Utah parenting influencer Ruby Franke’s partner and co-host on their YouTube channel, Jodi Hildebrandt, entered a guilty plea to four counts of child abuse as part of a negotiated agreement.
The 45-year-old woman from St. George admitted to the charges just days after Franke, aged 41, also confessed to four out of six counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse involving the mistreatment of two of her six children, with the assistance of Hildebrandt.
Franke expressed her remorse, acknowledging her guilt for the harm inflicted on her family and children during the court proceedings on December 18.
Franke and Hildebrandt, known for their collaborative parenting and lifestyle content on YouTube, faced initial accusations of six counts of child abuse following the rescue of two of Franke’s children, who displayed signs of neglect and malnourishment, from Hildebrandt’s residence on August 30.
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Parenting blogger Jodi Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four out of six counts of aggravated child abuse related to the physical and emotional mistreatment of two children under her co-host’s care. (Sheldon Demke/St. George News/Pool)
The primary charge of aggravated child abuse against Franke detailed physical abuse towards one child, involving strenuous tasks such as prolonged wall-sits, carrying heavy boxes of books, and outdoor labor without adequate footwear. The child was subjected to extended exposure to direct sunlight, leading to severe sunburns and deprivation of essential sustenance.
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The child attempted to flee in July, resulting in restraints on hands and feet.
The second charge focused on the emotional distress inflicted on the same child, with Franke and Hildebrandt manipulating the child into believing in their inherent evil nature, emphasizing obedience to avoid punishment.
Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were apprehended on August 30 following a distress call to Santa Clara police at 10:50 p.m. (Instagram/moms_of_truth)
The subsequent counts addressed similar emotional abuse towards another child, who underwent comparable mistreatment including isolation, physical demands, and food deprivation, alongside psychological manipulation to induce feelings of evil and the necessity for punishment.
Both Franke and Hildebrandt are set to receive sentencing on February 20.
A concerned neighbor reported the abuse to authorities after one of Franke’s sons sought help at his residence.
Utah officials discovered two undernourished children at a Utah residence before the arrest of Franke and Hildebrandt. (Instagram/moms_of_truth)
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The neighbor described a distressing scene where a 12-year-old boy, bearing signs of malnourishment and physical restraint, sought assistance, leading to the revelation of the ongoing abuse.
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Franke’s children were dispersed across various locations, with the youngest rescued from Hildebrandt’s residence, and the others located elsewhere, including two older children living independently.
Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke collaborated on a joint YouTube channel focusing on lifestyle and parenting content. (Instagram/ConneXionsCoaching)
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The community, familiar with Franke’s YouTube channel “8Passengers,” expressed concerns upon the launch of her new vlog “Moms of Truth”/ConneXions on Facebook with Hildebrandt.
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In a now-removed video, Hildebrandt controversially discussed the concept of pain as a beneficial tool for children’s growth and development.
Audrey Conklin serves as a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. For tips, reach out to [email protected] or on Twitter at @audpants.