Ruby Franke, a former family vlogger, is set to enter a plea agreement on Monday in Washington County, Utah. Franke faces six counts of felony child abuse, charges levied against her in September.
Franke, known for her large following of nearly 2.3 million subscribers on her YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” was arrested in August. The arrest followed a police investigation that found one of Franke’s children with open wounds after escaping from the home of Jodi Hildebrandt, Franke’s business partner. Another child was discovered in a malnourished condition at Hildebrandt’s residence.
Since her arrest, Franke has been held without bail. A recent statement from her law firm revealed that Franke is engaged in “personal growth and rehabilitation.” The statement also mentioned her efforts in apologizing and reconciling with her family members.
“Our client is cooperating with the prosecutor’s office and expects to quickly resolve this matter by entering a plea agreement with the court on December 18th,” read the statement from Franke’s legal representation.
The case has drawn significant attention online, sparking debates and analysis of Franke’s past content for potential warning signs. It has also brought to light the broader issue of inadequate legal protections for child influencers in the creator industry.
Franke had collaborated with Hildebrandt in producing parenting and relationship advice videos for Hildebrandt’s life coaching service, ConneXions. The service has faced criticism for its alleged extreme teachings. Former clients, according to NBC News, have accused the program of pathologizing behaviors and promoting the severance of ties with those not aligned with its principles.
In a recent statement, Franke’s lawyers claimed that Hildebrandt had “systematically isolated” Franke from her family over an extended period. This isolation, they argue, led Franke to adopt a “distorted sense of morality” under Hildebrandt’s influence.