ST. GEORGE, Utah (KTVX) – Ruby Franke of the now-defunct YouTube channel "8 Passengers," and Jodi Hildebrandt, founder of Connexion Classrooms, have been sentenced after pleading guilty to child abuse charges.
Franke and Hildebrandt were taken into custody in early September after two of Franke’s children were found emaciated in Hildebrandt’s Southern Utah home. Franke’s 12-year-old son was reportedly able to escape and went to a neighboring home asking for food and water. The neighbor called 911, saying the boy had tape on his ankles and wrists and had “deep lacerations from being tied up with rope.”
“I think he’s been … he’s been detained,” the caller said, his voice breaking up. “He’s obviously covered in wounds.”
Franke’s 10-year-old daughter was also found at Hildebrandt’s house, court records said. Both children were taken to the hospital. Eventually, Franke’s four youngest children were taken into state custody.
The 12-year-old boy told investigators that “Jodi” put the ropes on his ankles and wrists and that they used cayenne pepper and honey to dress the wounds caused by the ropes, according to a search warrant.
Franke and Hildebrandt each pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse in December 2023. They originally faced six counts, but two were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Judge John J. Walton with the Fifth District Court of Utah sentenced both Franke and Hildebrandt to serve at least four years and up to 60 years in state prison during Tuesday's sentencing hearing.
State prosecutors said Hildebrandt and Franke subjected the children to a "concentration camp-like setting" where they were regularly denied food, water and beds to sleep in, among other incidents of "physical torture."
Ruby Franke's attorney said since her incarceration, Franke had become a "student of her actions" and quickly moved to acceptance of what she had done.
"For the past four years, I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that led to me into a dark dilution," Franke said in a statement. "My version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me."
Franke said she was led to believe the world was an evil place and that she had hired Hildebrandt as a mentor, though they were never business partners. Franke said it was important for her to demonstrate her remorse and regret.
State prosecutors said Hildebrandt has repeatedly claimed to be the victim in the case and that she believed everything she did was justified. Her attorney said Hildebrandt is not the person she had been portrayed to be but she still accepts responsibility and the consequences for her conduct.
In a statement during sentencing, Hildebrandt said she has love for the children, and she hopes for them to heal physically and emotionally.
"One of the reasons I did not go to trial was because I didn't want them to emotionally relive the experience which would have been detrimental to them," said Hildebrandt. "My hope and prayer is that they will heal and move forward to have beautiful lives."
Judge Walton told Hildebrandt that her case was disastrous for the children and that instead of following her responsibility to protect them, she terrorized them. He called her philosophy in dealing with children "detached from any objective of standard of decency."
