A harrowing tale of abuse under the guise of parental guidance and mental health counseling.
Ruby Franke, once a beloved family YouTuber with her channel “8 Passengers,” and Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor and the founder of Connexions Classroom, faced legal repercussions for their actions involving aggravated child abuse. Both were sentenced to serve between four to thirty years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony, with their sentences set to run consecutively. This outcome follows their arrest in August 2023, prompted by a distressing incident where a malnourished child escaped from Hildebrandt’s home seeking help.
Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt, both affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), exhibited religious beliefs that significantly influenced their controversial and harmful actions. Franke, who often invoked the concept of “repentance” in her punishment methods, was reported to have excluded her two youngest children from Christmas celebrations as a punitive measure for failing to repent for perceived misbehavior. This extreme application of religious principles reflects a distorted interpretation of LDS teachings on repentance and discipline.
The relationship between Franke and Hildebrandt, and their descent into more extreme behaviors, was noticed by their community and online followers. Social media analysis and neighborhood observations suggested that Franke’s parenting style became increasingly severe and isolationist as she collaborated more closely with Hildebrandt. Critics argue that their actions represent a gross misapplication of LDS teachings, with their behaviors becoming increasingly concerning to those around them.
The case unveiled a series of appalling treatments inflicted upon Franke’s children, described during the legal proceedings as akin to a “concentration camp-like setting.” The children were subjected to physical torture, severe emotional harm, and sustained physical injuries under Franke and Hildebrandt’s care. Their abusive practices included tying the children with ropes, applying cayenne pepper to their wounds, and subjecting them to extreme and punitive physical tasks. The abuse, purportedly rationalized by Franke and Hildebrandt’s twisted beliefs, was detailed in their plea agreements, highlighting a disturbing misuse of parental and counseling authority.
Throughout the legal process, Franke acknowledged her role in the abuse, expressing a desire for a prison sentence as a form of accountability for her actions, thanking the police for intervening and saving her children. Hildebrandt, in her statement, expressed a wish for the children’s physical and emotional recovery, albeit in the shadow of her grievous actions. The sentencing underscored a tragic betrayal of trust, where the individuals responsible for nurturing and safeguarding children instead led them into a nightmare of abuse and mistreatment.
image via Business Insider
