Former parenting YouTuber, Ruby Franke, along with her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, have been accused of subjecting Franke’s 12-year-old son to horrifying abuse, as revealed in a recent search warrant. The allegations include restraining the child with ropes and using cayenne pepper and honey to treat his wounds. Both Franke and Hildebrandt face six felony counts of child abuse, relating to Franke’s 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son.
The Disturbing Details:
According to the obtained search warrant reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, on August 30, Franke’s 12-year-old son managed to escape from Hildebrandt’s residence in Ivins, Utah, where he had been tied up. The boy bravely informed authorities about the abuse, revealing that both Franke and Hildebrandt were involved. Shockingly, the child disclosed that his wounds were treated with a mixture of cayenne pepper and honey.
During the investigation, police discovered bowls containing the said cayenne pepper and honey paste. Additionally, they found a locked room in the basement, along with ropes, handcuffs, bandages, plastic wrap, a journal, and various paperwork.
History of Police Interaction:
Court documents previously reviewed by Insider indicated that Utah police had been involved in at least five prior interactions related to Franke in the years leading up to her arrest in August on the six counts of felony child abuse.
Upon escaping to neighbors, Franke’s son was described in the search warrant as appearing “emaciated,” with an “abnormally thin and weak” physique, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune. Subsequently, Franke’s children were placed in state custody.
Online Success and Channel Closure:
Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt gained online prominence through their YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, which was established in 2015 and reached a peak of around 2.5 million subscribers. However, in 2023, the channel was abruptly shut down.
Legal Proceedings:
As of now, both Franke and Hildebrandt have not entered any pleas in response to the charges. Attorneys representing the two women have not yet responded to requests for comments from Insider.