The shocking details of child abuse perpetrated by American YouTube influencer Ruby Franke have been laid bare in a new, deeply disturbing documentary. Franke, who once presented an image of family life to millions online, is now serving a lengthy prison sentence alongside her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt.
The Escape That Exposed the Abuse
The case first came to light in August 2023 in Utah, USA. Franke's then 12-year-old son, in an emaciated state, managed to flee Hildebrandt's home. He escaped through a window with duct tape still attached to his ankles and wrists, his body marked with lacerations. After seeking help from neighbours, police were alerted.
Officers subsequently discovered the boy's five siblings, all found in a similarly neglected and abused condition. This escape triggered the investigation that would lead to the arrest of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt.
A "Twisted Tale of Manipulation" Unveiled on Netflix
The full, harrowing story is now the subject of the Netflix documentary, Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story. Described as a "twisted tale of manipulation," the film includes footage of the boy's desperate escape and explores the coercive control that enabled the abuse.
Director Sky Borgman stated the documentary was essential to show how such manipulation "can happen right in front of your eyes." She chillingly added that if the boy had not escaped that day, "those kids probably wouldn't be with us today."
Franke's Chilling Court Admission and Sentencing
As part of her guilty plea, Ruby Franke filed a detailed statement to the court, admitting to acts she described as "physical torture." She confessed to holding her son's head underwater, kicking him while wearing boots, and covering his mouth and nose with her hands.
She also admitted to tying his hands and feet with ropes and lifting him off the ground, causing injury. Her son was forced to perform hours of physical labour in extreme heat without food, water, or sun protection, leading to severe sunburn and dehydration. He was isolated, denied basic comforts, and fed plain food while others ate normally.
Franke's nine-year-old daughter suffered similar abuse. Hildebrandt admitted complicity, including forcing the youngest daughter to "jump into a cactus multiple times" and walk barefoot on dirt roads until her feet blistered.
Shockingly, Franke claimed she believed her children were "evil and possessed" and that this abuse constituted acts of repentance and love. In February 2024, both women were sentenced to four consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison. They are currently incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility, with their first parole hearing scheduled for December 2026.
Aftermath and Apologies
The fallout from Franke's actions shattered her family. Her ex-husband, Kevin, filed for divorce, calling her actions "horrific and inhumane." Her eldest daughter, Shari, expressed relief at the arrest, stating the family had been trying to alert authorities for years.
During sentencing, Franke apologised to her children, saying she would "never stop crying for hurting their tender souls." Her attorney's statement placed significant blame on Hildebrandt, accusing her of isolating Franke and twisting her quest for self-improvement into something heinous.
The case serves as a stark warning about the dangers of coercive control and the horrific reality that can exist behind a carefully curated online persona.
