Moms of Truth, House of Horrors: The Ruby Franke & Jodi Hildebrandt Case

It was a warm August morning in the quiet desert town of Ivins, Utah when a frantic 12 year old boy appeared at a neighbor’s doorstep, pale and trembling. He had crawled out of a window of a lavish home down the street and now begged for food and water. The neighbor gasped at the sight: the boy was severely malnourished, with sunken eyes and dirty, sun-scorched skin. Angry red wounds crisscrossed his arms and legs, and there were still bits of duct tape clinging to his thin wrists and ankles. Fighting back tears, the neighbor recognized the child – he belonged to a local family once famous on YouTube. As the boy revealed that he had been tied up and denied food, the horrified neighbor dialed 911. What police discovered that day would unmask the monstrous truth lurking behind an image of wholesome family life and “tough love” parenting. This 12 year old was one of Ruby Franke’s six children, and the house he fled from belonged to Ruby’s close friend Jodi Hildebrandt. The two women – both mothers and self-proclaimed mentors – had built an online following as paragons of strict parenting and moral “truth.” But on that day, their facade shattered. Officers rushed into Hildebrandt’s upscale home and found Ruby’s 10 year old daughter hiding in a basement, emaciated and wounded just like her brother. Both children were immediately hospitalized for severe malnutrition and injuries. Within hours, Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were led away in handcuffs, charged with felony child abuse. The family vlogger mom and the counselor she trusted had become the alleged architects of a real-life house of horrors.

To Ruby Franke’s millions of online viewers, this outcome was unthinkable – but not entirely unexpected. For years, devotees and detractors alike had watched Ruby on her popular YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” where she uploaded cheerful videos of life with her husband Kevin and their six children in suburban Utah. Ruby, now 41, presented herself as a devoted stay-at-home mom navigating parenting challenges with firm values grounded in her Mormon faith. Starting in 2015, Ruby’s daily vlogs offered an intimate window into the Frankes’ world: family road trips, chore charts, birthday surprises, and Bible study nights. By 2020, her channel had over 2.5 million subscribers and a billion total views. To many followers, the Frankes were an inspirational all-American family. Yet even amid the laughter and prayer on camera, some viewers sensed that something was deeply wrong. Ruby’s parenting style, which she described as teaching her kids to be “self-governing,” often crossed a line between strict and cruel. In one notorious video, Ruby’s teenage son Chad revealed that he had been made to sleep on a bare beanbag in an empty room for seven months as punishment for misbehaving. In another, Ruby nonchalantly recounted how she had sent her 6 year old daughter Eve to kindergarten with no lunch, and then refused to bring food when the school called – all to teach the child “responsibility.” These incidents, broadcast for all to see, alarmed many viewers. By mid-2020 concerned fans had organized petitions urging Utah authorities to investigate the Franke household for potential abuse and neglect. Under mounting public pressure, Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services did dispatch social workers to the Franke home that year. Investigators interviewed the children for hours, looking for signs of maltreatment. But at the time, Ruby and Kevin defended their parenting choices as misunderstood and taken “out of context.” The children apparently told officials they were fine, and without clear-cut evidence of physical harm, the case was closed with no action taken. Ruby later insisted in an interview that her methods were rooted in love and giving her kids “choices,” claiming outsiders simply didn’t grasp her approach. With authorities backing off, Ruby carried on vlogging – though her online popularity took a hit as more viewers questioned her judgment. Unbeknownst to the public, however, an even darker influence was beginning to take hold over the Franke family.

That influence came in the form of Jodi Hildebrandt, a Utah mental health counselor who espoused an ultra-strict philosophy of parenting and self-improvement. Ruby and Kevin first met Jodi around 2019 through their church circles. Jodi ran a counseling organization called “ConneXions” and promoted herself as an expert in saving troubled relationships by enforcing radical honesty and discipline. In reality, Jodi Hildebrandt already had a checkered past: years earlier, she had been sanctioned by the state licensing board for breaching patient confidentiality, and some former clients accused her of employing cult-like tactics. None of that deterred Ruby. Desperate for guidance amid the backlash to her channel, Ruby was drawn to Jodi’s black-and-white worldview. By 2021, Ruby was spending more time with Jodi, attending ConneXions workshops that preached rigorous moral purity and obedience. According to later accounts, Jodi began meddling in the Frankes’ marriage and family life. She apparently viewed Kevin as a roadblock to Ruby’s “progress” in the program. Under Jodi’s counsel, Ruby grew convinced that her husband and even some of her older kids were sources of spiritual “darkness” holding the family back. In early 2022, Ruby and Kevin separated, a split that Kevin later said happened at Jodi’s urging. Kevin was effectively pushed out of the home and cut off from communicating with Ruby and the children. Feeling he had no choice, Kevin moved to a relative’s house, heartbroken and alarmed. With Kevin gone, Jodi’s hold over Ruby tightened. That year Ruby abruptly stopped uploading to 8 Passengers and announced a new venture with Jodi: together they launched a weekly podcast and Instagram page rebranded as “Moms of Truth.” On these new platforms, Ruby and Jodi portrayed themselves as truth-tellers teaching parents to root out “disobedience” and “deception” in their children through harsh consequences. The woman who once filmed wholesome family pranks was now posting stern lectures about sin and punishment. Ruby’s own sisters – who were also popular family vloggers – grew so alarmed that they publicly distanced themselves, saying they did not support Ruby’s extreme ideas. Neighbors, too, noticed ominous changes. Some reported that Ruby often left her younger kids home alone for long stretches while she traveled to work with Jodi. On at least one occasion, worried relatives and neighbors contacted police, asking for welfare checks on the Franke children. But as before, any official inquiry fizzled without immediate evidence of abuse. Ruby remained utterly under Jodi’s spell.

