A close friendship between Ruby Franke, a popular family vlogger, and family counsellor Jodie Hildebrandt took a dark turn when Hildebrandt became involved in the abuse of Franke’s children.
Initially meeting through their Mormon church community, Franke and Hildebrandt quickly bonded. Hildebrandt, a well-known figure in the Mormon church, ran a life coaching business, while Franke gained fame through her family vlogs with her husband and six children on the YouTube channel 8 Passengers.
As their friendship deepened in 2019, Hildebrandt became a significant presence in Franke’s life, ultimately leading to disturbing levels of abuse against two of Franke’s youngest children.
The shocking details of Hildebrandt’s involvement in the abuse are now exposed in the Netflix documentary Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story. Franke’s children were rescued after her 12-year-old son sought help from a neighbor on August 30, 2023, revealing signs of abuse.
Upon investigation, authorities found Franke’s nine-year-old daughter in a dire state at Hildebrandt’s mansion in Utah. Franke and Hildebrandt were promptly arrested, uncovering the extent of their heinous actions.
Franke, well-known for her family vlogs, had faced criticism for her parenting methods, including subjecting her children to harsh punishments. Child protective services had been alerted in 2020 due to concerns raised by viewers over the treatment of her children, which included severe punishments and neglect.
Subsequent events saw the breakdown of Franke’s family, with her husband leaving and her moving in with Hildebrandt. Court documents later revealed the horrifying abuse that transpired at Hildebrandt’s mansion, including Franke’s descent into delusion and mistreatment of her children.
From May to August 2023, Franke subjected her two youngest children to torture, inflicting physical and emotional pain on them. The children endured brutal treatment, including forced physical labor and deprivation of food and water.
Following their arrests, Franke and Hildebrandt were sentenced to prison terms, underscoring the gravity of their crimes. Franke expressed remorse in court for her actions, acknowledging her distorted perception of reality and the harm inflicted on her children.
In the aftermath, Franke’s eldest children were taken into the custody of child services, with her ex-husband eventually gaining full custody after the divorce was finalized.
Shari, Franke’s estranged daughter, later penned a memoir detailing her experiences, while her son Chad distanced himself from the family and pursued his own life.
The identities of the abused children remain protected, with their stories serving as a stark reminder of the importance of child protection and parental responsibility.