UT - Parenting influencer, Ruby Franke, and blogger/podcast partner Jodi Hildebrandt, arrested for Child Abuse, Aug 2023

[Snoopster]

OK, I finally had a chance to actually listen to one of Ruby's ConneXion podcasts and it is as bad as I thought it would be.

In episode 222: "Denial Around Eating Disorders" a mom (supposedly) writes in to say that she thinks her daughter has an eating disorder. She says that her daughter and her generally have a good relationship, but she now knows that her daughter is hiding her lack of eating and has lied to her. This writer says she and her husband are thinking of getting their daughter into and eating disorder program, but they are financially strapped.

What is Ruby's response? Ruby says that the daughter doesn't have an eating disorder, but rather she has a manipulative disorder and that the mom is in a state of denial.

Say what?? Ruby is blaming everything on the supposedly manipulative child and the supposedly stupid, naive mother. She essentially says that the parents should not seek out help for their child's eating disorder.

<fuming!>

 

[gitana1]

This might have been posted already, but worth repeating if so. Both women have been charged with six counts of felony child abuse.

"Ruby Franke...has been charged with six counts of felony child abuse by the Washington County Attorney in Utah."

"Hildebrandt was also charged with six counts of felony child abuse."

"'[E]ach defendant is accused of causing or permitting serious physical injury to the victims in three different ways: (1) a combination of multiple physical injuries or torture, (2) starvation or malnutrition that jeopardizes life, and (3) causing severe emotional harm,' the county attorney said."

Ruby Franke formally charged with 6 counts of felony child abuse

Franke was arrested last week after her son was discovered with open wounds and duct tape on his wrists and ankles.

www.nbcnews.com

Where are their mugshots and when is their first appearance?

 

[gitana1]

Does JH have children or a significant other? Is RF her significant other?

I wondered. In one video, JH puts her hand on RF’s knee when RF is crying. I immediately noticed that. They always sit super close, like a couple.

 

[Inthedetails]

Where are their mugshots and when is their first appearance?

Utah doesn't release mugshots upon arrest.

"July 2021, a new law will go into effect that prohibits law enforcement in Utah from releasing the mug shots (photos taken after arrest during the booking process) of people charged with crimes before conviction."

New Utah Law Protects Mug Shots until Suspects Are Convicted

The new Utah law will prohibit law enforcement from releasing the mug shots of people charged with crimes prior to conviction. Click for more info.

wasatchdefenselawyers.com

 

[Snoopster]

I wondered. In one video, JH puts her hand on RF’s knee when RF is crying. I immediately noticed that. They always sit super close, like a couple.

All of the following comments are just my opinion.
I think Jodi hates men. Her 'distortion' view includes when a spouse likes their spouse too much or when their spouse is sexually attracted to them. I wouldn't be surprised if Jodi is gay.

I'm not as sure about Ruby. I think Ruby wants control (perhaps she didn't have that as a child yet had lots of responsibility) and Jodi is telling her she deserves it. Jodi has convinced Ruby that she has been hard done by by her husband and her children and her extended family. Now Ruby is isolated and she isolated her remaining children (i.e. after the eldest two fled or were forced out).

I find this ironic as Ruby is clearly outwardly homophobic. And I think that Jodi has been working hard at convincing Ruby that men are bad.

 

[Snoopster]

Crap! I listened to another podcast of Ruby's. It's pathetic.

It's her Parable of the Pineapple episode.
The essense of the story is that Ruby had 3 young kids, 5 (almost 6), 3 (almost 4) and less than 2. Ruby was exhausted and went upstairs for a nap with her youngest, telling the 5 and 3 year olds to just stay on the couch and watch TV.

Her 3 year old went into the fridge and got out some pineapple. He spilled some pineapple juice and tried to clean it up with paper towel.

Ruby came back from her nap an hour later and asked if they had stayed on the couch and they said yes. She noticed the kitchen floor was sticky. She asked the kids about it and her 3 year old confessed that he had some pineapple, spilled some juice, but cleaned it up.

Ruby tells her audience that she hopes we can hear her compassion because she told her not-quite-4-year-old son: I am glad that you told the truth about what you had done. But you "didn't actually clean it up" and that was dishonest.

She told him she had asked him to not get off the couch and he did. She told him that he "felt entitled to take something from the fridge". And then she tells the listeners that she is showing compassion by telling the truth.

Imagine blaming a 3 year old for not staying on the couch for an hour. Blaming him for not cleaning up his spill well enough. Blaming him for feeling entitled!

 

[tigerteeth]

So she was arrested days ago and is still in jail as we know it?

Where are the kids, with the state? Their dad?

