Vlogger mother Ruby Franke and her partner in business, Jodi Hildebrandt, recognized for their parenting content on YouTube, have been sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison for child abuse.
As reported by CBS News, the duo appeared in a Utah court on Tuesday, February 20, where they each received individual prison terms ranging from one to 15 years, not exceeding a total of 30 years.
Franke, known for her role as a mom vlogger on the now-defunct YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” faced backlash in 2022 when she compelled one of her children to sleep on a beanbag for seven months as a consequence of a prank played on a younger sibling. This incident led to the termination of her YouTube channel in the same year.
On the other hand, Hildebrandt is a therapist who operated an online counseling service called ConneXions Classroom.
The pair collaborated on producing parenting-related content on various social media platforms, including YouTube and Instagram, using the username @moms_of_truth.
According to a BBC report, their arrest took place in August 2023 after Franke’s 12-year-old son, who was malnourished, managed to escape from Hildebrandt’s residence through a window. The child sought help from a neighbor, requesting food and water. Police records revealed that the child had sustained injuries from being restrained with a rope.
Investigations unveiled that two of Franke’s children were subjected to physical abuse. In addition to her son, her nine-year-old daughter was assigned tasks involving “manual labor outdoors in high temperatures without adequate hydration or footwear,” as outlined in court documents.
The son disclosed that Hildebrandt frequently restrained him and utilized unconventional methods to treat the wounds resulting from the restraints. Furthermore, Hildebrandt either physically coerced or compelled Franke’s daughter to “leap into a cactus repeatedly.”
The children were made to believe that they were “possessed,” and the infliction of punishments was deemed necessary for their “benefit.”
According to Washington County Attorney Eric Clarke, the actions of these influential mothers were attributed to “religious extremism.”
Clarke stated, “The defendants seemed to genuinely believe that the abusive measures they employed were essential to instruct the children on proper repentance for perceived ‘sins’ and to expel evil spirits from their bodies.”
“Hildebrandt frequently professed direct communication with God, receiving divine instructions. Franke regarded Hildebrandt as her leader, adhering to her directives and counsel,” he added.
During her sentencing, Franke expressed remorse to her children, acknowledging, “I was so confused that I perceived darkness as light and right as wrong.”
“I was led to believe that this world was malevolent, with authorities who manipulate, medical facilities that harm, governmental agencies that indoctrinate, religious leaders who deceive and indulge, spouses who neglect protection, and children who require mistreatment,” she added.
In her statement, Hildebrandt expressed her desire for the children to “recover physically and emotionally.”
“I opted not to proceed to trial partly because I did not want them to relive the trauma, which would have been detrimental. My aspiration and prayer are for their recovery and progression towards leading fulfilling lives,” she conveyed, as reported by The Guardian.
Both influencers admitted guilt to four counts of aggravated child abuse. The specific duration of their imprisonment is pending determination by The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.