Ruby Franke, a mom known for giving parenting advice on YouTube, pleaded guilty to four felony counts of child abuse. The vlogger and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrand, were arrested in August 2023 after a neighbor called the police due to a child who appeared “emaciated and malnourished, with open wounds and duct tape around the extremities" asking for help.
After searching the home, the police found another child in a similar condition. Both children were sent to the hospital for treatment at the time, according to the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department.
Franke is a mother of six and her YouTube channel “8 Passengers” was popular before it was removed. On Monday, December 18, Franke pleaded guilty to four charges and not guilty to two others.
After pleading guilty to the first three charges, Franke said, "With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children, guilty," pleading guilty to the fourth charge.
Her sentencing is scheduled for February 20. The law firm representing Franke, Winward Law, placed a lot of the blame on Franke's business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt.
"Ruby Franke is a devoted mother and is also a woman committed to constant improvement," the statement said, and because she believed that Hildebrandt could help her improve, Hildebrandt allegedly took advantage of that, according to the law firm's statement.
The statement also alleges that Hildebrandt "systematically isolated” Franke from her loved ones and lead her to a “distorted sense of morality."
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Although "8 Passengers" had a large following, it wasn't without controversy and criticism. Many were critical of Franke's strict punishments that were brought to light via the channel, such as threatening to cut the head off her child's toy and telling her kids they wouldn't get gifts from Santa if they didn't abide by their parents' punishments.
