The disturbing case of family vlogger Ruby Franke, whose online persona masked horrific child abuse, is the subject of a chilling new Netflix documentary. Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story delves into the events that led to Franke and her business partner, life coach Jodi Hildebrandt, being convicted for the severe abuse of two of Franke's children.
From YouTube Fame to Criminal Charges
Ruby Franke, a mother of six from Utah, rose to fame on YouTube with her channel, 8 Passengers, which she launched in 2015. By mid-2020, she had attracted around 2.5 million subscribers, sharing snippets of her family life. However, concerns among viewers grew after one of her sons revealed he had been banned from his bedroom and made to sleep on a bean bag for seven months.
Her channel was suspended in 2022, after which Franke began working as a mental health coach at ConneXions, a company founded by Jodi Hildebrandt. The pair, who met through their church community, then started a joint social media venture offering parenting advice. Hildebrandt, a religious influencer, had become fixated on correcting Franke's family dynamics.
The Arrest and Sentencing
The situation reached a critical point in August 2023 when Franke's 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt's house through a window. He was found malnourished and with deep wounds from being tied up with rope. He and one of his younger sisters had been held captive there.
Both women were arrested in Washington County, Utah. In February 2024, Ruby Franke, now 43, was handed four consecutive prison sentences ranging from one to fifteen years, meaning she must serve a minimum of four years. She is currently incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City. Jodi Hildebrandt also faced justice for her role in the abuse.
The case tore Franke's family apart. Her husband, Kevin, filed for divorce in November 2023 and it was finalised in March 2025. He later took legal action against Hildebrandt over the abuse of his children. Franke's three sisters, who are also family vloggers, publicly distanced themselves from her actions.
Where Are the Children Now?
The identities of the two children held captive, along with two other minor siblings, have been protected. The four youngest children were placed in protective custody and are now under the guardianship of their father.
Franke's older children, who were adults at the time of her arrest, have moved forward with their lives. Her daughter, Shari Franke, 22, released a memoir in January 2025 titled The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom. In it, she describes a childhood of never being good enough for her mother, where any sign of displeasure could trigger violence.
Her son Chad, now 20, has built a successful career as an estate agent and got married in 2025. Documentary filmmaker Skye Borgman told Netflix's Tudum that the family is "moving on and trying to find some form of normal." She added that it remains to be seen what relationship, if any, will exist when Ruby Franke is eventually released from prison.
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story is available to stream now on Netflix, adding to the platform's catalogue of gripping and tragic true crime documentaries.
