Family therapist Jodie Hildebrandt, initially seen as a potential support figure for the children of popular vlogger Ruby Franke, ended up being an accomplice in their mother’s severe mistreatment. The connection between Franke and Hildebrandt blossomed in 2019 after meeting in their local Mormon community. Hildebrandt, a prominent figure in the Mormon church, ran a successful life coaching business, while Franke gained fame through her family vlogs on the YouTube channel 8 Passengers with her husband, Kevin Franke.
Franke’s online presence began in 2015, with Hildebrandt gradually becoming deeply involved in her and her children’s lives, leading to disturbing levels of abuse inflicted on two of Franke’s youngest children. The shocking truth about Hildebrandt’s complicity in the abuse is exposed in the Netflix documentary “Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story.” The rescue of Franke’s children came to light when her 12-year-old son sought help from a neighbor, revealing signs of mistreatment on August 30, 2023.
Following the distressing discovery, Franke’s nine-year-old daughter was found in a severely malnourished state at Hildebrandt’s residence in Utah, leading to the prompt arrests of Franke and Hildebrandt. Franke’s religiously-rooted disciplinary methods, showcased in her YouTube videos, drew concerns from viewers, resulting in child protective services intervening in 2020 due to reported mistreatment of her children.
Franke’s escalating abuse, supported by Hildebrandt, escalated between May and August 2023, with her youngest children enduring cruel punishments such as forced physical labor without proper attire or sustenance. The children were subjected to physical harm, denial of food, and emotional torment, with Franke even using cayenne pepper and honey to treat their wounds. Franke’s elder children, Shari and Chad, who had distanced themselves from their mother, were not directly involved in the abuse.
In the aftermath of Franke’s arrest, her four minor children were placed under the care of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, with custody eventually granted to their father, Kevin Franke. Franke and Hildebrandt were both sentenced to lengthy prison terms in February 2024. Franke expressed remorse in court, acknowledging her descent into a distorted reality and the harm inflicted on her children. Shari documented her experiences in a memoir, while Chad pursued a real estate career and started his own family.
The identities of Franke’s children have been kept confidential throughout the ordeal.