Utah YouTube mom sentenced for up to 60 years in vloggers child abuse case

ST. GEORGE, Utah (KMVT/KSVT) — ST. GEORGE, Utah — Ruby Franke, a Utah mother of six who gave parenting advice to millions via a once-popular a YouTube channel, shared a tearful apology to her children for physically and emotionally abusing them before a judge sentenced her Tuesday to serve up to 60 years in prison.

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt have been sentenced, each one facing between one TO 15 years behind bars for each count of second-degree aggravated child abuse to which they pled guilty, according to the Associated Press.

As part of two plea agreements with Utah’s Washington County, two counts were dropped from the original six that the former YouTubers were charged with.

That leaves the parenting vlogger and the life coach facing what could be up to 60 years in prison

Franke told Judge John J. Walton that she would not argue for a shorter sentence before she stood to thank local police officers, doctors and social workers for being the “angels” who saved her children from her at a time when she says she was under the influence of her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt.

Franke told the court, “My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me. I was led to believe that this world was an evil place filled with cops who control hospitals that injure government agencies that brainwash church leaders who lie in lust, husbands who refuse to protect and Children who need abused my choice to believe and behave. This paranoia culminated into criminal activity for which I stand before you today, ready to take accountability.”

Utah State prosecuting attorney Eric Clarke described the environment in which Franke and Hildebrandt had kept the kids as “a concentration camp-like setting.” Clarke said, Hildebrandt has not and continues to place blame on the children.

Hildebrandt’s attorney, Douglas Terry, said his client is not the remorseless woman she has been portrayed to be and accepts responsibility for her actions.

During her sentencing Hildebrandt also addressed the court and said, “One of the reasons I did not go to trial. So, I did not want them to emotionally relive the experience which would have been detrimental to them. My hope and prayer is that they will heal and move forward to have beautiful lives. I am willing to submit to what the state feels would be an appropriate amount of time served to make distribution as an outcome.”

Both Franke and Hildebrandt have 30 days to appeal their sentences.

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