Ruby Franke's Daughter Details "Scary" Abuse and Punishment

Content warning: This story discusses child abuse.

Ruby Franke‘s daughter is speaking out about her traumatic childhood.

Approximately two years following the arrest of the parenting influencer on allegations of child abuse, Shari Franke – eldest among Ruby and former spouse Kevin Franke’s six children – shared her experiences growing up under the care of the Utah mother.

In a Good Morning America interview on January 7th, Shari shared that when she was around five or six years old, Ruby was quite physical with her. She frequently received a hard slap across her face – either on the lip or the cheek – as a form of punishment. She found it incredibly frightening.

The young woman, aged 21, shared that the physical mistreatment transformed into psychological distress when she encountered her business associate and counselor, Jodi Hildebrandt, who, like her, faced accusations of child abuse in 2023.

Shari went on to say, “I definitely sensed a change, and it turned out to be more of a mental struggle. In some sense, this made it even harder for me to deal with.

Shari said she was eventually cut off from the rest of the family when she went to college.

The Brigham Young University graduate stated, “I definitely sensed some unusual feelings towards Jodi and Ruby. Frankly, I find it extremely uncommon for a therapist to live with their client, which doesn’t seem right to me at all.

In the state of Utah, Ruby and Jodi were both sentenced to serve four consecutive terms, each ranging from one to fifteen years. This equates to a total of four to sixty years in prison, but their sentences will not exceed thirty years. They admitted guilt for aggravated child abuse in 2023.

Shari, having just published a memoir called “The House of My Mother“, frequently finds herself struck by the physical similarity between herself and Ruby. Yet, she makes it clear that she desires no resemblance in personality to Ruby.

I can’t help but feel that my mom’s actions are so wrong, it seems to me she might be oblivious to the weight of remorse they carry. I suspect, deep down, she truly believes every word she speaks.

For a complete breakdown of the case against Ruby and Jodi, keep reading.

In a recent press statement, Utah authorities disclosed that they had responded to a report of a severely malnourished child. Upon inspection, the child was described as being extremely thin, with open sores and duct tape on their limbs. The child was immediately transported to the hospital in critical condition.

It was revealed later that he was the 12-year-old son of YouTuber Ruby Franke, as reported by NBC News based on a probable cause affidavit. The document stated that he had been at Jodi Hildebrant’s home (Ruby’s business partner), and after escaping through a window, he went to a nearby neighbor’s house asking for help.

Following this, the police conducted a search at a neighboring residence, revealing another child who was similarly emaciated and admitted to the hospital, as stated in the official statement.

Later on, authorities revealed that they found Ruby’s nine-year-old child trembling alone inside a vacant wardrobe in Jodi’s residence, based on the information disclosed by the Washington County Attorney’s Office.

In Utah, Ruby was taken into custody for allegations of severe child abuse, and Jodi, who founded the life coaching service ConneXions in 2007, was also implicated. According to previous clients interviewed by NBC News, this program bore a resemblance to a cult and was grounded in principles similar to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On August 31st, TopMob shared an update stating that Shari Franke, the grown-up daughter of Ruby who has been estranged from her, responded to the news through a post on her Instagram Stories.

Shari, born in 2003, expressed her joy that justice is being carried out. She and her family have been advocating for help from the police and CPS for years regarding this matter, and they’re thrilled that action has finally been taken. The children are now safe, but there’s a long journey ahead.

Apart from Ruby, her sisters Ellie Mecham, Bonnie Hoellein, and Julie Deru also voiced their opinions, stating that the arrest of the YouTuber was necessary.

Over the past three years, we’ve chosen to remain silent regarding Ruby Franke out of respect for her children’s well-being. Privately, we have taken all necessary steps to ensure their safety. We felt it was inappropriate to continue with our usual content without first addressing the recent developments. After doing so, we will not make any additional comments on the matter.

The siblings said Ruby’s kids are “now safe, which is the number one priority.”

Previously known as “The 8 Passengers” YouTube duo, Amelia (the YouTuber) and her business partner, Jodi, both faced indictment on six separate charges of felony child abuse, as filed by the District Attorney’s office in Washington County, Utah.

Ruby’s spouse, Kevin Franke, publicly declared his innocence regarding the accusations against her. In an interview with Good Morning America, their attorney, Randy Kester, revealed that they hadn’t shared a home for 13 months prior to her arrest.

The lawyer stated, “He’s indeed kind-hearted and quite soft-spoken. It’s also important to note that there have been no accusations of him physically harming those children or any other individuals.

As reported by NBC News, based on a domestic relations injunction, it’s been confirmed that Kevin has initiated the process for legally separating from the Utah-based influencer.

According to TopMob’s announcement on December 18, it was confirmed that Ruby admitted guilt for four of the charges brought against her. As reported by the Associated Press, she expressed her deepest regret and sadness, not only for herself but also for her family and children, when she pleaded guilty.

Jodi would also plead guilty to four counts of second-degree felony aggravated child abuse.

Both females received a total of four back-to-back sentences ranging from one to fifteen years, but their combined sentence cannot exceed thirty years in Utah.

The parent vlogger apologized during her sentencing to her six kids and estranged husband.

For the last four years, I’ve been guided by advice that steered me into a misleading illusion, she admitted in court. My twisted perception of truth was seldom questioned because I tended to distance myself from those who disagreed with me.

She went on saying, “My dears, you are an extension of myself. In my world, darkness seemed like light, and what I thought was right often turned out to be wrong. For you, I would give up anything this world has to offer. I robbed you of all that was comforting, secure, and beneficial.

Authorities made public her chilling diary excerpts, where she detailed the abuse she inflicted on her kids, with a special mention of her 12-year-old boy whom she referred to as “my Satanic son.

She wrote on July 10, 2023, his son’s 12th birthday: “He moves stealthily and secretly seeks chances when others are unaware, then quickly disappears. To imitate the Savior, he must be utterly devoted and precise, with no deviations or concealment.

She wrote about punishing her children by beating them and withholding food and water.

Investigators’ conversation with Kevin following Ruby’s arrest was made public by the prosecution, containing statements where he discussed the supposed limitations he experienced within their household.

Kevin shared in a recorded conversation, as reported by TopMob, that multiple restrictions had been imposed on him. He could leave whenever he wished, but was not allowed to return unless given permission by Ruby. He wasn’t permitted to enter the kitchen to eat without prior approval either, and the upstairs area where Jodi resided was off-limits. Essentially, Kevin felt like he no longer had unrestricted access to his own home, with Ruby setting the guidelines for their interactions and determining when they could communicate. This situation proved challenging for him.

2025-01-08 07:29

Ruby Franke’s Daughter Details “Scary” Abuse and Punishment

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