Ruby Franke, the former family vlogger and “parenting advice” guru, has been sentenced to four to 60 years in prison on charges of child abuse.
In August 2023, Yuta’s mother ‘Ruby franke’ was arrested on multiple allegations of child abuse when a child escaped her supervision and went to a neighbor for food and help. In December 2023, as part of a plea deal, she was convicted of second-degree serious child abuse in four serious cases. Her business partner, Jodi Hildenbrandt, was also found guilty of the charges.
Fifth District Judge John Walton recommended the same sentence for both women in Utah court on Tuesday. Franke and Hildenbrandt will have to spend consecutive sentences of one to 15 years in jail, meaning the couple could be in jail for a minimum of four years or a maximum of 60 years.
According to the report, State prosecutor Eric Clark described the conditions of Franke and Hildenbrandt’s children as “like a concentration camp,” as the woman convinced the children that they were wicked and possessed by spirits, needing punishment for redemption.
In a tearful public apology read in court, Ruby Franke, who has primarily blamed Hildenbrandt for the alleged brainwashing leading to abuse, said, “I won’t stop crying for hurting your delicate souls. My desire to sacrifice everything for you was manipulated in a cunning and ugly way. I took everything that was soft, safe, and good.”
The actual time served in jail will now depend on the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.
In late August 2023, Ruby Franke, known for her family vlogging channel with her husband and six children, was taken into custody along with her friend and business partner, Jodi Hildenbrandt, after a search for an allegedly “severely malnourished and abused” child.
Police were called to Hildenbrandt’s home when Ruby Franke’s child was found seeking food and water from neighbors. Upon discovering the child’s wrists and ankles wrapped in duct tape, authorities were summoned. One child was found to be “severely malnourished, with open wounds,” and another Frank child was also malnourished, according to court documents.
During the execution of a search warrant, police found evidence in the home “consistent with signs of abuse on a juvenile.” Documents also stated that Franke had been seen filming in the home days before, indicating her awareness of the children’s condition.
Franke was also accused of abusing her own children. She admitted to multiple instances of abuse in her plea, including kicking her son, submerging his head in water, and covering his mouth and nose with her hands. She also acknowledged forcing her son to work for hours in the summer sun without sufficient food or water, leading to dehydration and blisters on his body.
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