Ruby Franke, a mother of six from Utah and former YouTube parenting advisor, has pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. Franke, who had garnered a following of nearly 2.3 million subscribers on her YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” was arrested in August following a distressing incident involving her 12-year-old child.
The case came to light when Franke’s emaciated 12-year-old child sought help from a neighbor, indicating signs of restraint and neglect. This incident led to Franke’s arrest and the subsequent unraveling of her controversial parenting style and discipline methods, which were previously showcased on her YouTube channel.
Appearing in court in grey and white prison attire, Franke individually admitted guilt to the first three charges and expressed deep regret and sorrow for her actions on the fourth charge. Judge John J. Walton, overseeing the case, accepted a plea agreement and scheduled sentencing for February 20. The terms of the agreement leave the sentencing at the judge’s discretion, with Franke’s lawyer, LaMar Winward, acknowledging that prison time is a possibility.
Further investigation revealed Franke’s connection to Jodi Hildebrandt, a relationship counsellor, who is believed to have significantly influenced her. Franke’s attorney argued that Hildebrandt led her to adopt a distorted sense of morality. The statement from Franke’s lawyer suggested that Hildebrandt exploited Franke’s quest for improvement, leading to the abusive circumstances.
Hildebrandt, arrested alongside Franke on August 30, has since been barred from seeing patients until the allegations are fully addressed. She faces her next court hearing on December 27.
In the midst of these developments, Kevin Franke, Ruby Franke’s husband, has filed for divorce.
