What drives an individual to the brink where fame and attention take precedence over the welfare of their own children? In the recent episode of "Hidden Killers," Tony Brueski delves into the perplexing and deeply disturbing case of Ruby Franke with Robin Dreeke, retired FBI Special Agent and Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program.
 
 Brueski ponders the motivations behind Franke and Jody Hildebrandt's actions: "Was it money? Was it control? Was it delusions of the religious beliefs that they held?" These haunting questions set the stage for a deep dive into the psyche and motivations of individuals pushed to extremes by societal pressures.
 
 Dreeke reflects on the videos of Franke's sisters and describes the apparent competition between them. "It screams of the disease of a cult of more and the disease of comparison between sisters." The sisters, each with their own vlogging careers, seem to be caught in an insidious competition. He notes, "Ruby just went above and beyond because she wasn't getting the attention that she thought she deserved. She wanted more views."
 
 But why this incessant need for attention? Dreeke further explains that the environment in which the Franke family thrived spoke of one-upmanship. "What drove them to that? What sort of tendency made them all feel that this is the way to go?" Brueski added, reflecting on the oddity of every adult sister in the family vlogging for a living.
 
 The conversation then turns to an even more profound issue – the difference between "informers" and "me formers." Dreeke suggests that while informers put out information for the benefit of others, "me formers" are centered around self-promotion, often rationalizing their actions as beneficial for their audience. The Franke family, according to Dreeke, seems to consist mainly of "me formers."
 
 In the case of Ruby Franke, her quest for fame and attention, combined with her competitive nature, seems to have overshadowed her moral compass, leading to the grave mistreatment of her own children. "She was in competition in her own mind against them to better them, to make herself feel better, to make herself feel valued for whatever insecurity," Dreeke hypothesizes.
 
 One of the most chilling aspects of the discussion revolves around the normalization of abnormal behavior. Dreeke equates the situation to a "slow boiling frog" where people start accepting and normalizing behavior at a gradual level. By the time the severity of the situation is realized, it has escalated to alarming levels.
 
 Brueski laments the missed red flags, "There were a lot of people for a long time that felt that Ruby was off." Yet, even with these warnings, it took an extreme situation – a child escaping from her custody – for decisive action to be taken. Dreeke urges listeners to recognize the signs and speak out: "See something, say something."
 
 The conversation wrapped with a somber reflection on the pressures of modern society. The relentless drive for attention, validation, and comparison can lead individuals down dangerous paths. Dreeke emphasizes, "You were in a slow boiling kettle and you didn't realize that you were being manipulated by her normalizing abnormal behavior gradually."
 
 As the story of Ruby Franke continues to unfold, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the dark side of social media fame.
 
 In today's world, where the quest for likes, views, and subscribers often supersedes genuine human connection, one must ask: How can we ensure the line between reality and the digital world doesn't blur to the point of no return?
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