Parenting and love come in many forms, and each person has their own style of raising their child. One thing that varies from parent to parent is their method of dealing out punishment or handling a child’s mistakes. There may be various ways to discipline, but it should never amount to child abuse and certainly not be bragged about online.
The host of the YouTube parenting channel 8 Passengers, Ruby Franke, and her friend, Jodi Hildebrandt, are learning this the hard way after they were arrested following an intervention by one of her neighbours who reported the mother.
The Utah-based mom was arrested on Wednesday, 30th August, following the escape of her 12-year-old son hours before. The child knocked on the neighbor’s door, begging for food and water, with duct tape on his ankles and wrists and open wounds across his body. The child appeared malnourished and emaciated, prompting the neighbour to call the authorities.
Police conducted an investigation and soon found Franke’s 10-year-old daughter at Jodi Hildebrandt’s property, also appearing malnourished, according to the affidavit. Hildebrandt was seen in one of Franke’s recent YouTube videos, two days prior to the arrests, and was even aware of “the abuse, malnourishment, and neglect.” Furthermore, the two children were believed to be in the direct care of Hildebrandt, as stated in the affidavit.
The Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department confirmed in a public statement that they had found evidence “consistent with the markings” on the 12-year-old. A total of four minor children were placed under the care of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, with the two who had been under Hildebrandt’s care being sent to a hospital for treatment.
The day after the incident, a judge denied bail for both Franke and Hildebrant because of “the severity of the injuries of her two kids located in the home,” according to court records.
Franke was known to be the host of a now-defunct YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, that had 2.5 million subscribers at its peak before it was taken down. She was known for her “strict” “parenting” style. recording herself bringing down severe punishments on her children before sharing it online. Back in 2020, their eldest son, Chad Franke, then 15, told viewers that he was forced to sleep on a beanbag for seven months after playing a prank on his little brother.
@got2bviral Replying to @Got2BViral📱🤍 “He was sleeping on the floor in the family room.” #8passengersruby #rubyfranke #rubydoo #8passengers #rubyarrested #familyvloggers #chadfranke
In another video recorded by Ruby, she talked about how her daughter’s teacher called her to say she was “uncomfortable with her [Ruby’s daughter] being hungry,” as she came to school without her lunch. However, Franke replied that she was responsible for making her own lunch and that “the natural outcome is she is just going to be hungry.” The video has been taken down but was subsequently reposted on TikTok.
“Hopefully nobody gives her food, and nobody steps in and gives her a lunch, because then she’s not going to learn from it.” —Ruby Franke.
@utahvloggersyas 🚨🚨👮♀️ WHOOP WHOOP #8passengers #utahisweird #utahvloggers
In the wake of the incident, Shari Franke posted about her mother’s arrest on Instagram, saying “finally” and “justice is being served.” In a statement, Ellie Mecham, Bonnie Hoellein, and Julie Griffiths Deru, who identified themselves as Ms. Franke’s sisters on Instagram, said they had done “everything (they) could to try and make sure the kids were safe” over the previous three years.
@2023dancemoms shari frank recent insta post #8passengers #childabusawarness #cps #8passengersshari #shari #fyp #fypage
Franke and Hildebrandt will go on trial this Friday, 9th September, and are currently facing six counts of felony child abuse; each count has a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of up to US$10,000 (RM46,720).
Sources: NBC News, [1], [2], The New York Times, [1], [2], Instagram, Facebook [1], [2], [3], [4]
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