True Crime Vault: Ruby Franke: From Momfluencer to Felon

Step [music] into the 2020 true crime. vault where you'll hear our most. gripping stories. >> Police officers, open up. Jody, >> I need you to step out. >> I have I have my attorney. >> Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We're just. going to see. >> There's two other kids there. We need to. go do a security sweep at that house.

>> So many desperate searches. >> We didn't know if another sibling was. possibly even dead. >> So few answers until now. The police. tapes being seen for the first time. >> So they do an hours long search. >> Gathered ropes, handcuffs. There were. rolls of duct tape. The things that were. clearly evidence of abuse. You have now. heard about this. Since the arrest of a. 2 million subscriber plus YouTube mom.

vlogger, >> you guys, in one year, we've gained. 600,000 subscribers. >> Ruby Frankie has been charged with six. felony counts of child abuse. If you cut. one more thing in my house, [laughter] I'm going to take the. scissors, look at me, and I'm going to. cut its head off. >> Grandma, you're so mad. >> Ruby Frankie built a persona of, you.

know, strict parenting. >> Strict or sadistic? >> This just it sounded like a horror. movie. >> This is a witch hunt. The devil's been. after me for years. Police Department. Make yourself known. [music]. It's a hot summer morning in the Cayanta.

neighborhood of Ivans, Utah, when a Ring. camera picks up a young boy, not wearing. any shoes, approaching a home. He rings the doorbell. No one answers. A minute later, another Ring camera from. the neighboring home picks up the same. boy. He tries the doorbell. It seems like no. one's home at first, but then the door opens.

>> Yeah. >> Hi, how are you? [music] Wondering if. you could do some favors. Well, what are they? >> They're taking me to the nearest police. station. Well, actually, it's just one. flying. [music]. >> What's going on, sir? Have a seat, sir. >> And what happens next will kick off an. investigation that will rock this. otherwise sleepy, picturesque suburb. In. fact, it'll shock the world.

>> 911, tell me exactly what's happened. I just had a 12-year-old boy show up. here at my front door asking for help. and he's uh said he just came from a. neighbor's house. He's emaciated. He's got tape around his. legs. He's hungry and he's thirsty. Okay. One of the most gut-wrenching things. about that 911 call, you can hear in.

that homeowner's voice, he starts to cry. talking about the boy. He has duct tape around each ankle. I. think the a good chance he's been uh. he. this kid has obviously been. he's been detained. He's been. He's obviously covered in wounds. >> Okay.

>> We need the police here now. >> Has he told you where his mom or dad. are? >> He just says he doesn't live around. here. >> Does he know his mom's. name? >> Ruby Frankie is [music] his mom's name. Within minutes of the call, the EMTs and. officers arrive. >> The very first thing that kind of stood.

out to me the second we got on scene was. that first look at him. It just hit that. there was something wrong. To the EMTs, the boy looks malnourished and has. severe injuries. To protect his. identity, we're calling him R. And what. you're about to see may be unsettling. He had duct tape wrapped around him and. underneath the duct tape was saran wrap.

wrapped around both of his legs and on. both the wrists were the same. >> I don't think there's one emotion that. you can use to describe this call. There. was sadness. It was everywhere. It was. heavy. It was felt by everybody around. >> The poignant [music] scene is unfolding. in this quiet neighborhood with this. stunning backdrop and Sergeant Nick. Tolbler arrives on the scene, his body.

camera rolling. >> You were watching EMTs tend to him and. he was lincing to any kind of pain when. they lift his legs up. >> And what does [music] that indicate? >> That he's been through a lot of pain. >> He was very calm. He never cried. He was just stoic, like unwavered. strength from [music] this kid. >> You could see the joints in his legs. They were abnormal. You could see. malnutrition, just not enough food, not.

enough intake. >> Officer Piku's body camera captures a. telling conversation on how these wounds. got there. >> Who put the ropes on you? When I asked him how did he get the. injuries, he told me that his mom and. Jody R said that they bound his arms. [music]. and. his feet to to weights on the ground and.

restricted his restricting his movement. When I heard him say that, it hit me. pretty hard. I had to excuse myself out of the. ambulance. >> Later, detectives learned that it wasn't. just the ropes that bound him and caused. those wounds. It was also handcuffs. And did he tell you how he escaped? >> He told us later in interviews that he. unlocked the handcuffs from his wrist. and his ankles and then he exited. through the sliding glass door of the. room. >> And did he tell you about his.

motivation, his state of mind in that. moment? >> Just hungry. He was hungry and thirsty. and he saw an opportunity to leave. >> While R is being treated, he tells. officers that he has two siblings who he. thinks are still back at the house. >> We didn't know if another sibling was in. the same [music] state of condition or. possibly even dead in the home. >> There's two other kids there. We need to. go do a security sweep of that house.

