Franke, a mother of six, admitted that she forced one of her heirs to perform hours of manual labor outdoors without sufficient food and water and that she physically assaulted him. Due to excessive outdoor exposure, the boy suffered “severe and repeated sunburns.” The young man managed to escape from captivity and reported that he had his hands and feet bound with tape by Ruby and her accomplice Jodi Hildebrandt. Malnourished, he asked a neighbor for help, who called the police.
Ruby Franke has been in prison since August. In October, her husband Kevin filed for divorce. The former couple's children are in the custody of Child Protective Services.
The family celebrated the YouTuber's arrest
After the arrest, Ruby's sisters published a letter in which they accused the influencer of abusing their children. “For the last three years, we have kept quiet about our sister for the sake of the children. Without public notice, we did everything we could to ensure their safety,” they said.
Additionally, the sisters say Ruby “had to be arrested” and stressed that the children were “safe.” “This is our priority,” they said.
After Ruby was arrested, one of her daughters, 20yearold Shari, expressed relief. “Today was a great day. My family and I are pleased that justice will be served.”