Title: Disturbing Details Emerge in Ruby Franke’s Child Abuse Allegations
Subtitle: YouTube Influencer Faces Charges as Virtual Court Hearing Marred by Tech Issues
Date: September 9, 2023
St George, Utah – YouTube parenting influencer Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were set to appear in court on Friday afternoon to face child abuse charges. However, the virtual hearing was plagued by technical issues, causing a delay in the proceedings.
Franke, who rose to fame through her now-deleted YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” had garnered a massive following for her parenting advice and content featuring her six children. The channel, which accumulated over two million subscribers, faced mounting scrutiny in 2020.
Earlier this year, Franke joined a new YouTube channel called ConneXions alongside Jodi Nan Hildebrandt, where the duo continued to spark controversy with their videos. One video, in particular, raised concerns as they made claims about what it means to love children unconditionally.
The disturbing details leading to their arrest unfolded on August 30 when Franke’s 12-year-old son managed to escape from their home. Duct-taped and emaciated, he pleaded with neighbors for food and water, leading them to contact law enforcement.
Court documents revealed that the child had climbed out of a window in Jodi Hildebrandt’s Ivins residence and sought help from neighbors. The neighbor’s chilling 911 call described the child as “bound in duct tape” and “covered in wounds.”
Upon their arrest, Franke and Hildebrandt were ordered to be held without bail. Their bond hearings are scheduled for September 21. It has been reported that Franke has been relocated to the medical unit of the jail, although the reasons for her move remain unclear.
The virtual court hearing on Friday drew the attention of over 1,000 viewers. However, chaos ensued as bizarre noises and pleas for silence disrupted the proceedings. Eventually, public access to the hearing was shut down after it was discovered that the Zoom link had been shared on TikTok.
Neighbors of Franke expressed relief at the arrests, noting that they had long been concerned about the well-being of her children. Some even feared that the police would pull “body bags” from her home. The disturbing nature of the child abuse allegations has sent shockwaves through the community.
As the case against Ruby Franke unfolds, many are left wondering how such horrific abuse could occur within the walls of a seemingly happy and successful YouTube family. The court hearings and subsequent investigation will shed further light on the disturbing story behind the influencer’s rise to fame.