That house, police learn, doesn't belong. to the boy's mother, but to someone. named Jodie. Jodie Hildebrand. And R's. mother, Ruby, so far is nowhere to be. found. >> 84. >> So, we get there, we hop out of the. vehicles, we get to the front door.

Police officers, open up. [music]. >> She finally answered the door. >> Jody, I need you to step out. >> I have I have my attorney. >> That's great. Step out of the house. >> When she answered, she had a phone in. her hand. >> Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We're just. going to take off. >> Just have a seat right there for me. >> Do you have a search warrant? >> I'll explain it after this. We were able to enter Jod's house due to.

the exigent circumstances that. surrounded us finding R [music]. >> for exigent circumstances. This is a. lifesaving effort. [music]. >> The officers entered the home and began. clearing the house. >> Police officers, anybody home? >> Looking for the other children. >> Clear. Yep. >> Police, anybody home? Police officers. Just over 10,000 square feet. >> Take the Okay, sure. You got it. >> This home has multiple bedrooms,

bathrooms, [music]. hallways, >> wait room, >> almost like a compound. >> We entered a [music] room that had a bed. in it with an attached bathroom and an. attached closet. It was empty. [music]. Like there was no clothes hanging up. None of the drawers are full. And in the. middle of the floor. >> Come on, my buddy. I I'm a police. officer. >> Hey, you okay?

Is this just you in here? I'm Sergeant Tobler. What's your name? We at first thought it might have been a. little boy sitting there cross-legged. just staring up at us. >> You doing okay? You don't want to talk to me? >> Yeah, that's okay. >> What was the look on that child's face? >> It looks scared. The child looks scared.

>> At the time, Sergeant Tobler called me. and I was in the hospital with R. So, I. began asking R, "Hey, do you have a. little brother?" He said, "No, I have a. younger sister there, 9-year-old." And. he said she had a shaved head and she. had brown hair. I said, "When's the last. time you saw her?" And he said, "It's. been over a month.". [music]. >> They were in the same home and they. didn't [music] see each other for a. month. >> Yeah.

At that moment, we kind of connected the. dots that that was who Sergeant Tober. was sitting with in the closet. >> It's okay if I just sit here with you. We don't have to say anything if you. don't want to. Did she say anything about her being. afraid of you? >> Yeah, she just kept asking where's Jod. at? Would Jod be okay if they came in? She was concerned what Jod would think. >> Did she mention her mom at all? >> No, she did not.

I get if she's scared. I would be too. You're in no way of any trouble. I'm not. here to hurt you. I just want to make. sure you're okay. For over 2 hours, Tobler has been sitting with E. That's. how we'll refer to her, trying to make. her more comfortable with his presence. Yet, E remains motionless and afraid. But one suggestion gets her attention. >> I says, "I bet you like pizza." She. nodded her head.

>> She ate the whole thing, so they ordered. another one. She ate half of a large. pizza as well along [music] with a. shake. And what does that tell you about how. hungry she was? >> Food deprived, hungry, [music]. just like R was at the time. >> While E remains in the closet, officers. are still searching for a possible. second child in the home. >> I've got a hit a room back here.

>> They don't find that child, but they do. come upon a large safe room. What did they find? >> We found rope. We found handcuffs. It. was really set up like a private room. More than 4 hours after police make. entry into Jod's home, Eve finally. agrees to leave the closet.

While E is led to the ambulance, Jodie. Hildebrand is placed in a secure room in. the house. That's when the children's. mother, Ruby Frankie, arrives at the. home. >> Okay, just place your hand behind your. back for me. >> Immediately, we're shocked she's here. >> And just who is Ruby Frankie? It turns. out she's wildly famous. for all the wrong reasons.

It's been several hours since police. first got a call that young children may. be in grave danger at the home of. someone [music] named Jodie Hildebrandt. in Ivans, Utah. But the children aren't Jod's. Their. mother is Ruby Frankie, who prosecutors. say had been hundreds of miles away as. the reality of her kid's horror is being. uncovered. Ruby is in a panic and. driving down [music] from northern Utah.

>> We got information that she showed up at. the police department. So, she spoke. with our secretary and said, "I was told. my kids are [music] here." And our. secretary said, "No, they're not." And. she frantically took off. And while. we're serving the search warrant of the. home in Ivans's, [music] Ruby Frankie. shows up. And so when she showed up, she was. immediately detained. >> She's sitting in there for hours. >> Yes. >> While the search is being done, >> correct? She came down here looking for.

her two children, but never really digs. into that. Like, tell me where my kids. are at. Are they okay? It's just none of. that. It's just quiet and silence. >> Officers spend nearly 6 hours [music]. searching Jod's home that day and. collect multiple bags of evidence. Due. to the totality of the circumstances and. the evidence that we have found, there. was enough to charge these two with. degradated child abuse. >> Detective Bait came into the room and uh. informed Jod that we were detaining her. and that's when she was handcuffed.