In May 2023, Ruby took an irreversible step: she packed up her four youngest children – Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve – and moved them 300 miles south to live in Jodi Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins, Utah. This isolated the kids from friends, their school, and any watchful eyes in their old neighborhood of Springville. Under Hildebrandt’s roof, Ruby’s parenting would become not merely strict but sadistically cruel. Later, investigators would discover a 60-page handwritten journal kept by Ruby during those months in Ivins – a chilling log of daily punishments that reads like a torture diary. In one June entry, Ruby noted that her 12 year old son (identified as “R” in the diary) refused to perform a strenuous wall sit exercise as punishment. Enraged by his defiance, Ruby decided the next day that “R is to stay outside. Sleep outside.” And so the boy was banished to sleep alone on the backyard patio in the sweltering summer heat. Another mid-July entry reveals Ruby’s discipline for her 10 year old daughter (“E”) who had “refused to work” and thrown a tantrum: Ruby shaved the little girl’s hair off as a consequence. Jodi apparently approved of these measures, even as the children grew weaker and more desperate. On July 15, 2023, Ruby’s son made an attempt to escape their captivity – he ran away from the property, fleeing into the desert sun. Ruby recorded in her journal that she and Jodi managed to find the boy after a two-hour search. Instead of recognizing this as a cry for help, Ruby portrayed it as proof of evil: she wrote that her son was in “satanic chaos.” That day, in an almost surreal aside, Ruby noted that after retrieving the boy, she and Jodi piled both children into a car and drove to Arizona “to look at land.” It was as if the two women were considering a further retreat from prying eyes. Throughout her journal, Ruby obsessively described her son and daughter as “possessed” by evil spirits and full of “deviant behavior.” She wrote that they were furious because “their selfish, sinful lifestyle is being intervened upon.” In Ruby’s warped mind, every act of resistance from the kids only affirmed that they were tainted by darkness – darkness she and Jodi were determined to purge through pain. They forced the children to do manual labor for hours in the brutal sun, withheld food for days at a time, and made them sleep on the hard ground outdoors. When the children cried in hunger or exhaustion, Ruby wrote that she told them they “needed to repent” and even encouraged her son to join her in fasting and prayer to rid himself of demons. Neighbors later reported seeing the children performing odd punishments outside at odd hours – but no one realized the full scope of what was happening behind closed doors. The Franke youngsters were trapped in a nightmare of discipline turned to torture, completely at the mercy of their mother and her merciless guru.

By late August 2023, this nightmare reached a breaking point. On that fateful morning of August 30, 2023, Ruby’s 12 year old son seized a chance to save his life. Malnourished and weakened, he had nonetheless resolved to get help. Sometime before dawn, the boy quietly jimmied open a window in the room where he had been confined. With heart pounding, he slipped out of the Hildebrandt house and crept through the yard, past any chains or ropes that had held him before. Barefoot and in pajamas, he hurried down the sleepy residential street until he found a house with lights on – the home of a neighbor just beginning their day. Summoning what strength he had, the boy knocked and pleaded for assistance. Inside, the neighbor couldn’t believe their eyes as they saw this skeletal child begging for help. Bruises, sores, and open cuts covered his limbs; where the wounds hadn’t scabbed over, someone had bizarrely smeared a paste of honey and cayenne pepper on them in lieu of proper medical care. The neighbor recognized the boy as one of Ruby Franke’s kids – they had seen the family’s cheerful videos online in the past. To see him now in such a state was “absolutely devastating,” the neighbor later recounted. Fighting back panic, the neighbor immediately called 911 and reported that a child from the “8 Passengers” family appeared to have been tied up and starved. Minutes later, officers from the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department arrived to find the neighbor cradling the boy, trying to give him water. Paramedics gently began treating the boy’s wounds and noted the deep ligature marks on his wrists and ankles, evidence that he had been bound with ropes or cables for a long period. “There are wounds… there is duct tape… he’s obviously been tied up,” the first responder radioed in disbelief. The child was so emaciated that medics feared his organs could shut down; they rushed him to an ambulance for urgent treatment. Meanwhile, police moved quickly to secure the house he had fled. Entering Hildebrandt’s luxury home, officers encountered a horrifying scene: in a dark basement storage room, they discovered Ruby’s 10 year old daughter hiding in a corner. She was severely malnourished, just like her brother, and had open sores and bruises on her tiny frame. She, too, had sections of her arms wrapped in layers of duct tape – perhaps to cover wounds or restrain her movement. The girl was so frightened that she wouldn’t come out at first; body-cam footage later showed EMTs gently coaxing the terrified child out of a closet, assuring her she was safe now. Both children were swiftly transported to a hospital, where doctors noted signs of prolonged abuse and neglect. Investigators also located Ruby’s two other minor children – 14 year old Julie and 16 year old Abby – elsewhere on the property. Those two did not appear as physically tortured, but they were removed and taken into the custody of Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services for their protection. In total, four Franke children were rescued that day. Back at the scene, officers found the two adults responsible: Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were present at the home and were immediately detained. Neighbors watched in astonishment as the women were led out by police. Ruby, the once upbeat YouTuber, looked disheveled and defiant. Jodi, the respected therapist in the community, was stone-faced. They were arrested on the spot, each facing multiple counts of aggravated child abuse.

News of Ruby Franke’s arrest spread like wildfire, stunning followers and igniting a firestorm of outrage on social media. Within hours, Ruby’s eldest daughter Shari – a 20 year old college student who had been estranged from her mother – posted a blunt message of relief on Instagram: “Justice is being served,” she wrote. “We’ve been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this.” Indeed, Shari and other relatives had long suspected the children were in danger under Ruby’s care. Now, they felt vindicated, if heartbroken that it had come to this. Ruby’s sisters (fellow social media moms Ellie, Julie, and Bonnie) also spoke out publicly, condemning Ruby’s actions and thanking law enforcement. “This needed to happen,” two of her sisters announced jointly. “The kids are now safe, which is the number one priority.” The family’s statements carried a mix of anger and profound sadness – they had witnessed Ruby’s transformation under Jodi’s influence and, despite attempts to intervene, had been unable to stop it. Strangers around the world, too, mourned for the children and expressed fury that red flags had been ignored for so long. The “8 Passengers” channel, once a source of light-hearted entertainment, was now infamous as evidence of hidden abuse. YouTube moved quickly to terminate Ruby and Jodi’s channels, scrubbing their content from the platform. The community of fans and critics who had followed the Frankes over the years now united in supporting the children and demanding accountability for the perpetrators. On the day of the arrest, Ruby and Jodi were transferred to jail to await a bail hearing. Prosecutors in Washington County, Utah swiftly filed six felony counts of aggravated child abuse against each woman – one count for each specific form of abuse and for each child believed to be harmed. Given the evidence at hand, authorities described the case as one of the most egregious examples of child abuse they had ever encountered.

