Former family blogger Ruby Franke was convicted of child abuse in a Utah court Tuesday.
• Read also: Youtuber who provided family advice arrested for child abuse
The YouTuber who promoted a very harsh parenting style on her channel was arrested in August 2023 with her associate, Jodi Hildebrandt. Police found two of the blogger’s six children tied up in Hilderbrandt’s house in a state of malnutrition, with open wounds. Her son escaped to get help from a neighbor while her daughter remained trapped at her mother’s accomplice, NBC News reported.
The two women were sentenced to four consecutive sentences of one to fifteen years’ imprisonment each. They will spend a maximum of 30 years in prison, consistent with the laws of the Utah prison system.
Ruby Franke delivered a tearful apology to her 6 children during the sentencing hearing, expressing regret for her actions and acknowledging her distorted perception of reality. “I believed that darkness was light and good was evil,” she said. I took from you everything that was gentle, safe and good.”
The months-long case shed light on the dark sides of family vlogging and strict parenting styles.
