Channel 5's true crime documentary Our Evil Mother: The Ruby Franke Scandal aired on Tuesday, 29 June at 10pm, examining the rise and fall of the former parenting influencer who amassed over two million YouTube subscribers.
From YouTube Fame to Felony Conviction
Ruby Franke, a mother of six, launched her YouTube channel 8 Passengers in 2015 alongside her ex-husband, sharing parenting advice and family footage. Her contentious parenting methods began to raise eyebrows among fans, leading to complaints and calls to police.
The situation escalated when her malnourished 12-year-old son escaped through a window of Jodi Hildebrandt's property in Ivins, Utah, and approached a neighbour's house desperately seeking food and water. Franke was introduced to family counsellor and ConneXions life coaching founder Hildebrandt through their shared church community.
The Abuse and Captivity
The two women grew close, with Hildebrandt becoming preoccupied with fixing Franke's family, convinced that her two youngest children were evil and possessed by demons. This ultimately resulted in both the 12-year-old and his nine-year-old sister being held captive within Hildebrandt's property.
Police records revealed the boy had sustained lacerations to his wrists and ankles, consistent with having been bound with rope.
Where is Ruby Franke Now?
Franke and Hildebrandt were both taken into custody in August 2023 after neighbours alerted police regarding her youngest children. The former YouTube family vlogger pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse and was subsequently convicted.
In February 2024, she received four consecutive sentences of one to 15 years, amounting to a total term of four to 30 years behind bars. Franke is currently being held at Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City.
Under Utah's indeterminate sentencing legislation, the state's parole board will ultimately determine when she is released, provided she completes the compulsory four-year minimum term. Her initial parole hearing is scheduled for December 2026.
Hildebrandt was handed an identical sentence and is likewise serving her time at Utah State Correctional Facility, though she is held in a separate wing from Franke.
Our Evil Mother: The Ruby Franke Scandal is available to watch on 5.