Innocence Under Siege: The Children in the Franke Family

The true victims in this tragic saga are Ruby Franke’s six children, who endured a range of abuse that no child should ever face. Each of the Franke kids had once been familiar faces to YouTube audiences, appearing in their mother’s cheerful vlogs about homeschooling, chores, and family adventures. Behind the scenes, however, Ruby’s offspring were subjected to what can only be described as systematic cruelty masquerading as discipline. The rescued 12 year old boy and 10 year old girl – Russell and Eve – suffered the worst physical tortures. By the time help reached them, they were starved to the brink of organ failure and bore scars from being tied up and restrained. Responders noted that the boy’s legs were covered in sores and cuts, some infected from being left untreated. His little sister was so frail she could barely speak above a whisper when police found her. Investigators believe these two youngest children had been singled out by Ruby and Jodi for the harshest punishments in the months leading up to the rescue – they were considered “rebellious” by the women’s warped standards and thus became targets for extreme “correction.” Imagine being a child in that situation: hungry day after day, terrified of making any mistake that might bring further pain, and told by your own mother that you are filled with evil. That was the daily reality for Russell and Eve.

Ruby’s older minor daughters, Abby and Julie, were also living under Jodi Hildebrandt’s roof in Ivins. While they were not found bound or as severely malnourished as their younger siblings, they too experienced neglect and emotional trauma. These girls, in their early teens, had essentially been cut off from normal schooling and friendships when Ruby uprooted them to live with Jodi. They reportedly spent long hours isolated in the house, expected to police their own “honesty” and report any “sins” to their mother. Although Abby and Julie did not require hospitalization, child welfare officials placed them in protective custody immediately after the arrests. They were described as being in a state of shock, grappling with the realization that the only life they had known – however harsh – was not normal or acceptable. They had been groomed to think that severe punishment was “love” and that obeying Jodi’s draconian rules was a path to virtue. It will likely take years of therapy and support for these teenagers to fully understand that what happened to them was abuse, not discipline.

The two eldest Franke children, Shari and Chad, had fortunately escaped their mother’s orbit before things reached this deadly stage – but they too bear deep emotional wounds from their upbringing. Shari, now a young adult, had become estranged from Ruby sometime in 2021 when she went away to college and began questioning her mother’s behavior. Shari has since described how painful it was to cut contact, but she felt she had to protect herself and potentially help her younger siblings by sounding the alarm. When Ruby was arrested, Shari finally felt vindicated in her efforts. She quickly flew home to Utah to be with her siblings and has emerged as an advocate for them, even leveraging her own social media to raise awareness about child abuse and family cult dynamics. Chad, who was around 18 at the time of the arrests, had also been living away (he was sent to a wilderness therapy program as a teenager and afterward stayed with other family members). Chad had endured infamous punishments under Ruby’s strict parenting – from losing his bedroom for months to being left out of holiday celebrations as a form of shaming. These experiences must have been traumatizing. In the wake of his mother’s arrest, Chad has kept a lower public profile than Shari, but it’s clear he, too, is a survivor of Ruby’s earlier abuse. Both Shari and Chad carry the heavy burden of knowing what their younger siblings went through while they themselves were unable to stop it.

In the immediate aftermath of the rescue, all four minor Franke children were placed in the custody of Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services. This was a necessary step to ensure their safety and provide medical care and counseling. It meant that, at least initially, the children were not released to any family member – a standard procedure in cases where a parent is the accused abuser. For several months, the children remained in foster care or with temporary caretakers under DCFS supervision. During this period, Ruby was in jail and legally barred from contacting them, and their father Kevin was working through the courts to regain custody. Reports indicate the children received treatment for malnutrition and their injuries healed in time, but the psychological scars were deeper. They were described by those close to the case as dealing with nightmares, anxiety, and confusion as they processed the betrayal by their own mother.

As of the latest update, the Franke children’s situation is looking more hopeful. In early 2025, a Utah judge granted full custody of all four minor kids to their father Kevin Franke, after Kevin filed for an expedited divorce from Ruby and proved himself capable of caring for them. Kevin, who had been cut out of their lives for over a year due to Ruby and Jodi’s influence, immediately began the delicate work of rebuilding trust with his kids. The children – now safely living with their dad – are reportedly in therapy and surrounded by extended family support. Relatives say the kids are resilient and slowly regaining a sense of normalcy: attending school, making friends, and learning what a loving, safe home feels like. The two youngest, Russell and Eve, have physically recovered from their ordeal; they’ve put on healthy weight and their wounds have become scars that will fade over time. Emotionally, of course, they have a long journey of healing ahead. They sometimes ask why their mother hurt them, a question that breaks Kevin’s heart. The older girls, Abby and Julie, have had to adjust to being regular teenagers again – no longer isolated or beholden to bizarre rules. Simple pleasures like going to a movie or eating dessert are now a part of their lives without fear of punishment.

It’s important to note that while these children are out of immediate danger, the trauma they endured may have lasting effects. Specialists in child abuse recovery say the Franke kids likely suffer from complex PTSD, trust issues, and conflicted feelings of love and anger toward their mother. They are all in various stages of grappling with the fact that the person who was supposed to protect and nurture them became the source of their pain. Community members and advocacy groups have rallied around the family, offering support. A silver lining is that Shari, the eldest, has become an outspoken advocate for her siblings – she’s even co-authored a book about her experience as a “former child influencer” and now uses her platform to champion child welfare reforms. The Franke children’s ordeal has touched a nerve nationwide, prompting many to reflect on the hidden suffering that can occur behind closed doors. In the end, these children are the reason this case matters: their courage to survive (and in the son’s case, to escape and seek help) finally brought horrific abuse to light. Their story underscores why vigilance is needed – why communities, schools, and authorities must take even subtle warning signs seriously. It is for the sake of these innocent children, and others like them, that this case must never be forgotten.

From Red Flags to Rescue: How the Case Unfolded and Grew

The case of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt did not emerge from nowhere – it was the culmination of years of mounting concern, missed opportunities, and increasingly brazen behavior that escalated in plain sight. In hindsight, many wonder how this horror could brew for so long without intervention. To understand that, we must examine the timeline of events and the broader context that allowed the abuse to continue until it reached a crisis point.

