Mommy vlogger Ruby Franke is holding a camera in one hand while her other hand lovingly wraps around her son. With an infectious grin on his face, she excitedly shares the details of the elaborate multi-day celebration she has meticulously planned for his 10th birthday.
In a video shared on her popular YouTube channel “8 Passengers” in 2021, Franke excitedly mentions, “We’ll be celebrating his birthday throughout the entire week.”
On August 30, 2023, just over two years after the video was published, Franke’s son makes a surprise visit to a charming house in the scenic Red Rock valley of Ivins, Utah. This location is approximately 250 miles away from his family’s residence in Springville, Utah.
In recently released Ring camera footage, which was first obtained by ABC News, the boy’s physical appearance is strikingly different from what was shown in the vlog. He appears noticeably thinner, without shoes, and first responders describe him as “stoic.”
The Washington County Attorney’s office has released several pieces of evidence, including the camera video. This video is just one of the items made public today, 30 days after Franke and her former friend, therapist, and business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, received their prison sentences of up to 30 years.
In December 2023, they had already admitted to four felony counts of second-degree, aggravated child abuse.
ABC News has identified the victims as Franke’s two youngest children, referred to as R, a 12-year-old boy who managed to escape from Hildebrandt’s extensive 10,000-square-foot residence in August, and E, a 9-year-old girl who was discovered in the same house later that day.
In 2020, there were still viewers of the “8 Passengers” channel who expressed concern for the well-being of the Franke children. The majority of criticism was directed towards Ruby’s parenting style, as portrayed online.
In May 2020, a petition on Change.org urged the Utah Division of Child and Family Services to investigate the welfare of the children. The petition highlighted the punishments mentioned by Ruby in her videos, such as depriving her eldest son, Chad, of bedroom privileges and making him sleep on a bean bag chair for several months as a consequence for playing a prank on a sibling. This petition received over 18,000 signatures.
Authorities later discovered that Ruby Franke and Hildebrandt’s actions in the summer of 2023 extended well beyond the limits of strict parenting.
In her journal, Franke recounts a birthday celebration for R in 2023 that starkly contrasted with the sunny vlog she had documented in 2021.
In July 2023, Franke expresses, “It’s R’s birthday, and he is unaware of the current month.” She further reveals on a subsequent page, “I advised R that he should seek solace in God. I extended an invitation for him to partake in fasting and prayer.”
According to Deputy Washington County Attorney Zachary Weiland, R was instructed to stand on the back patio as soon as he woke up on his birthday.
ABC News’ Juju Chang dives deep into the heart-wrenching tale of prolonged emotional and physical abuse in the upcoming episode of “20/20”. This powerful story takes center stage, shedding light on a narrative that has remained untold since it initially made headlines. Tune in on March 22 or catch it on Hulu the following day to witness this exclusive, in-depth coverage.
In Chang’s report, first responders and prosecutors provide insights into the evidence and recount their personal experiences from last summer and the subsequent months. The unanimous agreement among them is that R emerges as the hero of this narrative, and the journey towards R and E’s liberation began when he courageously rang the doorbell of their neighbor.
The neighbor’s Ring camera video exposes a different perspective on R’s mindset. Contrary to the belief that he was about to be liberated, R actually anticipated being apprehended and sent to jail.
As the elderly homeowner opens the door, R politely asks for a favor, “Could you please guide me to the nearest police station?”
According to investigators interviewed by “20/20,” they suspect that R asked this question not for the purpose of seeking assistance, but rather to fulfill the repentance process instructed by his mother and Hildebrandt, who believed it was necessary for him to atone for his sins.
According to Weiland, the children were informed that they needed to repent before being sent to jail.
In July, R made his first attempt to escape. Before leaving, Franke documents in her journal that he took the opportunity to leave a message spelled out with small pebbles: “Jail. I will call when I get there.” He had to sleep outdoors and left the message next to the spot where he had slept on the concrete.
According to Weiland, this action demonstrates that R had a strong conviction that he needed to be imprisoned and that he believed the conditions in jail would be preferable to those at Hildebrandt’s residence. In a video, the neighbor who encountered R after his second escape can be seen calling 911 for assistance, while his wife provides R with water and a snack.
