YouTube star Ruby Franke sentenced in shocking child abuse case

Famous YouTuber Ruby Franke, whose parenting content was watched by millions of viewers, was convicted of child abuse.

Ruby Franke is known for running the YouTube channel "8 Passengers", where she documented the life of her husband and their six children. In 2020, the channel achieved staggering numbers, with 2.5 million subscribers and over a billion total views.

In 2022, Franke separated from her husband, deleted her YouTube channel, and started working with Jodi Nan Hildebrandt, in whose company "ConneXions" she worked as a mental health coach. Shortly after that, they launched another activity on social media, producing parenting content for parents.

Both women were arrested on August 30, 2023, after Franke's 12-year-old son climbed onto a window and escaped from Hildebrandt's house, malnourished and tied with a rope with numerous wounds, asking neighbors for help.

On December 18, 2023, Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse, and now, on February 20, 2024, she and Jodi Hildebrandt were sentenced to four consecutive sentences of one to 15 years in prison.

"For the past four years, I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion. My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me. [...] It is important to me to demonstrate my remorse and regret without blame. I take full accountability for my choices, and it is my preference that I serve a prison sentence", said tearful Franke before the reading of the sentence, quoted by ABC News.

Source: ABC News