Early warnings were abundant. As far back as 2019 and 2020, when Ruby’s vlogs were at peak popularity, astute viewers raised alarms about her punitive parenting. The online petition in 2020, which gathered over 18,000 signatures, specifically cited troubling videos and called on child protective services to step in. Ruby and Kevin did face that early investigation by DCFS, but the outcome frustrated those who reported their worries – officials walked away after a cursory check, saying they found no actionable evidence. It appears that at the time the children either downplayed their hardships (perhaps out of fear or loyalty to their mother), or the authorities did not recognize the psychological abuse happening. This was arguably a pivotal missed chance to prevent further harm. The Frankes, feeling exonerated, resumed life as usual and continued making videos, albeit with growing criticism. The fact that Ruby brazenly filmed and shared some of her questionable punishments (like Chad sleeping on the floor, or refusing Eve lunch) suggests she genuinely believed her approach was justified and defensible. This mindset set the stage for her later, more secretive abuses under Jodi’s tutelage.

The involvement of Jodi Hildebrandt introduced a potent accelerant to an already smoldering situation. Jodi’s counseling brand, ConneXions, operated on the fringe of accepted therapeutic practice. Her core tenet was that absolute obedience and elimination of all “moral impurities” were necessary for personal growth. Jodi often spoke in terms of “Truth vs. lies,” framing normal adolescent behavior as “deception” or “addiction” that needed extreme correction. People who have studied ConneXions describe it as having the hallmarks of a cult-like system: an authoritarian leader (Jodi) who demands total control, isolation from outside influences, and the breaking down of individuals to rebuild them according to the leader’s ideals. Ruby became both a disciple and an enforcer of Jodi’s methods. Under Jodi’s influence, Ruby’s natural motherly instincts were systematically eroded and replaced with a chilling zealotry. Jodi told Ruby that her children were full of “darkness” – and Ruby believed her. Jodi told Ruby that Kevin was standing in the way of Ruby achieving “Truth” – and Ruby pushed her husband out. The separation of Ruby and Kevin in 2022 was, in many ways, engineered by Jodi to remove any moderating force that might oppose her hold on the family. After Kevin was gone, there was no one left to question Ruby’s decisions or to comfort the children when punishments got out of hand. Ruby’s own personality transformed significantly in this period. Former friends described how she went from a warm, if strict, mom to an icy, rigid figure who spoke in Jodi’s jargon and disapproved of any leniency.

In those months leading up to the rescue, the Franke children’s world grew very small and very controlled. The move to Ivins in May 2023 ensured that no teachers, no neighbors, and no extended family were around to spot bruises or intervene when the kids were in distress. Jodi’s property itself turned out to be a fortress of secrecy – authorities later noted that the expensive home had a hidden “panic room” or bunker built into it, and it’s suspected the women might have used such spaces to confine or threaten the kids. Digital evidence also shows that around this time, Ruby cut off all access to technology for the children. They were no longer appearing on camera, and likely had no phones or internet of their own through which they could call for help. It was as if Ruby and Jodi wanted to erase any line of communication between the children and the outside world. When the children’s father or older siblings attempted to make contact, they were rebuffed. Kevin has since revealed how utterly powerless he felt in those months; he considered going to the Ivins house himself, but feared a confrontation or being accused of trespassing since he had no custody at the time. Instead, Kevin channelled his efforts into the legal route – preparing to file for divorce and alerting his attorney to his fears that the kids were in danger. Unfortunately, legal processes take time, and as Kevin was assembling his case, the abuse in Ivins intensified unabated.

Inside Jodi’s home, things deteriorated rapidly over the summer of 2023. One telling sign of just how extreme the situation became is Ruby’s own journal. The entries reveal a woman in the grip of a paranoid obsession, interpreting her children’s every action as a battle between good and evil. Ruby wrote of conducting hours-long lectures to the kids about their “sins”, sometimes in the middle of the night. She described forcing them to perform exhaustive physical exercises (like repetitive wall sits, push-ups, running in the heat) as penance for minor misbehavior or perceived attitude problems. When the children inevitably broke down from exhaustion or hunger, Ruby saw it as proof that demons were fighting within them. She and Jodi would then impose even harsher constraints – tying the children’s hands, binding them to door frames or furniture, and depriving them of basic needs for days on end. If not for the courageous escape by Ruby’s son, one shudders to imagine how far this might have gone. Investigators suspect that both Russell and Eve were in such a weakened state by late August that they could have died within mere days if no one intervened. In fact, photos and medical records later presented in court showed Russell’s condition was akin to that of a concentration camp survivor – he was just 12, yet weighed what an average 6 or 7 year old might weigh.

Once the authorities stepped in on August 30, 2023, the situation swiftly transitioned into a criminal investigation of significant scope. Police sealed off the Hildebrandt house as a crime scene, collecting evidence that included ropes, handcuffs, duct tape rolls, and bottles of honey and cayenne pepper (substantiating the boy’s account of how his wounds were treated). They seized electronic devices, though notably much had already been scrubbed from the internet by Ruby and Jodi themselves when their accounts were deleted. Investigators also found the handwritten journal among Ruby’s belongings, which became a central piece of evidence due to its detailed admissions of abusive acts. In one grim entry, Ruby nonchalantly mentioned holding her son’s head under water in a bathtub as punishment, essentially a form of water torture. In another, she recounted making her daughter run barefoot for miles on a gravel road until the child’s feet bled. These kinds of details, once verified, left no doubt to authorities that multiple felonies had been committed. The case that Utah prosecutors built was therefore very strong, supported by physical evidence, the firsthand statements of the children (once they felt safe enough to speak in the hospital, they confirmed many of the abuses), and Ruby’s own writings.

