Ruby Franke, the once-popular parenting influencer known for her role in the "8 Passengers" YouTube channel, has been sentenced to up to three decades in prison for subjecting her children to abuse in what authorities described as a "concentration camp setting."
This revelation emerged in August 2023 when Franke's emaciated and wounded 12-year-old son, identified as "R" for privacy reasons, managed to escape from their residence. He was found bound with duct tape, prompting a police search that also uncovered Franke's 10-year-old daughter, referred to as "E," in a similar condition.
In newly released police audio and video files, Kevin Franke, Ruby's husband, disclosed disturbing details and warning signs that had gone unnoticed. According to Kevin Franke, the breaking point came after a conference in St. George, Utah, in March 2021.
During an "inner circle" dinner, a woman named Hildebrandt revealed to a group that she believed she was being tormented by shadow figures every night, leaving those present feeling unsettled. Kevin Franke recalled the incident, stating,
“She believed she was being tormented and haunted by shadow figures every night. And that was spooky.”
Inside the child abuse case of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt
In the aftermath of the child abuse investigation surrounding Ruby Franke, the once-renowned family vlogger, and her partner Jodi Hildebrandt, a disturbing portrayal of the condition of Franke's children emerged from a multitude of documents, videos, photos, and audio recordings.
The harrowing footage and images revealed Franke's daughter who is 10-year-old, emaciated with shorn hair, exhibiting signs of extreme neglect. Police reports detailed her reluctance to seek medical aid despite her dire condition.
Meanwhile, Franke’s 12-year-old son was discovered with ghastly, untreated wounds on his ankles, encased in saran wrap. His assertion of self-blame for his injuries echoed through witness testimonies. However, the most chilling evidence emerged from journal entries discovered within Ruby Franke's residence.
These entries chronicled Ruby Franke's heinous acts of starvation and physical abuse against her children, driven by her delusional belief in their demonic possession and the necessity of punishment for their 'repentance.' Both Franke and Hildebrandt ultimately pleaded guilty to child abuse charges, culminating in their sentencing to four consecutive terms of one-to-15 years each on Feb. 20.
Additionally, amidst the disturbing revelations, a troubling incident narrated by Kevin Franke, Ruby Franke's husband, surfaced during a conference in St. George, Utah.
The documents uncovered in the investigation shed light on the horrific conditions within Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt's household. Described as a "work-camp-like setting" by the Washington County Attorney’s Office, the children were subjected to grueling physical tasks, often forced to endure the scorching summer heat of Utah barefoot.
Motivated by religious extremism, Ruby Franke and Hildebrandt believed the abuse was necessary for the children to repent for imagined sins and expel evil spirits from their bodies, according to prosecutors.
Ruby Franke's son attempted to flee in June 2023, triggering further abuse and resulting in him being bound by his wrists and ankles. The children were ultimately discovered after Franke's son, referred to as R, escaped for a second time and sought help from a neighbor for food and water.
Witness statements revealed the harrowing conditions R endured, with duct tape found around his ankles and wrists. Despite being questioned about the injuries, R insisted it was his fault, indicating he had been in bondage. When police arrived, R expressed concern for his sisters, whom he believed were also held captive in Hildebrandt's home.
When authorities searched Jodi Hildebrandt’s residence, they discovered R’s sister, referred to as E in the documents, sitting in a walk-in closet within the expansive home. Despite efforts to provide medical treatment, she refused to leave or be touched. Video footage revealed her concerns about going to the hospital, fearing vaccines, as recounted by an officer identified as N. Tobler in a supplemental report.
During the search, police uncovered various items including rolls of duct tape, plastic wrap, used rope, cayenne pepper, honey paste described by one of the victims, and used medical gauze. Among the disturbing finds was a pair of large silver handcuffs with a long rope, discovered in a safe room behind a vault-like door in the home’s basement, as captured in photos and body-worn camera footage.
In a bodycam video from August 2023, the father, visibly distressed, reacts with horror to the detailed descriptions of the abuse. At the time, he was still under suspicion and questioned about his knowledge of the situation.
Kevin Franke, the father, asserts that he hadn’t seen the children for over a year. He filed for divorce in November and is currently pursuing custody of his four youngest children.
