Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke were both charged with six counts of second-degree felony aggravated child abuse. They both pleaded guilty in plea deals to four counts of aggravated child abuse. Each count carries of sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Ruby Franke is known for her YouTube channel '8 Passengers' which attracted millions of people around the world. After her arrest, YouTube terminated her popular channels. Jodi Hildebrandt, who is involved with a parent counselling service called 'ConneXions' owned the home where the children were found. A child had knocked on the door of a neighbor and asked for food and water but the neighbor noticed duct tape on the child’s ankles and wrists and called police and stated the juvenile appeared to be emaciated and malnourished, with open wounds and duct tape around the extremities. They had video proof that Franke had been gone for five days through surveillance cameras located on their own properties. Other neighbors stated Franke would often leave 'for extended periods of time and go to St. George to spend time with her friend Jodi Hildebrandt'. Police described the wounds, neglect and malnourishment of the child to be 'severe,' and the child was taken to hospital for treatment. After the first child was taken to the hospital, another child was discovered in the home and was found to be malnourished as well. The Department of Child and Family Services was contacted and four minor children were taken into their care. |