>> Yeah. We'll make sure everything's. locked up for you. All right. >> Ruby and when I placed her in [music]. handcuffs, very quiet. >> Okay. Place your hand behind your back. for me. Perfect. All right. You're just going to walk. with Officer Hines. [music]. >> This next one right right here.

>> Okay. Go ahead and have a seat. Once we transported her back, that's. when I. held an interview with Ruby Frankie. At. one point you describe her sitting and. staring off. >> Yeah. >> Almost like in a trance. She was just. really seemed like she was looking. through me. I would ask her a question. and she'd give me like three long. blinks. [music]. >> Do you want to talk to me about where. you live or how many kids you have?

[music]. So, we just spoke with your husband and. he said you guys have [music] six kids. Are those all together? Are those all your kids? >> I'm like, don't know what to do with. that. I don't know if you're telling me. something. It's like Morris code. >> I can wait all day. So, [music] it's up. to you if you want to talk to us about. what's going on.

I'll wait till I have a lawyer. So, [music] that's where it ended. The Ruby Frankie in that interrogation. room is tight-lipped and stonefaced. It's a stark contrast with the animated. and highly vocal mommy vlogger that fans. saw on her popular YouTube channel, Eight Passengers. >> You guys, none of my kids had training. wheels. >> In 2015, Ruby Frankie [music] monetizes. her her persona as mother and good. Mormon housewife.

>> Let's have a prayer. >> And she starts this vlog called Eight. [music] Passengers. and she was. chronicling her life with her six. children and her husband Kevin in Utah. There's Sherry and Chad, the two oldest. children who are now adults. Then there. are two teenage girls in the middle. [music] and the two youngest children, E. and R. >> Ruby would post sort of the standard. family vlog style videos, but it did. seem like from right off [clears throat]. the bat, discipline was kind of a focus.

you're still going to have the. consequence of not having your nails. done for a month. >> There's the natural, I suppose, challenges the kids are facing or that. the parents are facing. You're going to. have to selectively neglect something. and sometimes I have to neglect the kids. because Kevin needs attention. >> They seemed real and relatable and also. vulnerable as parents. She had made. [music] a name for herself as a Mormon. mom influencer, uh, which is a very. particular brand.

>> This is the last time we're going to. have family prayer in this home. >> The official name of of the church is. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day. Saints. And the church has always. embraced technology as a way of. spreading the [music] message, whether. it be radio or television or now the. internet and social media. >> Beyond spreading the message. >> All right, you guys. We're going to go. check out another church. I'm really, really excited. >> Mommy vlogging or mom influencers can be. big business. >> It's a way for them to potentially.

support their family's income, which is. typically not that possible when you. have [music] a lot of kids and you're. encouraged to stay home. >> It allowed church members to project. [music] into the world this image that. the church had been teaching for many. decades, but now you could do it on. social media. [music]. Very quickly, Eight Passengers had. millions of viewers for almost all of. their videos. [music] But in 2022, Ruby. abandoned her popular vlog and joined. forces with Jodie Hildebrand, a. therapist who was also the Frankie's.

marriage counselor. Together, Ruby and. Jod became the face [music] of Jod's. online life coaching business called. Connections. >> Welcome to Connections. I'm Jodie. Hildebrandt [music] and I'm Ruby. Frankie. We want to have relationships. where we feel close and where where. there's love. But as we all know, what's. been packaged [music] and sold on social. media isn't necessarily what's happening. in real life. [music]. Two young children who at first seemed. so loved in those early videos [music]. somehow ended up starved and abused.

>> I was not [music] prepared for what I. saw. When I saw the injuries, [music] it. was very alarming. Children don't belong in the hospital. >> But while Ruby's two youngest children. are at the hospital getting the medical. attention they so badly need, the. question now [music] is where are Ruby's. two other minor children? And could they. be in danger? >> Police department, open up.

[music]. On that fateful day of August 30th, 2023. >> Is it just you in here? >> Ruby Frankie's two [music] youngest. children, ages 9 and 12, were rescued. after being held captive in Jodie. Hildebrand's Ivans, Utah home. The other. two minor kids are also missing. So, police in Springville, Utah, 3 and 1/2. hours north of Ivans are contacted.

