Jodi Hildebrandt, a former mental health counselor in Utah and ex-business partner of YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke, has entered a guilty plea on four counts of aggravated child abuse in a Utah court. This development follows the arrest of both Hildebrandt and Franke in late August in Ivins, southern Utah, after two of Franke’s six children were found to be abused and malnourished, as reported by the St. George Police Department. Franke, known for her YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” which showcased her family life and parenting advice, and Hildebrandt, a friend and former business partner, faced multiple counts of aggravated child abuse.
Under Hildebrandt’s plea agreement, two of the six charges were dropped, and she pleaded guilty to the remaining four charges. Each count carries a potential punishment of up to 15 years in state prison along with a fine of up to $10,000. This development comes shortly after Ruby Franke herself entered a guilty plea to four felony counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in her own plea agreement. Franke is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 20, 2024, and as part of her agreement, she has agreed to testify against Hildebrandt.
The case drew national attention due to the controversy surrounding Franke’s YouTube channel, which garnered nearly 2.5 million subscribers before being deleted. Viewers had raised concerns about potential mistreatment of Franke’s children, leading to increased scrutiny. Franke’s husband, Kevin, was also implicated in the case.
Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested after Franke’s 12-year-old son managed to escape from Hildebrandt’s home, seeking assistance from a neighbor. The child was found severely malnourished and with open wounds, while another Franke child in Hildebrandt’s home was also malnourished.
Prosecutors allege that Franke and Hildebrandt either caused or allowed the torture of Franke’s two children, subjecting them to starvation and physical and emotional harm. Franke’s plea agreement details her admission to forcing her son to perform physical tasks and outdoor work without sufficient water, denying him food, and isolating him from others. Similar abuse was acknowledged toward her 9-year-old daughter.
Franke’s legal team, from Winward Law, released a statement days before her guilty plea, attributing her actions to Hildebrandt’s influence. The statement claimed that Hildebrandt isolated Franke from extended family, older children, and her husband, resulting in prolonged isolation and a distorted sense of morality shaped by Hildebrandt’s influence.
Both Franke and Hildebrandt have remained in custody since their arrests. The case has prompted a broader conversation about online influencers, parenting practices, and the responsibility of platforms to monitor content for potential harm.