Ruby Franke, known for her parenting advice on YouTube, and Jodi Hildebrandt have been jailed for up to 30 years for abusing Franke’s children under the guise of religious extremism, shocking the global community.
Ruby Franke, a YouTuber known for her parenting advice channel, and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt have been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison on child abuse charges. The case surfaced after Franke’s 12-year-old son, emaciated and bruised, sought help from a neighbour in Utah, having escaped their custody through a window. The two women were found guilty of aggravated child abuse, particularly for convincing Franke’s two youngest children that they were possessed by demons and subjecting them to starvation, physical restraints, and isolation. This abuse, they claimed, was guided by religious extremism, aimed at making the children repent for perceived sins and to rid them of evil spirits.
The details revealed in court show that Franke documented these abusive practices in her journal, believing they were necessary to ‘save’ her children from demonic possession. The abuse scandal has provoked a significant response both within and outside the Mormon community, with many condemning the actions of Franke and Hildebrandt as a misrepresentation of their faith.
In light of these events, Franke’s husband has initiated divorce proceedings and is seeking custody of their minor children, who had been removed from the household following the arrests. The case has heightened awareness and concern about the potential for religious beliefs to be interpreted in ways that lead to extreme and harmful actions.