Public interest in the case was enormous. Media outlets from local Utah papers to international networks covered each development closely. Many in the public struggled to reconcile Ruby’s earlier persona as a chipper “momfluencer” with the heinous acts she was now accused of. It sparked an outcry and deeper conversations about the world of family vlogging: how much do we really know about what happens when the cameras are off? Ruby Franke wasn’t the first YouTuber parent to face criticism – there had been other scandals of family vloggers exploiting or mistreating their children – but the Franke case was, by far, the most extreme and criminal to date. It raised uncomfortable questions about why viewers continued to watch even when red flags emerged, and whether tech platforms have any responsibility to intervene if content suggests child abuse. Furthermore, as Ruby and Jodi’s “Moms of Truth” videos were dissected, many observed that the duo had practically telegraphed their abusive mindset online. In some clips (which were archived by concerned community members before deletion), Jodi could be heard espousing that sometimes parents must do “whatever it takes” to correct a child’s behavior, even if the child “hates you for it.” Ruby would nod in agreement and add that she was willing to be seen as “mean” if it meant saving her kids’ souls. These chilling statements were hiding in plain sight on the internet.

Legally, the case moved relatively quickly due to the overwhelming evidence. Within a few days of the arrest, a judge ordered Ruby and Jodi to be held without bail, judging them to be dangers to their children and a potential flight risk. This meant they would remain behind bars throughout the court proceedings. In the following weeks, a grand jury indicted both women on six counts each of aggravated child abuse. Initially, Ruby and Jodi pleaded not guilty at their arraignment, defiantly maintaining that they had done nothing wrong. Ruby’s defense lawyers hinted that they might try to argue she had been manipulated or brainwashed by Jodi – in other words, shifting blame to Hildebrandt’s “twisted influence.” Jodi’s legal team, conversely, seemed ready to insist that parents have a right to discipline their kids as they see fit, claiming she never intended harm. Meanwhile, behind closed doors, prosecutors were negotiating plea deals, hoping to spare the already-traumatized children from having to testify in a public trial.

What investigators and prosecutors were confirming during this phase only solidified the case. They confirmed that the children’s injuries aligned exactly with the abuse methods described – rope burns, for instance, matched the marks the boy had, and medical experts attested that the malnutrition was consistent with prolonged food deprivation. They verified through witness interviews that Ruby and the children had indeed moved in with Jodi earlier that year and essentially become cut off from outside contact. They even found financial records suggesting Ruby had paid Jodi large sums for her “counseling” services, underscoring just how indebted Ruby was to Jodi’s regime. One disturbing detail that emerged was that Jodi had a supply of cayenne pepper and honey specifically for treating wounds – a folk remedy that in this context appeared to be a cruel way to cause pain under the guise of care. Police also collected the duct tape used; fiber analysis showed it was the same kind found in Jodi’s garage. It was becoming incontrovertible that the abuse was systematic and deliberate.

Facing such a mountain of evidence, Ruby Franke changed course by the end of 2023. In December, she agreed to a plea bargain. She pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse, encompassing the most serious instances of harm to her two youngest children. In exchange, two other counts (likely overlapping or lesser charges) were dropped. As part of her plea, Ruby also agreed to provide truthful testimony against Jodi Hildebrandt if needed. This was a significant turn – Ruby was now willing to implicate her former friend and mentor. It’s hard to know what led to Ruby’s decision to plead guilty. Perhaps it was a rare moment of clarity or remorse, or perhaps the reality of potentially facing decades in prison if convicted on all counts convinced her to cooperate. Through her attorneys, Ruby indicated that she accepted “full accountability” and indeed, at her plea hearing, she broke down crying as some of the facts were read aloud. Meanwhile, the community reacted to Ruby’s guilty plea with a mix of relief and bitterness – relief that she was finally taking responsibility, but bitterness that she was trying to pin much of the blame on Jodi as the puppet master.

Jodi Hildebrandt, for her part, held out slightly longer but eventually followed suit. In late December 2023, Jodi also pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. The remaining two counts against her were dropped as well. Notably, because both defendants pleaded guilty, Ruby never actually had to testify against Jodi in court – Jodi folded without going to trial. It seems likely that Jodi realized a jury would have been horrified by the evidence and that she had little chance of acquittal. However, Jodi’s plea did not come with any public acceptance of blame. By most accounts, Jodi remained stoic and unrepentant during her court appearances, in stark contrast to Ruby’s visible emotional breakdown.

With convictions secured, the case proceeded to sentencing in early 2024. On February 20, 2024, Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt appeared in a St. George, Utah courtroom to learn their fate. In Utah, aggravated child abuse is a first-degree felony, with each count carrying a possible sentence of 5 years to life or an indeterminate term like 1-15 years depending on circumstances. However, because both women took plea deals for 4 counts (instead of 6), the sentences were structured as four consecutive terms of 1 to 15 years in prison for each of them. This essentially means a minimum of 4 years behind bars (since 1 year minimum per count times 4) and a potential maximum of 60 years (15 years max per count times 4). However, Utah law has a specific provision capping the total time for consecutive sentences for certain felonies at 30 years (unless a life sentence is involved). Thus, in practical terms, both Ruby and Jodi will serve up to 30 years in prison. The exact length will ultimately be decided by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole – they will evaluate the women’s behavior in prison, evidence of rehabilitation, etc., after the minimum years have been served. Barring any extraordinary circumstances, though, Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt, now in their 40s and 50s respectively, will likely spend a very long time – possibly the rest of their active lives – incarcerated.

The sentencing hearing was an emotional one. Ruby Franke stood up and directly addressed her children in the courtroom (or by statement, since the minors did not attend in person). Through sobs, Ruby apologized profusely. “I took from you all that was soft, and safe, and good,” she said in a quavering voice. “I took from you your mother. How terrifying this must have been for you. I will never stop crying for hurting your tender souls. You’re so precious to me. I’m sorry.” Those in attendance described the courtroom growing silent except for Ruby’s weeping. It was a stark moment – the first time Ruby publicly acknowledged that what she did was horribly wrong. Some observers felt her remorse was genuine, while others wondered if it was prompted by the reality of punishment rather than true understanding. Nevertheless, it was important for the children’s sake that their mother at least expressed regret and validated that they were hurt unjustly. Jodi Hildebrandt, by contrast, chose not to speak at length. She offered a brief, somewhat detached apology but also made comments suggesting she still viewed herself as a martyr. In a recorded phone call prior to sentencing, Jodi had compared herself to a biblical figure being punished unjustly – indicating she perhaps still clung to the belief that she was right and the world was wrong. The judge, in delivering the sentence, admonished both women in strong terms. He emphasized the severity of the injuries to the children and the breach of trust inherent in a mother and a counselor harming kids. He said their actions were “beyond cruel” and that society would not tolerate such behavior, hence the need for a lengthy prison term.