 

[gitana1]

So she was arrested days ago and is still in jail as we know it?

Where are the kids, with the state? Their dad?

I am curious if Jodi was home when the boy escaped through the window or were the two children alone in the house?

Anyone know?

jmo

From what has been reported, the kids are with the state. Although as @Gardenista pointed out, the state can place the kids with relatives.

I believe the two kids were home alone when the boy escaped because the 911 calls indicate that Jodi can rolling up
In her car at some point, looking for the kids.

 

[Coldheat]

Can I post this?

911 Call Made by Neighbour in Ivins

 

[whatsnext]

"Parenting influencers " lol. They simply used their children to get rich. Hoping for real punishment and that the children find a real home.

 

[MrsWatson]

@Snoopster, thanks for taking one for the team and listening to a couple of those podcasts. YIKES.

I wonder how many of the people who use this particular parenting style have adult children who still speak to them?

I just can't wrap my head around punishing kids for essentially being kids. And the deliberate cruelty.

These are not people who want to love and nurture their children.

I also find the relationship between Ruby and Jodi curious.

moo

 

[Lusitana]

OK, I finally had a chance to actually listen to one of Ruby's ConneXion podcasts and it is as bad as I thought it would be.

In episode 222: "Denial Around Eating Disorders" a mom (supposedly) writes in to say that she thinks her daughter has an eating disorder. She says that her daughter and her generally have a good relationship, but she now knows that her daughter is hiding her lack of eating and has lied to her. This writer says she and her husband are thinking of getting their daughter into and eating disorder program, but they are financially strapped.

What is Ruby's response? Ruby says that the daughter doesn't have an eating disorder, but rather she has a manipulative disorder and that the mom is in a state of denial.

Say what?? Ruby is blaming everything on the supposedly manipulative child and the supposedly stupid, naive mother. She essentially says that the parents should not seek out help for their child's eating disorder.

<fuming!>

She said the same thing about her daughter E. in one of her many 8 Passengers videos. Called her manipulative. She was about 5 or 6 years old at the time.

 

[Lusitana]

Can I post this?

911 Call Made by Neighbour in Ivins

Thank you for sharing. It's hard to listen.

I'm so glad the neighbor was alert to already have noticed that something off had been going on at Hildebrandt's house and to quickly realize how bad the state of R.'s health was.

From the call, it seems like the poor little guy managed to get out of the house when Hildebrandt was out, she either realized he had left and came home or he was lucky to get out right on time. I wonder if they had cameras in the house and saw him leaving. I suspect they did due to how fast Jodi got home and Ruby was notified that R. was at the hospital. I bet the phone records between those two that day are going to be interesting.

I didn't realize R. had asked for the police to be called. Poor kid knew he had no chance of going back unnoticed and his only way out of being punished again was to get the police to help. He had to be so scared and desperate.

 

[lonewanderer]

Shocker! (Sarcasm)

How many times have we got to see this happen?

 

[Inthedetails]

Ruby and Jodi are still in custody, with the first court appearance scheduled for Friday, Sep 8. This KUTV news segment is interesting in regards to whether they should be released pre-trial or not:

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[neesaki]

Ruby and Jodi are still in custody, with the first court appearance scheduled for Friday, Sep 8. This KUTV news segment is interesting in regards to whether they should be released pre-trial or not:

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There’s Kouri Richins atty.

 

[Hoosgirl]

Ruby and Jodi are still in custody, with the first court appearance scheduled for Friday, Sep 8. This KUTV news segment is interesting in regards to whether they should be released pre-trial or not:

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Wow, Utah is a small world apparently. The talking head lawyer is the one representing another Utah mom, Kouri Richins.

ETA, sorry @neesaki we posted at the same time!

 

[tlcya]

Where are their mugshots and when is their first appearance?

no mugshots but they are to make fist appearance at 1:30pm on Friday

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Court recommends pre-trial release for '8 Passengers' YouTuber Ruby Franke

 

[TigerLou]

Do we know whether the court appearance will be streamed?

 

[Howl]

911 Call Made by Neighbour in Ivins

The neighbor (a man) becomes emotionally overwhelmed by the boys's condition while talking to the 911 operator and says "You know there's been problems at this neighbor's [Jodi's] house" and refers to the boy being "emaciated" and obviously having been "detained".

I am so very sad for these kids. I hope they are out of the hospital, getting the best psychiatric care, with familiar extended family who are surrounding them with love, nourishing food, and most importantly a sense of safety.

Very mixed feelings about the dad, who obviously did zip to protect them from Ruby in the past.

Children bond powerfully with the parents, though. Maybe best to have them living with emotionally healthy extended family and give the dad supervised visitation?