The body camera footage shows the arrival of the EMTs at the scene and their first assessment of R.
“It was that initial glimpse of him,” recalled Maddee Ickes, an EMT with Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, “that instantly made me realize that something was amiss.”
During the inquiry, Officer Simon Pikyavit of the Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department was informed by R that his mother and Hildebrandt had restrained him by binding his arms and feet to weights on the ground, thereby limiting his ability to move freely.
After investigation, it was discovered that R had been restrained with handcuffs on his wrists and ankles prior to the application of duct tape.
While R is receiving treatment, he informs the officers that two of his siblings are still inside Hildebrandt’s home. Without wasting any time, a team of officers, including Pikyavit and Sgt. Nick Tobler, swiftly proceeds to Hildebrandt’s residence just down the block.
In the body camera footage, we witness the pivotal moment when Hildebrandt confidently swings open her imposing wooden front door. Clad in casual attire of shorts and a sweatshirt, she holds her phone to her ear. Her first words to the police officers are, “I have my attorney on the phone.”
Hildebrandt’s demeanor in that video contrasts greatly with her composed and polished online presence. She is the founder of ConneXions, an online life coaching business that is no longer in operation. The company shared videos on social media that were available to the public, and also provided additional resources such as mental health workbooks for a fee.
Hildebrandt and Franke are seen sitting next to each other on a couch in these videos, engaging in conversations about parenting and providing self-help advice.
Officers entered the home without a warrant, claiming that there were urgent circumstances due to R’s tip about his siblings still being inside. They swiftly navigated through a complex layout of various bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways.
Tobler shared with Juju Chang that when they first noticed the figure, they initially mistook it for a young boy sitting there, gazing up at them.
Tobler reached out to his colleague, Detective Jessica Bate, in the hopes that she could assist in identifying the child who had been found in Hildebrandt’s closet. The child remained silent, refusing to reveal any information about their identity or how they came to be in such a peculiar situation. Detective Bate was already with R when Tobler contacted her, making her the ideal person to help crack the case.
During the interview with Juju Chang, Bate recalls asking R, “Hey, do you have a little brother?” To which R responded, “No, I have a younger sister there.”
E is initially hesitant to eat, but eventually she gains the courage to devour an entire personal pizza and half of a large one. After four hours, she finally emerges from the closet in the company of the EMTs.
Weiland shared with ABC News that E had experienced a significant amount of emotional abuse, making it extremely challenging to initially engage in conversation with them.
Police were able to locate the two girls, who were unharmed, in American Fork, Utah, approximately four hours away from Ivins. They were found in the company of Pam Bodtcher, the president of ConneXions.
Bodtcher, although not charged with any crimes related to this case, has fully cooperated with the investigation, according to Springville Police.
While officers were conducting their search back in Ivins, Hildebrandt and Franke patiently waited. Surprisingly, neither woman expressed any concerns about the safety of the children. Eventually, Bate, the officer in charge, concluded that her team had gathered sufficient evidence. Consequently, she proceeded to arrest both Franke and Hildebrandt, and they were subsequently transported to the police station.
A few hours prior, another individual had arrived at the station inquiring about the children.
According to Bate, on the same day that Ruby Franke and Jodi were arrested, Kevin Franke also visited the police department in search of his children.
Kevin Franke appears to be taken aback as he asks, “I’m sorry, what?”
Kevin Franke had relocated from the family home and had not been in contact with his wife or children for more than a year. According to Franke, Ruby Franke had requested him to move out in July 2022, under Hildebrandt’s guidance.
After a swift investigation, authorities confirmed that Kevin Franke was not a person of interest in this particular case.
According to Clarke, the lack of evidence quickly absolved him of any suspicion. “We had a journal documenting every activity that took place in the Hildebrandt home during the summer, and there was no mention of him being there,” Clarke explained.
Kevin Franke, who is seeking to regain custody of his four minor children, has filed for divorce nearly seven months later.
According to exclusive information obtained by “20/20”, R and E have been placed in foster care together. When speaking to Juju Chang, Bate shared that both children are making significant improvements. Bate expressed, “They have gained weight, their appearance is healthier, and they are now able to engage in their favorite activities once again.”