Ruby Franke gained millions of subscribers to her parental advice YouTube. Now she’s accused of child abuse
Former family vlogger Ruby Franke is due to be sentenced this week, along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, who both face charges of child abuse.
“With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children, guilty,” Ms Franke said as she stood before a judge in December, pleading guilty to a fourth count of aggravated child abuse.
Ms Franke is due to appear in court, as per reports from last year, to finally hear her sentencing, after horrific reports of abuse of her children came to light last year.
The woman who once ran a channel documenting her family’s life and even gave online parental advice now faces four counts of child abuse – with each count carrying a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, the Washington County Attorney’s Office said in September.
While viewers were often concerned about the couple’s harsh parenting styles on their channel “8 Passengers”, such as handing out punishments, including the withholding of food and Christmas presents, it was not until August 2023 that Ms Franke found herself in custody after some of her children were discovered in unimaginable conditions.
Ms Franke’s 12-year-old son allegedly escaped Ms Hildebrandt’s home last summer and was found with wounds and was emaciated; his sister was later found in a similar condition.
