A shocking new documentary has laid bare the horrific extent of child abuse perpetrated by former family vlogger Ruby Franke, whose crimes sent shockwaves through the online world.
The Escape That Exposed the Horror
The case came to light in August 2023 in Utah, USA, after Franke's 12-year-old son managed to flee the home of her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt. The emaciated boy escaped through a window with duct tape still wrapped around his ankles and wrists, his body marked with lacerations. He confided in neighbours about the abuse he had endured.
Police, responding to his desperate plea for help, subsequently discovered his five siblings in a similarly dire condition. This escape triggered the investigation that would see both Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt arrested and charged.
A "Twisted Tale of Manipulation" Unpacked
The full, chilling narrative is now explored in the Netflix documentary titled Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story. Described as "disturbing, infuriating and heartbreaking," the film includes footage of the boy's escape and delves into what it calls a "twisted tale of manipulation."
Director Sky Borgman told Tudum, "If that young boy hadn't escaped that day... I think those kids probably wouldn't be with us today." She highlighted the diabolical nature of the abuse occurring at Hildebrandt's house, separate from the family home.
Franke's Gruesome Admission of Torture
As part of her guilty plea, Ruby Franke filed a detailed statement to the court, admitting to acts she once falsely characterised as "acts of love." She confessed that her "actions involved the physical torture" of her son.
Her admissions include:
- Holding her son's head underwater.
- Kicking him while wearing boots.
- Covering his mouth and nose with her hands.
- Using ropes to lift his bound limbs off the ground while he lay on his stomach, causing injury.
Franke, who believed her children were "evil and possessed," subjected them to brutal "acts of repentance." Her son was forced to perform hours of physical labour in extreme heat without sun protection, food, or water, leading to severe sunburn and dehydration. He was fed only plain food while others ate seasoned meals, and was isolated, denied access to electronics, books, and notebooks.
Her nine-year-old daughter suffered similar abuse. Hildebrandt, who pleaded guilty to being complicit or aware of the abuse, also admitted to forcing the youngest daughter to "jump into a cactus multiple times" and walk barefoot on dirt roads until her feet blistered.
Aftermath and Apologies
In February 2024, both women were sentenced to four consecutive terms of one to 15 years each at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Their first parole hearing is scheduled for December 2025.
During sentencing, Franke apologised to her children, stating she would "never stop crying for hurting their tender souls." She claimed her "willingness to sacrifice all for you was masterfully manipulated into something very ugly."
Her ex-husband, Kevin, filed for divorce in November 2023, calling her actions "horrific and inhumane." Upon the arrest, Franke's eldest daughter, Shari, expressed relief on social media, stating the family had been trying to alert authorities for years.
Franke's attorney issued a statement blaming Hildebrandt for isolating Franke and twisting her quest for self-improvement into "something heinous."
Reflecting on the documentary's purpose, director Borgman emphasised that the abuse happened "in full view and broadcast to the world," underscoring how manipulative behaviour can occur right before our eyes. The film stands as a stark warning to understand coercive control to prevent such tragedies from repeating.