They notified us that uh the two [music]. youngest children from the Frankie. family had been located, but there were. two teenage daughters that their. whereabouts were unknown. [music] Springville police arrive here. at the Frankie home in an urgent search. for the two middle children who [music]. are teenagers. Police worry they could. be in danger, too. >> Police department. They received no response from inside.

the house. Our officers had to just sit there and. wait for the warrant. Once we had the warrant, our officers. used a a ram [music] in order to open. the door. >> Police department, make yourself known. >> The preliminary search in this case. [music] took about 5 minutes. >> This is clear. >> Our officers did not locate two. unaccounted for teenage daughters. And. so we conducted a [music] secondary. search. >> Anywhere. little kid can fit. We checked freezers, refrigerators.

>> Hey, have we checked garage yet? >> Large [music] bags that were in the. garage. Police searched every corner of the. house, but no sign of the teenagers. But as the search ends, 20-year-old Sher. Frankie is able to help police with a. lead. Sherry, Ruby's oldest daughter, who is away at college, tips police that. one's sister is at a local rec center. Employees. at the rec center had said that this.

young woman had left with an adult woman. who they didn't know. [music]. >> Turns out that person had picked up both. of the Frankie daughters. It's a. business associate of Jod and Rubies, Pam Budger. Police are dispatched to her. home. >> You have a warrant? >> Yeah, we do. >> Will you just tell them you're all. right? >> Sure enough, the teens are there and. police ask why. She comes over to my. house all the time. >> The two, visibly unharmed, wait on the.

porch while Pam is being questioned. >> Given the evidence of child abuse. concerning the other Frankie children, the Department of Child and Family. Services now places the teen kids in. their care. >> I'm with you and right now you and your. siblings are expecting us to be. So, even though the two teen daughters. are found safe, there are still a series. of questions for police at the top of. the list. Where is the father of the. Frankie children?

>> So, the same day that we placed Ruby. Frankie and Jod under arrest, Kevin also. came to the police department looking. for his kids. Was he considered a. suspect. >> at that time? Yes, [clears throat] he. was. >> And so, he is placed in an interrogation. room. Well, I want to pick up my kids. I. haven't seen them for over a year. >> Any of them? >> No, none of them.

>> Between 2022 and 2023, Kevin Frankie has. moved out. Sherry is in college. Chad. has also moved out. So, it's now Ruby. and four children. >> Was he even aware that the kids were at. Jod's house? We don't know if he was. It's clear that he moved out in July of. 2022. He was still having therapy with. Jod. >> It turns out Jodie Hildebrandt was Kevin. and Ruby's marriage counselor. >> They just worked on their marriage like. most people do when relationship issues.

come up. >> Was that part of your guys's reason for. separation? The reasons are because of. ways that I treated my wife and some um. of my own addictions. that I was working through and seeking. help on with um. with uh pornography. >> Thank you for sharing that. Jody saw the.

need for me to get help and. um frankly I agreed. >> Part of that process was stay away from. your children and only respond to Ruby. when she contacts you. >> And did you ever try to reach out to the. kids, drop by the home, or no? >> Was there honor, you know, separation. boundary that we agreed to? Have you. communicated with your wife regarding. like discipline with your kids or their.

care or their physical well-being? >> No. >> And then detectives [music] explain to. Kevin just how his two youngest children. were found earlier that day. A 12 to 13year-old boy was knocking on. doors in a neighborhood asking for food. and water. That he was severely. emaciated. That he had emaciated me. >> Skinny, scrawny, uh malnutritioned, not. enough food, not enough water to sustain.

life. So he had. >> I'm sorry. What? [music]. After a short break, the police along. with the child advocate come back into. the room. >> Folks, I don't know what to do. [music]. >> I have no idea what you're talking. about. This just it sounds like a horror. movie. [music]. >> During the interrogation, Kevin appears. bewildered, but he also stands by his.

wife. >> I love my wife. I don't want anything to. incriminate her or me in in ways that I. don't understand. [music]. >> The next day, Kevin's wife, Ruby, calls. him from the Purgatory Correctional. Facility, and she has a bizarre question. >> Are we in the news? >> It sounds [music] like at least you're. in the news. >> This is a witch hunt. The devil's been.

after me for years. And I'm a good woman. I don't do naughty. things. I'm a really good girl. [music]. >> The arrest of a popular YouTube mom. >> Ruby Frankie has been charged with six. felony counts of child abuse. >> How am I going to show you here? >> Thanks to Ruby Frankie's popularity from. her viral eight passengers YouTube. vlogs, news of her arrest floods the.

national news. [music] A YouTube star. known for her tough love parenting. advice. Tonight, she is under arrest on. suspicion of child abuse. And it's that strict parenting style. that seemed to be part of the appeal as. her personal brand in those eight. passengers videos had evolved from one. of family fun to tough love. >> You're going to lose the privilege to. eat dinner. >> Ruby Frankie built [music] a brand of. strict parenting.

