(NewsInsights.org) – Ruby Franke started her “8 Passengers” video blog on YouTube in 2015, climbing to number 36 on the mommy vlogger influencer charts with more than 445,000 followers and over 1,500 posts. Yet, on December 18, the woman who dispensed parenting advice to millions online pleaded guilty to four of six counts of aggravated child abuse under a plea agreement that dismissed the remaining two counts.
On August 30, Russell, Franke’s 12-year-old son, managed to escape from Franke’s business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins, Utah, to ask a neighbor for food and water. The neighbor notified police because the boy appeared emaciated and had duct tape around his wrists and ankles. The boy told police two of his siblings, ages 10 and 14, remained in the home when he escaped. Detectives found the younger sibling when they responded. They later found the 14-year-old and another sibling at Franke’s home.
The boy also told authorities his mother and Hildebrandt had tied him with ropes. Additionally, his mother had allegedly held his head underwater, smothered him with her hands, and kicked him while wearing boots. Police found open wounds under the duct tape. The youngster said his mom and her business partner had dressed the wounds with cayenne and honey.
After obtaining a warrant and searching both houses, Police removed all the children and arrested Franke and Hildebrandt. Official investigative reports said the younger child was “reluctant to speak to officers” when they found her. Eventually, they learned Franke had withheld food and water from the two youngest siblings. She had repeatedly forced the 10-year-old girl to run dirt roads while barefoot and told the child she was “possessed” and “evil.”
Each of the four counts to which Franke pleaded guilty carries a 1 to 15-year prison sentence. Judge John Walton said the penalties would run consecutively rather than concurrently. Walton scheduled Franke to return to court for her sentencing hearing on February 20.
Under the terms of her plea agreement, Franke will testify against Hildebrandt, a licensed therapist, who Franke’s attorneys say “systematically isolated” her from her family and distorted her sense of morality under the guise of offering her personal improvement. Hildebrandt’s niece, Jessi, told The Daily Mail that more than a decade ago, her aunt abused her similarly to the descriptions provided by the Franke children. The court has scheduled Hildebrandt to appear before a judge on December 27.
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