The disturbing true crime story of family vlogger Ruby Franke and her business partner, life coach Jodi Hildebrandt, has become the subject of a chilling new Netflix documentary. Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story delves into the pair's descent from popular online figures to convicted child abusers, a case that horrified their online community and the wider public.
From YouTube Fame to Criminal Charges
Ruby Franke, a mother of six from Utah, rose to fame by sharing her family's life on her YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, which amassed around 2.5 million subscribers by mid-2020. However, viewers grew concerned over her extreme disciplinary methods, such as when one son revealed he had been made to sleep on a bean bag for seven months. Her channel was suspended in 2022.
Around this time, Franke's friendship with Hildebrandt, a religious influencer and founder of the life-coaching firm ConneXions, deepened. Hildebrandt became fixated on correcting Franke's family life. Franke began working as a mental health coach at ConneXions, and the pair started a joint social media venture offering parenting advice.
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 severe wounds from being bound with rope. A younger sister was also discovered captive at the property.
Both women were arrested in Washington County, Utah. In February 2024, Franke, now 43, was convicted and handed four consecutive prison sentences ranging from one to fifteen years. She must serve at least four years and is currently incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Hildebrandt also faced justice for her role in the abuse.
Aftermath and Family Impact
The fallout from the case was profound. Franke's husband, Kevin, filed for divorce in November 2023 after more than a year of separation, and the divorce 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. The four younger children involved were placed in protective custody and are now under their father's guardianship.
Two of Franke's adult children have spoken out. Her daughter, Shari Franke, 22, released a memoir in January 2025 titled 'The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom', detailing a childhood of never meeting her mother's extreme standards. Her son Chad, now 20, has built a successful life as an estate agent and married in 2025.
As documentary filmmaker Skye Borgman told Netflix's Tudum, the family is "moving on and trying to find some form of normal." The question of what relationship, if any, will exist when Ruby Franke is eventually released from prison remains open.
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story is available to stream on Netflix now.