You see someone who so believes in what. they're doing and that it is right that. she's publicizing what she is doing as. though it is right. >> I'm going to [clears throat] take the. scissors. Look at me. And I'm going to. cut its head off. >> Grandma will be so mad. >> Since the arrest of a 2 million. subscriber plus YouTube mom vlogger, the. internet has gone absolutely wild. [music].

But perhaps the most striking, most. remarkable reaction to Ruby's arrest. comes from her oldest daughter, Sherry, seemingly breathing a sigh of relief by. posting on her Instagram, "Finally.". And then she adds something even more. ominous and illuminating. "We've been. trying to tell the police and child. protective services for years about this. and so glad they finally decided to step. up.". >> It's a major I told you so. Yes, definitely. [music].

>> When I spoke with Sherry, she had kind. [music] of been estranged from her. family based on their strict parenting. and kind of things that they had put her. through. [music]. >> In fact, ABC News has obtained a call. that Sher Frankie made for a welfare. check in 2022 when her father was. already out of the house, sounding. concerned about her siblings. Hi. Um, my name is Sher Frankie. My four.

younger siblings are living in. Springville and my neighbors have been. telling me that they have been left home. alone for about four or five days and so. I was curious if someone could go check. on them. I know CPS has come a couple. times because of this already, but they. never find a problem, but it keeps. happening. So, I'm going to have an. officer give you a call back. In. conjunction [music] with DCFS, we. returned to the home multiple occasions. to try to speak with the mother andor. the children, but they would not answer.

the [music] door. They sought a warrant. to try to get into the home. The warrant. was not approved. It was frustrating at. the time because [music] we weren't able. to gather any evidence that criminal. activity had occurred. >> ABC News reached out to DCFS and they. declined to comment, citing privacy. concerns. Utah's Child Welfare. Legislative Oversight Panel has the. authority to investigate cases like. this, but so far no investigation has. been opened. [music].

The day after her arrest, Ruby is being. held at Purgatory Correctional Facility. According to jail call records, she. places several calls to Kevin. Ruby. seems to be defending her treatment of. their kids. I do feel strong. I feel calm. And you. know what? Adults have a really hard. time understanding that children can be. full of evil and what that takes to. fight it. >> Then Kevin is heard on the call giving. an update on their youngest children. >> They're going to be in the hospital for.

3 days. [snorts]. >> So weird. It's just not necessary. They're trying to exaggerate this. But. despite hearing some of the realities of. the situation she's in, Ruby isn't. convinced she's in trouble. >> Maybe in 10 days I'll get out of this. Satan has taken everything away from me. that I love and I'm a good woman. I. don't do naughty things. I'm a really. good girl. Before.

Jodie Hildebrandt entered the Frankie. lives and before Kevin, Sherry, and Chad. moved out, there had been signs that the. wheels were coming off the eight. passengers well presented and tight-knit. family. >> My bedroom was taken away for 7 months. and then you give it back like a couple. weeks ago. >> I don't think our viewers know. [laughter] that. >> He's been sleeping on a bean bag. >> I've been sleeping on a bean bag since. October. LDS kids are raised with the sense of. being obedient, that there are morals,

that there are standards that they. should follow, that if you follow those. standards, your life will be happier, you'll be safer. But church leaders have. been consistent and unequivocal in. recent years in terms of condemning. abuse of any [music] kind. >> There was an outcry after viewers of. eight passengers became worried when. Ruby posted about her youngest daughter. forgetting her school lunch. I just got. [music] a text message uh from teacher. and she said that did not pack a lunch.

today. She's just going to need to be. hungry. Viewers elevate their concerns. and in May of 2020 a change.org petition. with about 18,000 signatures circulates. urging child protective services to. investigate the Frankies. As the online chatter grows louder and. news of the change.org petition gets. out, criticism of Ruby escalates and. becomes more aggressive. She claims. Ruby and Kevin Frankie were getting.

death threats. They had someone. completely hooded go up to their door. and leave a note with a threatening. message. You start to see the family. distancing themselves from the video. lens. It went from multiple videos a day. to tampering off and you only saw one, you know, every couple of weeks. [music]. >> By 2023, the eight passengers YouTube. channel had all but disappeared. But not before things would get even. darker for the Frankie family and for.

the woman who would soon be seen as the. wedge [music] driving them apart. As police dive deeper into the tangled. web of family dysfunction within the. Frankie family, >> police officers, open up, >> it becomes clear to investigators that. problems really began. >> when Jodie Hildebrandt, the therapist. who ran the online life coaching. business, [music] Connections, entered. the picture.

