In a case that has drawn significant attention, former family vlogger Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were sentenced on Tuesday to prison terms after pleading guilty to aggravated child abuse charges. The sentencing took place at Washington County 5th District Court in Utah.
Franke, known for her YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” was sentenced to four terms of one to 15 years in prison, as was her former business partner, Hildebrandt. The charges stemmed from abuse inflicted upon two of Franke’s children, for which both defendants pleaded guilty to four out of six counts of felony child abuse.
During the sentencing hearing, Franke addressed her children, expressing remorse for her actions, stating, “I will never stop crying for hurting your tender souls. You’re so precious to me; I’m sorry.” Hildebrandt also expressed regret, emphasizing her desire for the children to heal physically and emotionally.
The case came to light when Franke’s son escaped from Hildebrandt’s home and sought help from a neighbour, revealing signs of malnourishment and physical abuse. Subsequent investigations led to the discovery of Franke’s daughter also suffering from malnourishment and injuries.
Franke, with her popular YouTube channel, had amassed a large following by sharing parenting advice and insights into her family life. In collaboration with Hildebrandt, Franke announced plans to launch a ConneXions YouTube page promoting a life coaching service.
However, allegations emerged regarding Hildebrandt’s practices, with former clients alleging harmful behaviour, including encouraging the separation of spouses and promoting discriminatory viewpoints.
This case adds to prior controversies surrounding Franke, who faced scrutiny for the content of her videos in the past, prompting investigations by child welfare authorities. Despite previous investigations being inconclusive, this recent conviction underscores the seriousness of the allegations against Franke and Hildebrandt.
The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will determine the duration of their prison sentences, as both Franke and Hildebrandt face the consequences of their actions in this tragic case of child abuse.