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Ruby Franke has been sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to four counts of child abuse.
The YouTube parenting influencer, known for her “8 Passengers” channel, was sentenced to four one-15 year terms in prison by a Utah district court on Tuesday. Her former partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, was also sentenced to four one-to-15 year terms. Both women will serve their sentences consecutively, meaning they could serve from four-60 years total.
During her sentencing — audio of which was streamed on Utah Court’s website — Franke got emotional as she apologized to her children.
“I … believed dark was light and right was wrong,” she said. “I would do anything in this world for you. I took from you all that was soft, and safe and good.”
She also addressed Judge John Walton and the court.
“For the past four years, I’ve chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion,” she admitted. “My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me.”
According to the Santa Clara-Irvins Public Safety Department, the arrests on Aug. 30. 2023, came after the department got a call about a juvenile in need of help. That juvenile turned out to be one of Franke’s 12-year-old sons, who police say escaped Hildebrandt’s home by climbing out of a window and running to a neighbor’s home for help.
Police say the boy showed up to the neighbor’s home with duct tape around his ankles and wrists and he was also “emaciated and malnourished.” According to multiple reports, the neighbor called 911 and said the boy told him that “what’s happened to him is his fault.” While waiting for paramedics and police to arrive, the neighbor gave the juvenile food and water.
The department said its officers eventually were led to Hildebrandt’s home, where another child — a 10-year-old girl — was found in a similar condition. The girl turned out to be Franke’s child as well. The juvenile boy and 10-year-old girl were then taken to a hospital, while two of Franke’s other children were taken by the Department of Child and Family Services.
Franke pleaded guilty to child abuse charges on Dec. 18, 2023. She was originally charged with six counts of child abuse in September but two counts were dropped under the plea deal, according to KUTV.
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