Beyond the prison sentences, there were other consequences. As mentioned, YouTube permanently banned Ruby and Jodi from its platform and deleted any channels associated with their names, including archives of the 8 Passengers and ConneXions content. This was largely symbolic by that point – their empire had already collapsed – but it sent a message that they would not profit from or return to the online spotlight. Additionally, Jodi Hildebrandt’s professional credentials were stripped away. The Utah Division of Professional Licensing revoked her counseling license in May 2024. In truth, Jodi had voluntarily surrendered her license when she was first arrested (likely knowing it would be suspended anyway), but now the revocation is permanent. She will never legally practice counseling or therapy again. These measures ensure that neither woman can easily return to positions of authority or influence over families and children in the future.

The ripple effects of this case have extended further. In January 2025, a Utah man named Michael Tilleman filed a civil lawsuit in federal court targeting both Ruby and Jodi. Tilleman’s wife had been a client in the ConneXions program, and he alleges that the teachings of Ruby and Jodi effectively encouraged child abuse among their followers. The suit claims that ConneXions was a fraudulent scheme – that Ruby and Jodi ran it like a racket, selling parenting advice that was not only bogus but dangerous. In his complaint, Tilleman cites specific rhetoric from their classes that he says led some parents to adopt extremely harsh tactics that harmed kids. This lawsuit is ongoing and may lead to financial penalties for the pair, although given they will be in prison and likely have legal fees and asset freezes, it’s unclear what restitution might be paid. Regardless, the suit underscores that the harm of their enterprise may go beyond just Ruby’s own family – other families might have been negatively impacted by following “Moms of Truth” dogma. It remains to be seen if more such civil suits or even additional criminal investigations (if any other victims come forward) will arise. So far, the Franke children are the only confirmed direct victims, but the case has opened a broader conversation about unregulated “parent coaching” programs like the one Ruby and Jodi ran.

In the Franke family, life is slowly moving forward. Kevin Franke finalized his divorce from Ruby in March 2025, decisively ending their 23-year marriage. It was a tragic conclusion to what had once seemed a happy union. Kevin was granted full custody of the children as part of the divorce settlement, which Ruby did not contest from jail. Kevin has also filed a civil lawsuit against Jodi Hildebrandt, accusing her of intentionally inflicting emotional distress on him and his family. He argues that Jodi’s meddling and extreme practices directly led to the breakdown of his family and the harm of his kids. Kevin’s suit may primarily be a symbolic stand – holding Jodi accountable on every front possible – but it also serves to publicly affirm that he condemns what was done and had no part in it. In interviews, Kevin has been candid about the guilt and pain he carries. “It haunts you,” he told one journalist, describing the endless questions of “what if I had seen more, what if I had done more.” He is now focusing on rebuilding a stable environment for the children, and by many accounts, is doing a commendable job under the circumstances. The kids, according to Kevin, are resilient and even finding moments of joy and normalcy again, though the road to healing is long.

The cultural impact of the case has been significant as well. The saga of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt has already been the subject of a made-for-TV movie (“Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story”) and multiple true-crime documentary episodes. These dramatizations and documentaries explore how a seemingly loving mother became complicit in abuse, and how a charismatic counselor twisted people’s minds in the name of righteousness. In September 2025, a major documentary series titled “Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence” premiered, delving deep into the psychology behind the case and featuring interviews with former ConneXions clients, law enforcement, and even some family members. The fact that this case attracted such media attention speaks to its eerie, compelling nature – it is a cautionary tale of how zealotry and the pursuit of “perfection” can descend into madness and violence. The contrast between the Frankes’ glossy YouTube life and the dark reality behind it has struck a chord with many, prompting important discussions about child welfare, the impact of social media on parenting, and the need for checks on self-appointed “experts” dispensing parenting advice.

Confirmed Evidence and Official Findings

Throughout the investigation and court proceedings, law enforcement and prosecutors systematically confirmed a harrowing catalogue of abuse that had been inflicted on the Franke children. The evidence collected provides a clear and factual account of what happened, stripping away any remaining denial or ambiguity. Here is a summary of what authorities established:

• Physical Abuse and Starvation: Medical examinations confirmed that two of the children (the 12 year old boy and 10 year old girl) were in a state of severe malnutrition when rescued. Doctors documented that the boy was 20-25 pounds underweight for his age, suffering from muscle wasting and signs of chronic hunger. The girl was similarly malnourished. Both had distended bellies and low vital signs, classic indicators of prolonged calorie deprivation. Investigators learned from the children that they were often given only sparse meals of a few crackers or a bowl of oatmeal once a day. Sometimes they went 48 hours or more without any food as punishment. This was corroborated by Ruby’s own journal where she wrote about “fasting” the children for days. In addition to lack of food, the children were frequently denied access to bathrooms, leading to unsanitary conditions and humiliation.

• Restraints and Confinement: Police on the scene found evidence of the children being restrained. They recovered sections of rope with knots, duct tape with strands of hair and fiber stuck to it, and a pair of metal handcuffs. The 12 year old boy’s wrists and ankles had healing lacerations that matched the pattern of binding by rope or cuffs. The boy told officers that he had been tied up with rope “many times” – sometimes bound to a stationary object so he couldn’t move. He also mentioned being locked in a small bathroom or a storage space for hours on end with the lights off, as a method to “cool him down” when he was deemed misbehaving. In a search of the home, authorities indeed found a windowless pantry space outfitted with an interior lock, which could serve as a makeshift cell. This aligns with the so-called “panic room” rumor, hinting that Jodi’s house had been prepared to isolate someone if needed.

