Ruby Franke, a family vlogger from Utah, appeared in court on Monday, December 18, 2023, and accepted a plea deal. As part of the deal, she pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse in a court case that stemmed from the treatment of her children. Franke’s former business partner and collaborator, Jodi Hildebrandt, faces similar charges in the same case. The former also agreed to testify against Hildebrandt, as per BBC.
The case had previously been featured on Impact X Nightline’s episode titled “Ruby Franke: A Momfluencer’s Double Life?”
Ruby Franke’s guilty plea in child abuse court case explained
According to sources such as NBC News, People Magazine, and BBC, Ruby Franke’s guilty plea was the latest update in the prominent child abuse case. People reported that her lawyers had previously hinted in a statement that she intended to accept a plea deal. As part of the deal, the family vlogger pleaded guilty to four felony counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse. She also agreed to testify against her former business partner and collaborator, Jodi Hildebrandt, who faces child abuse charges in the same case.
Ruby Franke, 41, pleaded guilty “with my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children.” Prosecutors said that she will remain in jail until her sentencing on February 20, 2024. The New York Times reported that the Utah mother-of-six faces the possibility of the maximum penalty of 15 years for each count. She may also have to pay a fine of up to $10,000.
The prominent case began following Franke and Hildebrandt’s late August 2023 arrests after the former’s 12-year-old son escaped Hildebrandt’s Ivins home that month. The boy then went over to a neighbor’s house looking “emaciated” and “covered in wounds” and asked for food and water. Police later found the family vlogger’s 10-year-old daughter in “a similar physical condition of malnourishment” inside the same house.
Ruby Franke founded the now-defunct YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which had nearly 2.3 million followers. She and her husband, Kevin, soon came under fire for strict parenting strategies. These included refusing food to their children as a form of punishment. People accused the couple of being abusive for years. These videos also included the lives of Ruby Franke’s kids—Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve.
Kevin Frank reportedly filed for divorce last month, as per NBC News. In October, his lawyer told TODAY.com that the duo had been separated for about 13 months. Franke’s lawyer said in a statement on Friday that she is “devastated” by news of the divorce filing. The same statement noted that the mother-of-six offers “full cooperation” to help reunite their children with Kevin.
Sources claim that Ruby Franke’s guilty plea may spur a similar deal for her co-defendant, Jodi Hildebrandt.