>> Welcome to the Empowering Joy class. I'm. Jodie Hildebrandt. >> But just who is Jodie Hildebrandt? Jod. Hildebrandt was a licensed therapist who. worked mostly with Mormon couples and. families. >> Her primary clientele was from 12steps. Alcoholics Anonymous. You have Sex. Addiction Anonymous. She had a great. reputation. >> Jod ran her own practice in the Salt. Lake City area and according to former. clients, many of her referrals came from. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day.

Saints. So, I was seeing Jod because my. former husband and I had very severe. marital issues and I told him that I. wouldn't stay with him unless we could. seek counseling. Stephanie Jones is a. former patient of Jod Hildbrand. She. says at first Jod's counseling sessions. were going well. >> The first time we met with Jod, she. seemed very kind and understanding and. very charismatic. I thought that Jod was. going to solve everything and we were. going to have a happy marriage. As I met.

with her longer, then it became clear. that there were certain things I. couldn't say to her if it didn't fall in. line with what she taught. Stephanie says that things [music]. really took a dark turn during Jod's. group counseling sessions. In the group. sessions, [music]. it was like a public shaming room, so. you had to write down if you kept your. commitments to yourself, things like. that. And if your numbers were not good. enough, then she would rake you over the. coals. Others in Jod's group say they. also felt uneasy.

>> We'd be in group sessions and she would. call out people like this is [music]. distortion or cut them off and belittle. them. And she would emasculate. men in a massive way. [music]. >> There were complaints from other men in. the group sessions as well. Although. pornography addiction is not recognized. as a disorder by the American. Psychiatric Association, a lot of. clients sought Jod out for that. But. some, like former patient Adam Steed, an. ex-member of the church, say she had.

extreme views on how to treat porn. addiction. >> Back then, I used to say, "I had a porn. problem." Because in Mormonism, if. you've ever looked at pornography in. your life, you have a porn problem. Like, ever, even if it was for 10. seconds. And Jod figured out how to. exploit that. >> With Jod, you look at it one time and. you're an addict. Oh, your husband. looked at porn. Have him sleep on the. couch downstairs. [music]. He masturbates, couch, does it more than. once, he should move out. Like, um, most. women in my group were separated from.

their husbands or they were at least. sleeping in separate bedrooms. >> And in the case of Adam Steed, he says. Jod ruined his marriage and his. reputation, telling lies about him. >> So, it's group therapy. When does it. turn? What she did is she took our wives. and started lying to them by telling. them that we were confessing to all. sorts of crazy sexual things in the guys. group. Jodie Hildebrandt called me a a.

child pedophile, a child rapist. >> Adam's marriage eventually ended through. her attorney. Adam's ex-wife declined to. comment. Eventually, he reported Jodi. Hildebrandt to the state of Utah for. acting unethically as a counselor. >> Jod was subpoenaed by Adam Steed and she. was shocked. The context of [music] it. was that she had reached out to Brigham. Young University and told them about. what she had seen in her clinical. office. It didn't ring true at all that.

she had done this. it [music]. because there's such strong ethical. guidelines as a [music] therapist that. you never would disclose to any outside. entity. >> In 2012, Utah's Division of Professional. Licensing, or DOP, put Jod's counseling. license on an 18-month probation, finding she'd been sharing confidential. information about Adam with the Mormon. [music] Church and Brigham Y Young. University. Information which Adam says. got him expelled from his college. and.

[music] the church in 2009. We reached. out to BYU, but citing federal privacy. laws, they said they could not comment. The [music] Church of Jesus Christ of. Latter-day Saints tells us Jod was. removed from a community resource list. of therapists in 2012 when her license. was put on probation. What was your. reaction? >> I was surprised they didn't revoke. [music] her license. >> But Hildebrandt's career survives the. incident and she actually expands her. brand, launching that online life.

coaching program. >> [music]. >> Connections. >> Welcome to Connections. I'm Jody. Hildebrand. So glad you're with us. Connections is the solution. >> In 2020, that's when Ruby Frankie hires. Jodie as a marriage counselor and later. starts appearing in connections videos. and podcasts. The women post dozens of. videos on connections together. Let me in. >> as they appear to form a bond both. professionally and personally. In fact, at one point, Jod had a crisis of her.

own in her home. And while Kevin was. initially hesitant, he was convinced by. Ruby to help Jod out. Jod began to live. in the [music] home with them. And at. that point, that's kind of when Kevin. says there was a shift in their marriage. because Jod really integrated herself. and she would go on their anniversary. dinners. She would just she would just. be there. Does that strike you as odd? >> Yes.