• Injuries Consistent with Abuse: Both hospitalized children had a catalog of injuries. The boy had deep sores on his skin, including on his back and buttocks, which doctors said could come from prolonged pressure and contact with rough surfaces – possibly from being forced to sleep on hard ground or restrained in awkward positions. He also had scars on his wrists consistent with ligature use and fading bruises of various ages on his arms, legs, and torso, indicating repetitive physical impacts over time. The girl had a recently broken finger (left untreated) and infected cuts on her feet, which matched her account that she was forced to run outdoors without shoes until she hurt herself. Medical staff noted that these wounds had been covered in a sticky substance – later confirmed to be honey mixed with cayenne pepper powder. Remarkably, this detail was something the boy himself conveyed to police: he said Jodi would apply that painful mixture to their open cuts “so it would burn and we would learn not to do bad things.” Investigators tested residue from one child’s bandage and indeed found capsicum (from pepper) present. This was clear-cut evidence of a sadistic form of “treatment” being used.

• Torture Tactics: Prosecutors officially stated that the abuse rose to the level of torture. They listed methods like water immersion (Ruby holding her son’s head underwater as punishment) and stress positions (making children stand perfectly still in the sun for hours, or hold painful poses like wall sits until they collapsed) as part of the charges. Witness testimony from the children and Ruby’s admissions in her journal confirmed these tactics were employed. On one occasion, as documented in court, Ruby forced her son to climb up and down a steep backyard hill carrying heavy rocks repeatedly, denying him water breaks, because he “stole a popsicle” (a trivial misbehavior). On another, Jodi made the 10 year old girl stand outside at night, barefoot on rough ground for over an hour, as a lesson for “sneaking food.”

• Intentional Isolation: Investigators pieced together how intentionally isolated the children had been kept. School records showed that the four younger kids had been withdrawn from their previous schools when they moved with Ruby; none were enrolled in any local school in Ivins. There were no medical or dental records for them in 2023, meaning they hadn’t seen a doctor or dentist all year (until the hospitalization at rescue). Neighbors in Ivins told police they rarely saw the children outside playing, except occasionally doing manual chores like yard work under adult supervision. One neighbor recalled hearing what sounded like a child crying or screaming late at night a couple of times, but they didn’t know the family well and weren’t sure where it came from. This shows how completely Ruby and Jodi hid the kids from any mandatory reporters or community oversight that might have noticed signs of abuse.

• Digital and Written Evidence: The court was presented with extensive excerpts from Ruby’s 60-page timeline journal. In a sense, Ruby herself provided the prosecution with a roadmap of her crimes. The judge reviewing the factual basis of Ruby’s guilty plea noted that the level of detail in her journal demonstrated premeditation and awareness of her actions. For example, when Ruby wrote “Big day for evil” on July 11, 2023, she then described orchestrating specific punishing tasks for the kids all day long, indicating she woke up with the intent to inflict these ordeals. The journal also captured Ruby’s warped justifications, which underscored that she wasn’t acting out of momentary anger but rather a sustained, delusional belief system. Additional digital evidence included emails and texts between Ruby and Jodi. In one recovered email, Ruby wrote to Jodi about her children: “I will break them. We will cleanse them of this filth, even if it takes all summer.” That chilling statement was hard proof of their conspiracy to abuse.

• Admissions of Guilt: Through their plea deals, both women formally admitted guilt to multiple counts of abuse. In doing so, Ruby and Jodi each signed a factual statement outlining what they did. Ruby’s statement, for instance, admitted that she “intentionally or knowingly inflicted serious physical injury” on her son and daughter and that she did so under circumstances likely to cause grave harm or death. This included acknowledging that she withheld necessary food and medical care, tied them with rope, and subjected them to violence as described in the charges. Jodi’s admissions mirrored Ruby’s, acknowledging her role in causing or allowing the same harms. These signed statements are significant because they leave no room for later recanting – in the eyes of the law, these facts are now established beyond a doubt.

• Official Actions: On the law enforcement side, every step they took has been confirmed in public record: the initial 911 call recording shows the neighbor clearly naming Ruby Franke as the mother and describing the child’s condition; the police incident reports detail the injuries observed on scene and the immediate arrests; the child welfare filings record that custody of the children was formally removed from Ruby on August 31, 2023. The justice system’s response was swift and by the book. The Washington County Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case, confirmed that given the severity (“the severity of the injuries” was a phrase repeatedly used), they pursued the maximum allowable charges and sentencing. Even after sentencing, officials have stated they will continue to monitor the children’s well-being through social services for as long as needed.

• Aftermath for the Victims: Although not an “investigative finding” per se, it’s confirmed by court updates that the four youngest children are now in the full custody of their father and that protective supervision by the state will remain in place for a time to ensure their safety. The court also issued a no-contact order forbidding Ruby (and Jodi, though she’s not a relative) from contacting the children in any way. That means no letters, phone calls, messages through third parties – nothing until each child reaches adulthood and decides for themselves if they want contact. This provides an extra layer of security so that the kids aren’t subjected to any manipulation or guilt from their mother while she’s incarcerated.

In sum, everything that family, friends, and vigilant followers feared was more than validated by hard evidence. Investigators confirmed that what took place was not just overzealous parenting, but calculated child torture. Officially, both Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt stand convicted as felons, their actions fully exposed to the light of justice.

Lingering Mysteries and Unanswered Questions

• How did things get so far before intervention? One pressing question is why multiple warnings (the 2020 petition, calls by neighbors and family) did not result in meaningful action sooner. Was there a failure or gap in Utah’s child protection system that allowed Ruby and Jodi to slip through the cracks? This question haunts family members like Kevin, who wonder what more could have been done early on to prevent the trauma.

• What truly drove Ruby’s transformation? Observers continue to wonder about Ruby Franke’s psychological journey. Was she always inclined toward abusive control, or did Jodi Hildebrandt essentially brainwash her into it? In other words, how much of Ruby’s cruelty stemmed from her own personality versus being under the influence of a domineering mentor? Ruby’s sudden shift from standard strict mom to someone capable of torturing her kids remains hard to fully explain.

• Why didn’t the older children speak out sooner? While Shari and Chad eventually tried to get help, some question if there were earlier opportunities when they or other relatives might have alerted authorities more forcefully. Did fear, family loyalty, or not recognizing the severity play a role in delaying their outcry? This isn’t to blame them, but to understand the complex dynamics that kept the abuse hidden within the family for so long.

• Were other families harmed by ConneXions teachings? The civil lawsuit and anecdotal reports suggest that Ruby and Jodi’s ideology may have negatively influenced others who took their parenting classes. Are there other children out there who suffered milder forms of abuse because their parents followed “Moms of Truth” advice? This remains uncertain, as no other criminal cases have surfaced, but it’s a disturbing possibility that warrants further inquiry.

