Ruby Franke, an influencer known for giving advice on motherhood, is convicted of child molestation; Find out details (Photo: Reproduction/ Instagram)
American YouTuber Ruby Franke was convicted on Tuesday (20) of four counts of child abuse. According to information from Today, the influencer faces four to sixty years in prison. She was arrested in December last year after pleading guilty to the crimes. Ruby became famous for showing off her routine with her six children and sharing motherhood tips.
In September 2023, her youngest child was found malnourished by a neighbor. Jodi Hildebrandt, with whom the YouTuber made videos with advice for parents, also received the same sentence. Under Utah state guidelines, both were sentenced to the maximum sentence for the crime they were charged with.
“This circumstance is tragic; It was largely selfcreated,” Judge John Walton ruled. “Adults are supposed to protect children. Adults with special training in particular must protect children. It wasn't anything [Jodi Hildebrandt] did it in this case. In this case he terrorized children and the results were tragic,” he added.
Ruby claimed to be guilty of abuse (Photo: Reproduction/Law&Crime Network)
“What happened to these children and the philosophy in dealing with them frankly appears to have nothing to do with reality or any objective standard of decency or even common sense,” the judge concluded. Ruby even cried and apologized to her children. “I would do anything in this world for you. I took from you everything that was soft, safe and good,” she said.
“Over the last four years, I have chosen to follow advice and guidance that led me into a dark illusion,” he explained. According to NBC, it is now up to the Utah Board of Pardons and Paroles to determine exactly how many years they will be incarcerated.
Remember the case
Ruby has been running the former station “8 Passengers” with her exhusband Kevin Franke since 2015. She was arrested in August 2023 and faced six child abuse charges in the US state of Utah, four of which she admitted. His business partner Jodi Nan Hildebrandt also confessed to the crimes and was arrested.
The investigation began after Ruby's 12yearold son escaped through the window of the house and ran to a neighbor asking for food and water. The local police department released audio recordings of the call to police. “I just saw a 12yearold boy show up at my door here asking for help. We know there were problems at this neighbor's house. He is malnourished and has duct tape around his legs. He is hungry and thirsty,” said the witness.
The boy's condition was considered serious enough that he was taken to hospital. Later, the 10yearold daughter was also found in the same condition and needed medical attention. The children were at Jodi's house. “Everyone is breathing a sigh of relief because we thought they were coming out of the house with body bags,” a neighbor told NBC. The four minor children have already been taken into judicial custody.
In 2022, a person who lives near the YouTuber's home told police that the children had been left alone for several days. In 2020, the channel's viewers started a petition for child protection authorities to investigate Ruby. At that time, however, the authorities closed the case because “the allegations were not substantiated.”