>> Because how many marriage counselors. move in with the couple? [music]. >> I don't know of any, let alone go on. their anniversary dinner. >> And according to investigators, all this. driving a wedge between Ruby and her. husband Kevin. >> Jodie began to say that Kevin was. dealing with lust issues and [music]. addictions. And for that, he needed to. be separate from Ruby. >> You see a complete disintegration. [music] of the Frankie family. Kevin. Frankie has left. He has moved out. She. leaves her two teen girls uh back.

[music] in the Springville home and she. essentially moves in with the family. therapist, taking her two youngest. children [music] with her in Ivan's. Utah. Investigators say it was this bizarre. living situation that police are trying. to unravel [music] as they process this. house of horrors. But so many questions. remain. What would possess a mother to. subject [music]. her kids to this kind of abuse? Could. the clues lie in a journal police have. uncovered? A journal belonging to Ruby.

Frankie. But nothing would read quite as. >> [music]. >> ominously as a message written with. rocks by her abused son. Where he'd been. sleeping outside, he had left in rocks. A statement. We were shocked. When we. come back, everybody thinks they know what happened. in the case of Ruby Frankie, but what we.

thought we know was just the tip of the. iceberg. >> Police, anybody home? >> Well, what what goes through your mind. when you see this? >> I mean, handcuffs clearly can be a. torture device. We knew 14 almost 15 years [music] ago. that she's already done this to me. >> Jodie, >> I need you to step out. >> Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. >> Jod is an incredibly powerful, [music]. terrifying woman.

>> Welcome to Connections. Glad you're with. us. I'm Jod Hildebrand. And I'm Ruby. Frankie. >> Both Ruby Frankie and Jodie Hildebrandt. convinced these [music] children that. they had done atrocious acts. When. you're told you're a terrible person, you start to believe it. >> Ruby seems to express zero sympathy for. what she's putting her children through. >> It was unlike anything that we've ever. seen. It's all about power. It's all. about control. Dehumanizing. [music]. Dehumanizing. >> We have zero reason to believe that this. abuse would have stopped short of death.

Like zero. The parenting influencer charged with. child abuse. Facing child abuse charges. today in Utah. >> We're used to seeing mom Ruby Frankie as. an influencer, but we're now seeing her. as an inmate. >> Ruby Frankie is set to appear in court. today. So, September 8th, 2023, a little. more than a week after she's been. arrested. We see Ruby Frankie for the. first time, not as a mom influencer, but.

she appears publicly in court. >> Miss Frankie, can you hear me? >> Yes. Jod Nan Hildebrandt. >> Yes. >> While Ruby Frankie and Jodie Hildebrandt. are facing their first court. appearances, investigators are still. trying to learn what exactly happened in. Jod's home. >> POLICE OFFICERS, OPEN UP. >> Where Ruby's [music] 9 and 12year-old. children, who we're calling E and R, were staying.

Jenny Hildebrandt's house is just over. there at the base of this red rock. paradise, ironically [music] called. Hellhole Canyon. Fitting perhaps given. the unimaginable abuse that. investigators are uncovering. Everybody. thinks they [music] know what happened. in the case of Ruby Frankie. But you're. about to release a [music] bunch of. evidence that shows what we thought we. know was just the tip of the iceberg. >> It It blew my mind when I saw it. This. isn't just a case of a social media. influencer like pushing boundaries.

The abuse is much worse than people are. aware of. When we were able to interview the kids. for the second time, that's when R. shared his side of the story of what. happened inside the home. How he had to stand in the sun for hours. a day and sleep outside. How he was deprived [music] of food and. water. How he was forced to [music]. carry boxes up and down the stairs all.

day. Him and E had to go to the cemetery. barefoot and pick up weeds out in the. heat. >> In a video taken by a bystander and. later provided to police, you can see R. in that cemetery. >> It gets to be 110°. The ground at that point would be hotter. than the air and his feet had blisters. on them. His arms burned. >> R told you that he had had a birthday. that year.

>> Mhm. What was he made to do on his. birthday? >> He said that on his birthday he had to. stand outside all day in the baking. heat. Yes. >> What about Eve? >> Eve was more reserved. She wouldn't see. her much. She didn't go into much much detail. >> It took a while before Eve finally. opened up. And at one point she. described how that she was forced to. steal water.

Ruby and Jodie would watch her in the. shower when she brushed her teeth. They. would turn off the water because that's. when she would steal water. Normally. kids outgrow their clothes. She had lost so much weight that she had. actually. the clothes were too big to fit on her.