• What role did religious beliefs actually play? Both Ruby and Jodi often justified their actions by invoking God, sin, and repentance. However, their church (the LDS Church) does not condone such behavior. How did these women go from mainstream Mormon beliefs to what appears to be a distorted, extremist version used to rationalize abuse? The interplay of religion and personal pathology in this case is still not fully understood.

• Can the Franke children ever fully heal? While the kids are now safe, their long-term emotional and mental health is an open question. Will they be able to overcome trust issues and trauma responses to lead normal adult lives? Only time will tell, but many worry about the lasting impact, especially for the youngest two who endured the worst. Their resilience is promising, but the scars of childhood abuse can manifest in unforeseen ways later on.

• How will Ruby and Jodi be treated in prison? Child abusers, especially a mother who harmed her own kids, are often reviled in the prison hierarchy. Will Ruby face danger or retribution from fellow inmates given the notoriety of her case? Similarly, will Jodi’s background as a counselor affect her prison experience? These are practical questions as they begin their lengthy incarceration.

• What will happen when they’re eventually eligible for parole? Both women could be up for parole in as little as four years (December 2026 for Jodi’s first hearing, likely similar for Ruby). How will the parole board assess them? Will remorse and rehabilitation be evident, or will they still cling to their justifications? The community and family will no doubt watch those proceedings closely. There’s also the broader question of whether 30 years (or potentially less, if paroled early) is a sufficient punishment for the magnitude of suffering caused.

• Could earlier intervention by social media platforms have helped? Given that some of the early warning signs were visible in YouTube videos, there’s a lingering question of responsibility for tech companies. Should YouTube or other platforms have flagged or reported content that hinted at child abuse (like Chad’s beanbag confession)? Currently, platforms don’t actively monitor family vlog content for abuse, but this case may prompt changes or at least self-reflection in the industry.

Key Figures in the Saga

Ruby Franke – Convicted Mother – A 43-year-old former family vlogger who documented her life as a mother of six on the “8 Passengers” YouTube channel. Once seen as a devoted (if strict) mom, Ruby descended into abusive behavior under the influence of Jodi Hildebrandt. She has been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for brutally mistreating two of her children and neglecting the others.

Jodi Hildebrandt – Counselor Turned Abuser – A 55-year-old licensed mental health counselor (now disbarred) and life coach who co-founded the ConneXions program. Jodi became Ruby’s close friend and mentor, promoting an extreme brand of parenting “truth.” She helped orchestrate and participate in the abuse of Ruby’s children. Convicted on the same charges as Ruby, Jodi is likewise serving up to 30 years behind bars.

Kevin Franke – Father in the Aftermath – Ruby’s ex-husband and the father of all six Franke children. Age 45, Kevin was an assistant professor at BYU and was largely absent from the abuse after being pushed out of the home in 2022. He had no contact with the kids for over a year while Ruby followed Jodi’s directives. After Ruby’s arrest, Kevin fought for and won custody of the children. He is now raising them safely and has been a vocal advocate for child welfare reforms, carrying significant guilt but determined to heal his family.

Shari Franke – Eldest Daughter and Whistleblower – Ruby and Kevin’s oldest child, 20 years old at the time of the arrests. Shari had become estranged from her mother, sensing something was very wrong at home. She tried to alert authorities and took to social media to expose her concerns. After the arrest, Shari publicly expressed relief and has since become an advocate, using her platform to support her siblings and speak out against child abuse.

Russell “R” Franke – Victim, The Brave Son – Ruby’s 12-year-old son (fourth of the six children). Russell endured severe abuse under Ruby and Jodi, including starvation and being tied up. He was the child who courageously escaped from Jodi’s house and sought help from a neighbor, directly leading to the discovery of the abuse and rescue of his siblings. His bravery likely saved lives. Now in his father’s care, Russell is recovering physically and emotionally from his trauma.

Eve “E” Franke – Victim, The Youngest Daughter – Ruby’s 10-year-old youngest child. Eve was also subjected to extreme punishments – such as having her hair shaved off and being forced to sleep outside – and was found malnourished with wounds at the time of rescue. She was hospitalized alongside her brother. Described as a sweet but now cautious little girl, Eve is slowly healing in the custody of her father and receiving therapy to address the deep pain of her early years.

Abby and Julie Franke – Victims, Teenage Daughters – Ruby’s middle daughters, approximately 14 and 16 during the events. Abby and Julie’s abuse was more neglectful in nature – they were isolated, denied schooling and normal life, and undoubtedly emotionally harmed – even if they did not bear the same physical injuries as their younger siblings. They were taken into state care after the arrest and are now living with their father, adjusting to a freer, safer life.

Ellie Mecham, Julie Deru, & Bonnie Hoellein – Ruby’s Sisters – Ruby’s three sisters, who are also internet personalities. They noticed Ruby’s alarming changes and disavowed her parenting approach publicly. After the arrest, they were outspoken in condemning Ruby’s actions and expressing gratitude that the children were rescued. They provide additional support and stable extended family for the kids now.

Neighbors and the Anonymous Rescuer – Various concerned neighbors in Springville and Ivins who either reported concerns or directly intervened. One neighbor in Ivins (identity kept private) made the critical 911 call that led police to the children. That neighbor’s empathy and quick action were instrumental in bringing the abuse to light. The case highlights the importance of community vigilance – it was ultimately an everyday person’s intervention that ended the cycle of abuse.

Law Enforcement & Prosecutors – Detectives from the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department and prosecutors from Washington County who handled the case. They collected the evidence meticulously and refused to let either woman downplay the injuries. The lead investigators and the county attorney became key figures in ensuring Ruby and Jodi were held accountable. They have since been praised for their swift and decisive response once the abuse was reported.

Michael Tilleman – Civil Plaintiff – The husband of a former ConneXions client who filed a lawsuit against Ruby and Jodi. He’s not directly involved in the criminal case, but he represents the potential wider circle of people affected by the duo’s teachings. His actions keep attention on the case and seek broader justice, claiming that what Ruby and Jodi did wasn’t just a one-family issue, but part of a larger fraudulent enterprise.