YouTube mom who gave parenting advice pleads guilty in child abuse case

A Utah mother of six who gave parenting advice via a once-popular YouTube channel called "8 Passengers" pleaded guilty Monday to four felony counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse for abusing and starving two of her children and likely faces a prison sentence.

Ruby Franke, wearing grey and white jail clothing, stood and closed her eyes and took a deep breath before pleading guilty to each of the first three charges individually.

On the fourth, she fought back some emotion before saying: "With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children, guilty."

Judge John J Walton accepted the plea agreement and scheduled sentencing for February 20. The agreement leaves the sentencing up to the judge, her attorney LaMar Winward said.

"There won't be any argument about whether prison is the appropriate sentence and there's an agreement about the four counts for running consecutive," Walton clarified.

"That is correct," Winward responded.

Franke pleaded not guilty to two other counts, court records said, and was returned to custody after the hearing.

Under Utah law, second-degree aggravated child abuse can be charged if that person knowingly or intentionally inflicts serious physical injury to a child or causes or permits another to inflict serious physical injury to their child. Each charge carries a sentence of one to 15 years in prison.

Winward Law announced in a statement Friday that the alleged abuse occurred while Franke was influenced by a relationship counsellor who led her to "a distorted sense of morality."

"Ruby Franke is a devoted mother and is also a woman committed to constant improvement," Winward Law said in a statement. Franke initially believed that Jodi Hildebrandt "had the insight to offer a path to continual improvement," but said that Hildebrandt "took advantage of this quest and twisted it into something heinous."

Hildebrandt "systematically isolated Ruby Franke from her extended family, older children, and her husband, Kevin Franke," the statement said.

Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested on August 30 after Franke's 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt's house in the southern Utah city of Ivins and asked a neighbour to call police, according to the 911 call released by the St. George Police Department.

The boy was emaciated and had duct tape around his ankles and wrists but wouldn't say why, the caller reported.

"I think he's been ... he's been detained," the caller said, his voice breaking up. "He's obviously covered in wounds."

Franke's 10-year-old daughter was also found at Hildebrandt's house, court records said. Both children were taken to the hospital. Eventually, Franke's four youngest children were taken into state custody.

Franke and Hildebrandt were each charged with six felony counts of aggravated child abuse. They have remained jailed since their arrests.

Kevin Franke has filed for divorce.

- AP

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