Ruby Franke, an American influencer, and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrant, were arrested in August 2023, exposing the severe abuse inflicted on Franke’s children. Franke’s emaciated 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrant’s home in Utah, seeking help from neighbors after enduring physical torture. Subsequently, the police discovered his five siblings in similar distressing conditions.
The shocking details of Franke’s crimes have been unveiled in a new Netflix documentary titled “Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story,” depicting a disturbing narrative of manipulation. Both Franke and Hildebrandt are currently serving their sentence at Utah State Correctional Facility after pleading guilty to multiple counts of child abuse. They received a four-term sentence of one to 15 years each last February, with a parole hearing scheduled for December.
In a court statement, Franke confessed to subjecting her children to excruciating abuse, including holding her son’s head underwater, kicking him with boots, and restricting his breathing. She described her actions as acts of repentance, believing her children to be evil. The abuse extended to depriving them of basic necessities, such as food, water, and protection from the sun.
Hildebrandt admitted complicity in or awareness of the abuse, detailing instances of forcing Franke’s daughter to endure physical harm. Following the arrests, Franke’s family expressed relief that justice was being served, with her ex-husband filing for divorce due to her inhumane actions.
During sentencing, Franke apologized to her children, acknowledging the manipulation and cruelty that had tainted her intentions. Director Sky Borgman reflected on the documentary, emphasizing the importance of recognizing manipulative behavior to prevent such tragedies in the future. If affected by similar situations, individuals can seek support from Childline or the NSPCC Helpline.
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