Ruby Franke CRIES as Court Sentences Her to a Maximum of 60 Years for Child Abuse Crimes!

Ruby Franke CRIES as Court Sentences Her to a Maximum of 60 Years for Child Abuse Crimes!

Ruby Franke was visibly distraught and wept on Tuesday when she received a sentence of up to 60 years in prison for aggravated child abuse.

The judge in the case of the ex-“8 Passengers” host, Ruby Franke, delivered a sentence in line with her plea agreement — four counts, each carrying a term of one to 15 years, to be served consecutively.

The exact duration of Ruby’s imprisonment will be decided by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, and she has been granted a 30-day period to appeal the sentencing.

“I am humbled and willing to serve a prison sentence for as long as I need,” Ruby, 42, told the judge as she fought back tears. “I am committed to unlearning my toxic behavior.”

Following the imposition of the maximum sentence permitted under Utah state guidelines, Ruby issued an apology for “twisting God’s words and distorting his doctrine.”

Jodi Hildebrandt, Ruby former business partner, was handed an identical sentence, during which the judge accused her of having “terrorized” the children.

“I sincerely loved these children,” Hildebrandt said in response. “One of the reasons I didn’t go to trial is I didn’t want them to relive this.”

In late August, Ruby and Hildebrandt were apprehended on charges of aggravated child abuse concerning Ruby’s children. The arrest followed an incident where one of her “emaciated” children, found with duct tape around his extremities, managed to escape through a window from Hildebrandt’s residence in Ivins, Utah, and sought assistance at a neighbor’s home.

Authorities detailed the wounds, neglect, and malnourishment of the unidentified child as so “severe” that they required immediate transport to the Saint George Regional Hospital for treatment.

In December 2023, both individuals entered guilty pleas, with Ruby conceding in her plea agreement to acts of torture against her children, including submerging their heads underwater and subjecting them to starvation.

Additionally, when one of her sons attempted to flee in July, the former YouTuber restrained him with handcuffs around his wrists and ankles.

She further immobilized him by using a rope to link the handcuffs, lifting his “arms and lower legs off the ground” in a severe form of restraint.

In September 2023, one of Ruby’s sisters-in-law expressed hope that Ruby would be “put away forever” due to the severity of her crimes.

“I don’t think she should get out on bail. I do believe the allegations against her,” said Cynthia Franke.

“After all of this, she should be put away forever if convicted.”

According to legal documents, Ruby’s estranged husband, Kevin, has demanded that Hildebrandt be held financially accountable for covering the health care costs of his children. However, he did not express condemnation of Ruby’s actions in these documents.

“It is clear and admitted that the children suffered immediate and continuing irreparable harm as a result of the crimes perpetrated upon them by [Hildebrandt],” he wrote.

In his legal filing, 45-year-old Kevin stated that following the juvenile court proceedings, where the state will decide on the custody of the children, he would be responsible for the expenses related to his family’s long-term care.

“This would be a completely inequitable result; that the victims and the victims’ family would have to pay for their own treatment for injuries caused by [Hildebrandt],” the motion said.

Ruby and Kevin gained rapid popularity with the launch of “8 Passengers” in 2015, showcasing their life as a married couple with six children. However, away from the public eye, their marriage began to deteriorate, leading Ruby to become estranged from her two eldest children, Shari and Chad.

As their marital issues intensified, the now-estranged couple sought help from Hildebrandt’s therapy group, ConneXions. During this time, the group’s founder suggested that Ruby and Kevin separate as a strategy to salvage their marriage.

Kevin’s attorney, who clarified that Kevin faced no criminal charges in connection with Ruby and Jodi’s case, informed Page Six that the couple had been separated for over a year prior to Ruby’s arrest. This separation was attributed to “a difference of opinion about their family parenting.”

After her mother’s arrest, 20-year-old Shari expressed relief and a sense of justice on social media. “Today has been a big day. Me and my family are so glad justice is being served,” she shared on Instagram, indicating her support for the legal actions taken against Ruby.

Shari further emphasized the prolonged effort to bring attention to their situation, stating, “We’ve been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this, and so glad they finally decided to step up.”

Concerns extended beyond the family, as viewers of the YouTube show grew alarmed by Ruby’s troubling behavior. This concern was heightened when Ruby recounted refusing to provide her 6-year-old daughter with lunch after the child forgot it, indicating a lesson in responsibility.

“My hope is she will be hungry and come home and be like, ‘That was really painful being hungry all day, I’ll make sure to always have a lunch with me,'” Ruby explained in one of her videos, which has since been removed.

Ruby refuted allegations of child abuse even after her son Chad, who is now 19, alleged he was forced to sleep on a beanbag for seven months.

Following Ruby’s incarceration, Shari disclosed that she had been experiencing chronic panic attacks as a result of the arrest. However, she found solace in her faith and mental health treatment, which significantly mitigated her distress.

“Therapy has literally saved me, but God has too,” she articulated in an Instagram post that has since been removed. “My life is somehow more beautiful and fulfilling, despite all the terrible things going on.”

Although Shari experienced a sense of relief following her mother’s arrest, she encountered difficulties with her father, who sought to have her arrested for burglary, suspecting she had unlawfully entered his house.

“Kevin stated that Shari is not allowed in the home, and that he believes she entered unlawfully, and he wants her charged with burglary,” documented a Utah police officer regarding the incident on Sept. 1, 2023.

Kevin sought to press charges against his daughter for theft, accusing her of removing hard drives from his residence. However, the responding officer clarified to Kevin that Shari “wasn’t aware” she was prohibited from taking the items and proposed to return them.

Subsequently, Shari brought back three tablets, three cellphones, three cameras, a collection of written journals, and three passports to the Springville Police Department, which then handed them over to Kevin.

Ultimately, Shari faced no criminal charges.

 

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