Ruby Franke And Her ‘Mentor’ Are Sentenced For Aggravated Child Abuse

(CTN News) – Ruby Franke, formerly of the YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” and Jodi Hildebrandt, founder of Connexion Classrooms, have been sentenced for child abuse.

Ruby Franke and Hildebrandt’s two children were found emaciated at Hildebrandt’s house in Southern Utah in early September. As soon as he escaped Ruby Franke’s house, he went to a neighboring house for food and water. As a result of being tied up with rope, the boy had deep lacerations on his ankles and wrists, according to the neighbor, who called 911.

His voice broke up as he said, “I think he’s been detained.”. The wounds on his body are obvious.

In addition to Ruby Franke’s 10-year-old daughter, court records show Hildebrandt’s house also held Franke’s 10-year-old daughter. Hospitalization was required for both children. The state eventually took custody of Ruby Franke’s four youngest children.

“Jodi” tied him up and used cayenne pepper and honey to treat his wounds, a search warrant says.

Each of Franke and Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse in December 2023. An agreement they reached resulted in the dismissal of two of the six charges.

During Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Judge John J. Walton of the Fifth District Court of Utah sentenced Ruby Franke and Hildebrandt to at least four years in state prison and up to 60 years.

Among other incidents of “physical torture,” Hildebrandt and Franke allegedly subjected the children to a “concentration camp-like setting.”

She has become a “student of her actions,” according to Ruby Franke attorney, and has accepted the consequences of her actions.

In a statement, Ruby Franke said, “For the past four years, I have followed advice and guidance that led me into a dark dilution.” “I isolated myself from anyone who challenged my version of reality.”

According to Franke, Hildebrandt was hired as a mentor, although they were never business partners, because she believed the world was evil. Her remorse and regret were important to Franke.

According to prosecutors, Hildebrandt repeatedly claimed to be the victim. She accepts responsibility and the consequences for her actions, despite not being the person she was portrayed to be.

During sentencing, Hildebrandt said she loved the children and wished for their physical and emotional healing.

According to Hildebrandt, he didn’t go to trial because he didn’t want them to emotionally relive the experience. As I hope and pray for their healing, I also wish them a beautiful future.

Rather than protecting the children, Hildebrandt terrorized them instead of following her responsibility to protect them, according to Judge Walton. According to him, her approach to dealing with children is detached from any objective standard of decency.

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