense.”
• Hildebrandt also receives four consecutive sentences.
• Law&Crime Network states they could receive parole after only one year.
• Criminal Defense Attorney Natalie Whittingham-Burrell says that after hearing Franke’s testimony, “This is strategy…Do not be fooled. She abused those children on YouTube and people saw it and complained about it.”

“Worst Child Abuse Case” in Utah’s Institutional Memory

The Prosecutor states outside the courthouse that he hopes Hildebrandt serves more time than Franke, who he says may only receive four years. A reporter asks why they aren’t holding a parent more accountable. He repeats how awful their actions were, but he is more concerned that Hildebrandt may be released before Franke when she still poses a risk to the community.

They anticipate a restitution claim and want to be sure there’s enough time to analyze all of the information. Franke’s attorney, when asked, states that he does not know that Franke has had any contact with her husband or adult children since entering jail.

“I don’t think it’s the worst [case of child abuse I’ve ever seen],” he says before leaving.

Douglas Terry, Hildebrandt’s attorney, repeats that she entered into this plea agreement to take responsibility for her role in this case. “She was sincere in that statement.”

“Early on in this case, she had phone calls with individuals that were in support of her….Whatever was said was early in this case and is not the case today,” Terry says in reply to a reporter asking why Hildebrandt was unrepentant and says the children deserved it.

Former Hildebrandt Abuse Victim Takes the Mic

Adam Paul Steed was one of the child abuse victims that changed the laws when he brought his charges against the Boy Scouts and the Mormon Church. He was a guest on Mormom Stories, a podcast where he went into excruciating detail on his experience with Hildebrandt.

“Jodi Hildebrandt is the tip of this iceberg,” Steed says to the crowd. “You have no idea how many victims are out there. Their minds have been messed up so much with this,” Steed proclaims. “Jodi doesn’t love children. She is like Ted Bundy.”

Photo/Image Credit: Canva

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Read more: The Perils of Writing About Your Kids: A.A. Milne, Christopher Robin, and Family Vloggers

Sources:

• “WATCH LIVE: YouTube Mom Ruby Franke, Jodi Hildebrandt Child Abuse Sentencing — Special Coverage,” Law&Crime Network, 20 February 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C96Y0KLDVVE.
• OutThink Media’s list of sources on Family Vloggers, etc