IVINS, UT - Ruby Franke, a Utah parenting advice YouTuber, and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested on Aug. 30, 2023, on six felony counts each of aggravated child abuse.
Ruby Franke started her YouTube channel "8 Passengers" in 2015. The channel showcased Franke, her husband Kevin, and their six children and amassed over two million subscribers.
However, the channel faced controversy over Franke's parenting decisions, including instances such as her son being made to sleep on a beanbag as punishment and not providing food to her daughter at school.
The "8 Passengers" channel was deleted in 2022. Subsequently, Franke collaborated with Hildebrandt to create a new channel and an online self-improvement program called ConneXions.
Hildebrandt had been a licensed clinical mental health counselor since 2003 but voluntarily surrendered her counseling license in September 2023 due to the child abuse charges against her.
Concerns about the welfare of Franke's children were reported by neighbors to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services prior to the arrest. Authorities had responded to Franke’s Springville home multiple times over the years regarding child welfare concerns.
Notable incidents include a case worker's report in April 2022 of unsupervised children running in the street near Franke's home and a welfare check in September 2022, requested by Franke's daughter, who reported her siblings being left home alone.
Franke's 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins, prompting a neighbor to call the police. Responding officers found Franke’s 10-year-old daughter in a malnourished state inside Hildebrandt’s home. Both children were hospitalized, and two other Franke children were placed in state custody.
In one video after the boy asks for help on the neighbor's porch, “He has duct tape around each ankle,” the neighbor can be heard telling dispatchers. “Yeah, there are sores around them, and he has them around his wrist as well. This boy has been,” the man trails off, his voice breaking with emotion, “This kid has obviously been…” Then the video ends.
Franke and Hildebrandt were charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse each. The charges allege various forms of abuse, including physical injuries, starvation, and severe emotional harm.
The potential sentences for these charges range from one to 15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
During their initial court appearance on September 8, 2023, technical issues and disruptive behavior from viewers led to a delay. Judge Eric Gentry ordered both women to remain held without bail until their next court appearance.
Search warrant records revealed details about the conditions and evidence found at Hildebrandt’s home, including the emaciated state of Franke’s son and items consistent with treating wounds.
A scheduled court hearing for a status review on Sept. 18, 2023, was postponed to a later date due to the need for additional time for attorneys to review discovery materials.
Recently, video footage related to the case was released to the public. The videos, a combination of home surveillance and police body camera footage, depict the events surrounding the arrest and the condition of the children.
The footage shows the 12-year-old boy escaping from Hildebrandt's home and approaching neighbors for help. Police body camera footage reveals the discovery of the boy's 10-year-old sister in a malnourished state inside Hildebrandt’s home. Both children appear thin and move slowly in the videos.
In one officer’s body-worn camera video, a paramedic outside Hildebrandt’s house tells an officer, “I’m crying.”
“I know,” the officer responds. “That’s why I have my shades on.”
The case against Franke and Hildebrandt is ongoing. The release of video evidence has provided additional insight into the events leading up to the arrest and the condition of the children.
With the postponement of the status review hearing, both the prosecution and defense are continuing to prepare their respective cases. Attorneys are reviewing the extensive discovery materials and evidence presented in the case as they await the next court appearance.
Juju Chang of “20/20” has learned that the children are together in foster care and doing much better. Detective Jessica Bate, who was on the scene the day of the discovery said, "They've put on weight, they look healthy, they're happy, they're back to their hobbies."
Ruby Franke started her YouTube channel "8 Passengers" in 2015. The channel showcased Franke, her husband Kevin, and their six children and amassed over two million subscribers.
However, the channel faced controversy over Franke's parenting decisions, including instances such as her son being made to sleep on a beanbag as punishment and not providing food to her daughter at school.
The "8 Passengers" channel was deleted in 2022. Subsequently, Franke collaborated with Hildebrandt to create a new channel and an online self-improvement program called ConneXions.
Hildebrandt had been a licensed clinical mental health counselor since 2003 but voluntarily surrendered her counseling license in September 2023 due to the child abuse charges against her.
Concerns about the welfare of Franke's children were reported by neighbors to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services prior to the arrest. Authorities had responded to Franke’s Springville home multiple times over the years regarding child welfare concerns.
Notable incidents include a case worker's report in April 2022 of unsupervised children running in the street near Franke's home and a welfare check in September 2022, requested by Franke's daughter, who reported her siblings being left home alone.
Franke's 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins, prompting a neighbor to call the police. Responding officers found Franke’s 10-year-old daughter in a malnourished state inside Hildebrandt’s home. Both children were hospitalized, and two other Franke children were placed in state custody.
In one video after the boy asks for help on the neighbor's porch, “He has duct tape around each ankle,” the neighbor can be heard telling dispatchers. “Yeah, there are sores around them, and he has them around his wrist as well. This boy has been,” the man trails off, his voice breaking with emotion, “This kid has obviously been…” Then the video ends.
Franke and Hildebrandt were charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse each. The charges allege various forms of abuse, including physical injuries, starvation, and severe emotional harm.
The potential sentences for these charges range from one to 15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
During their initial court appearance on September 8, 2023, technical issues and disruptive behavior from viewers led to a delay. Judge Eric Gentry ordered both women to remain held without bail until their next court appearance.
Search warrant records revealed details about the conditions and evidence found at Hildebrandt’s home, including the emaciated state of Franke’s son and items consistent with treating wounds.
A scheduled court hearing for a status review on Sept. 18, 2023, was postponed to a later date due to the need for additional time for attorneys to review discovery materials.
Recently, video footage related to the case was released to the public. The videos, a combination of home surveillance and police body camera footage, depict the events surrounding the arrest and the condition of the children.
The footage shows the 12-year-old boy escaping from Hildebrandt's home and approaching neighbors for help. Police body camera footage reveals the discovery of the boy's 10-year-old sister in a malnourished state inside Hildebrandt’s home. Both children appear thin and move slowly in the videos.
In one officer’s body-worn camera video, a paramedic outside Hildebrandt’s house tells an officer, “I’m crying.”
“I know,” the officer responds. “That’s why I have my shades on.”
The case against Franke and Hildebrandt is ongoing. The release of video evidence has provided additional insight into the events leading up to the arrest and the condition of the children.
With the postponement of the status review hearing, both the prosecution and defense are continuing to prepare their respective cases. Attorneys are reviewing the extensive discovery materials and evidence presented in the case as they await the next court appearance.
Juju Chang of “20/20” has learned that the children are together in foster care and doing much better. Detective Jessica Bate, who was on the scene the day of the discovery said, "They've put on weight, they look healthy, they're happy, they're back to their hobbies."
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2024-03-26T09:42-0500 | Comment by: Andrew
They’ll get theirs in prison. People don’t take kindly to child abusers there.