In a courtroom packed with emotion, Ruby Franke, a Utah mother whose parenting advice once captivated millions on YouTube, faced the consequences of her actions as she was sentenced to at least four years in prison for child abuse.
The 42-year-old tearfully apologized as the judge handed down the maximum sentence allowed under Utah law, along with her former business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, 54, who received an identical sentence.
Franke and Hildebrandt were sentenced to serve four terms of one to 15 years each, with the sentences to run consecutively. The state’s parole board will ultimately determine how much time each will serve. Franke has 30 days to appeal the decision.
The sentencing comes after Franke pleaded guilty to starving and abusing her children, a revelation that shocked many who followed her on her YouTube channel, “8 Passengers.” Utah prosecutor Eric Clarke described the conditions two of Franke’s children endured as akin to a “concentration camp-like setting,” highlighting Franke as a significant threat to the community.
Franke, who once wielded influence as a parenting vlogger, expressed remorse in court, stating, “I was so disoriented that I believed dark was light and right was wrong.” She apologized to her children, acknowledging the gravity of her actions.
The arrests of Franke and Hildebrandt occurred in August 2023 after Franke’s malnourished 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s house, seeking help from a neighbor. Police records revealed the extent of the abuse, including lacerations from being tied up with rope.
Franke’s YouTube career, which began in 2015 and garnered over two million subscribers, faced scrutiny in 2020 when viewers raised concerns about her parenting methods. Despite initially dismissing criticism, the channel’s popularity waned, and it was deleted in 2022, coinciding with Franke’s separation from her husband.
Behind the scenes, Franke’s children endured even harsher abuse, including beatings, neglect, and forced labor. Hildebrandt, in a plea agreement, admitted to either participating in or being aware of the abuse, including forcing one of Franke’s daughters to “jump into a cactus multiple times.”
Franke’s ex-husband, Kevin Franke, through his lawyer, advocated for the maximum sentence, condemning the “horrific and inhumane” abuse suffered by his children.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with online influence and the consequences of failing to uphold them, particularly in matters as critical as child welfare.
