A popular “mumfluencer” known for sharing parenting advice videos on YouTube has been sentenced to a maximum of 60 years in prison after admitting to the abuse and neglect of two of her children.
Ruby Franke and her former business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, received consecutive sentences of up to 15 years each on Tuesday for their involvement in the abuse that occurred between May and August 2023.
Expressing remorse before the court in Utah, Franke tearfully acknowledged the gravity of her actions, stating, “My charges are just. I … believed dark was light and right was wrong.” She also addressed her children, expressing deep regret for taking away their sense of safety and security.
Franke admitted to being misled into believing that the world was a malevolent place, filled with corrupt authorities and harmful institutions. She took full responsibility for her decisions and expressed a preference for serving a prison term.
The arrests of Franke, 42, and Hildebrandt, 54, followed an incident where Franke’s 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s residence and disclosed the abuse to a neighbor. Subsequently, Franke’s 10-year-old daughter was rescued from the same location, leading to the removal of all four youngest children from their care.
Details of the Abuse
Franke gained online fame through her YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” chronicling her family life in Utah with her husband and six children. Despite amassing over 2.5 million followers, she later confessed to subjecting her children to torture and laborious tasks.
Reports revealed that Franke’s son endured severe mistreatment, including being forced to work outdoors barefoot under scorching temperatures, resulting in severe sunburns. He was deprived of water, leading to punishment when caught drinking secretly. Additionally, his hands and feet were frequently bound with duct tape, causing injuries.
Between 2015 and 2020, Franke faced criticism for her controversial parenting methods, such as withholding meals as punishment and threatening drastic actions against misbehaving children.
Kevin Franke, Ruby’s estranged husband, described the abuse as “horrific and inhumane,” emphasizing the physical and psychological trauma inflicted on the children.
During the court proceedings, Hildebrandt expressed genuine affection for the children and a strong desire for their emotional recovery. She cited her reluctance to subject the children to further trauma by reliving their experiences in court as a key reason for accepting the plea deal.