• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Ruby Franke pleads guilty to child abuse charges after two children hospitalized

Home> News> US News

Updated 11:19 19 Dec 2023 GMTPublished 11:18 19 Dec 2023 GMT

Ruby Franke pleads guilty to child abuse charges after two children hospitalized

The former parenting YouTuber pleaded guilty after being arrested in August

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

Former parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke has pleaded guilty to child abuse after her 'emaciated' 12-year-old son ran to a neighbor for help.

Franke was arrested in August alongside her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, after the young boy turned up at the neighbors house with 'tape around his legs'.

Police then searched Hildebrandt's home and found another of Franke's children, a 10-year-old girl, in a similar malnourished condition. The two children were then taken to hospital.

Though the children were found at Hildebrandt's home, Franke had been seen at the house in a YouTube video posted just two days earlier, indicating she had knowledge of the neglect.

Advert

The following month, the mom-of-six was charged with six counts of felony child abuse, each carrying a prison sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

On Monday (18 December), Franke appeared in court in Washington County, Utah wearing grey and white prison clothing and pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse.

As she responded to the fourth charge, Franke said: "With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children, guilty."

Prior to her arrest, Franke had been a popular YouTuber with 2.3 million subscribers on her channel, 8 Passengers.

Advert

Ruby Franke pleaded guilty to four counts.
Law and Crime Network

The mom documented her family life, focusing on her parenting style including the upbringing and discipline of her six children.

Franke's work with Hildebrandt came as she became a key part of the controversial life counselling organization ConneXions, which Hildebrandt founded.

Together, the pair created advice videos about parenting.

Advert

Franke's lawyer, LaMar Winward, has claimed Franke was influenced by Hildebrandt, alleging she led her to 'a distorted sense of morality'.

Lawyers accused Hildebrandt of 'systematically isolat[ing]' Franke from her family, adding: "Initially, Ms. Franke believed that Jodi Hildebrant had the insight to offer a path to continual improvement. Ms. Hildebrant took advantage of this quest and twisted it into something heinous.”

Ruby Franke was a popular YouTuber before her arrest.
MSNBC

After Franke pleaded guilty to the four charges, Judge John J. Walton accepted a plea agreement and scheduled her sentencing for 20 February.

Advert

The agreement means the sentencing decision is left up to the judge. It does not rule out prison time.

A statement released by the law firm said Franke, who has been held without bail since her arrested in August, is now pursuing 'personal growth and rehabilitation' by apologizing to and trying to reconcile with members of her family.

Meanwhile, Franke's husband, Kevin, has filed for divorce. Four of Franke's children who are under 18 have been placed in care.

Hildebrandt, who was also arrested, is next set to appear in court on 27 December.

Featured Image Credit: Law and Crime

Topics: Crime, Health, Parenting, YouTube

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • The ultimate TV and takeaway pairings revealed, backed by science
  • Parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke arrested on suspicion of child abuse
  • Parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke spoke of having 'dirty little secret' days before being arrested on suspicion of child abuse
  • Woman pleads guilty to hiring teens to murder her ex-husband after he miraculously survived

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Experts reveal why millennials are abandoning organized religion and what they're doing instead

    Americans are becoming increasingly disassociated with traditional religion, according to a new study's in-depth analysis of millennials

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    Underrated Jennifer Lawrence movie that fans say is 'the best they've ever seen' is leaving Prime very soon

    The movie saw Jennifer Lawrence get her first Oscar nomination

    Film & TV
  • 6 hours ago

    'Cause' of tragic nightclub roof collapse that killed 236 people revealed as owners are arrested

    The roof of the Dominican Republic-based club collapsed in April

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Rare resurfaced interview with man who survived 9/11 from 72nd floor as same tower collapsed behind him

    The man was speaking to a journalist when the tower he'd just been in crumbled in front of him

    News