Ruby Franke, 42, and her former business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, 54, received identical sentences of four terms of one to 15 years each in court. The judge ordered the sentences to run consecutively, the maximum allowed under Utah law, with the ultimate duration to be determined by the parole board. Franke has 30 days to appeal the decision. The prosecutor described the children’s living conditions as “concentration camp-like” and highlighted Franke’s significant threat to the community. Franke tearfully apologized in court, attributing her actions to a distorted perception of the world.
The case came to light when Franke’s malnourished 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s house and sought help from a neighbor. The arrests marked the end of Franke’s YouTube career, where she amassed over two million subscribers by portraying her family in a positive light. However, suspicions arose among viewers in 2020, leading to a petition and a decline in the channel’s popularity. Franke’s abusive behavior, such as withholding food and inflicting punishment, was exposed through scrutiny of her videos.
Despite outward appearances, Franke subjected her children to severe abuse, including physical violence and neglect. Hildebrandt admitted to participating in or being aware of the abuse, including forcing one child to jump into a cactus multiple times. Franke’s ex-husband, Kevin Franke, described the abuse as “horrific and inhumane” and advocated for the maximum sentence.
Franke’s initial plea of guilt and her tearful apology in court contrasted with her former public image as a family-oriented YouTuber. The case underscores the dangers of online personas masking real-life abuse.