So in ours interview he disclosed that. there was a set of silver handcuffs used. and [music] a set of black handcuffs. used. So when we found these items it. really cooporated our story. Well, what. what goes through your mind when you see. this? I'll never look at handcuffs the same. again because we've seen the injuries. that these caused. >> The prosecutor showed us photographs of. the deep wounds from the handcuffs, what.

he describes as torture. We want to warn. you, the image you're about to see is. graphic. >> And then you're [music] starting to see. the worst injuries, the ones that just. really hit you. This is like [music]. injury on top of injury. This was happening for weeks. >> [music]. >> In Jodi Hildbrand's house, not just. handcuffs, but even a trampoline used in. extreme heat could be a torture device. R in [music] his interview disclosed.

that he was forced to jump on a. trampoline for 8 to 10 hours a day out. in the sun. We went back to the scene. and [music] on the trampoline there was. like calsite buildup from him just. sweating on that trampoline. It confirms. his story of unspeakable [music]. torture. Yeah. So, right here you're seeing R as he. approaches the neighbor's home on the. day that he ran away. [music] And you.

can see how small and how visible his. bones are even on his legs. >> This is R's back. [music]. And you can see both how skinny he is in. his arms and how far out his shoulder. blades stick. >> And these are obvious signs of. malnutrition, of starvation. >> Yeah. >> When you think of R [music]. and that escape, how much courage did. that take? >> This this whole [music] thing came to.

life because of R. And for him to go to neighbor after. neighbor, finding no one home, then finding [music]. the third one, someone answered the door. to tell him, "Hey, I need help.". >> What's going on? Have a seat, sir. >> I just had a 12year-old boy show up here. at my front door. He's hungry and. [music] he's thirsty. >> That shows how brave he is. He's the. hero in this whole thing. [music]. >> And there's the obvious question. Were.

there signs along the way? Anything that. could have stopped this from happening. in the Frankie family? Remember the. oldest child, Sherry, had tried to raise. the alarm that something was a miss with. that welfare check. >> My four younger siblings are living in. Springville. And so I was curious if. someone could go check on them. >> But there was another warning. This one. about Jodie years earlier from someone. inside her family who's ready to share.

their story now. We knew 14 almost 15 years ago that. she's already done this to me. [music]. [music] When I began covering this. story, I went to Seattle to meet. 30-year-old Jesse Hilderbrand, [music]. who's a tattoo artist there. Who is. Jodie Hildenbrand to you? Jod is my. dad's sister. So, she's my [music] aunt.

>> Jesse, who uses they them pronouns, is. also an accomplished musician. Jesse. says their experience with Jodie echoes. [music] that of Ruby Frankie's two. youngest children. Jod is an incredibly. powerful, terrifying woman. For the. longest time, I never thought about. going forward because [music] I've had. almost 15 years of people telling me to. get over it, to move on, stop being a. victim. I had finally the validation of. what happened and the validation of my.

story. I [music and singing] got. everything I wanted. >> In 2009, Jesse was a teenager living in. California with their [music] parents. and three siblings. I grew up in a very. traditional Mormon household. Dad is the. provider and my mom was a stay-at-home. mom. Very good at homemaking, you know, cookies and homemade meals. When I was. growing up, I very much believed in the. church. I was devout, but I also was.

very curious. And so, [music] I wasn't. afraid of asking questions. I had a lot. of frustration. I was so angsty and angry. I started. running away. I had a lot of interpersonal. relationship issues with my dad [music]. um and my mother. Um and that goes to. the Mormon culture at large of um this. stay sweet, never rocking the boat, never challenging authority. >> Jesse [music] describes himself as being.

a rebellious teenager, you know, in part. because of the upbringing, this Mormon. upbringing where, you know, [music]. makeup and caffeine and going out are. all no-as. A major turning point in. their life, Jesse says, was during a. trip to their grandparents' 50th. anniversary party in Utah. Jesse was 15. I got into a fight with my mom over like. silly teenager things. She wanted me to. do dishes. I didn't want to do the. dishes. She took my phone. Just, you. know, normal angry.

>> garden variety. >> teenage stuff. And I went downstairs to. my my aunt's basement and fell asleep. woke up to a knock on the door. It was. Jod and my grandma and grandpa and to. tell me that my my family had left and. that I wasn't going with them and that. my life as I knew it was about to. change. Jesse's parents leave their teenager. [music]. with Jodie. >> I'm shaking and crying and I I don't. know how to process this, but first she.

stripped me of identity. So, I had to. cut all my hair off. I wasn't allowed to. wear makeup. I wasn't allowed to wear. the clothes that I had. I was not. allowed to go to school. She would lock. me in this room and write out that my. sins on a paper. She would have me kneel. on the floor on my hands and knees and. beg for forgiveness. Jodie uses people's. spirituality and belief in God against. them. [music] She shames people if they. question her. When you're told by the. one person in your life because. everybody else [music] has been thrown. out that you're a terrible person and.

that you deserve all the bad things that. are happening to you, you start to. believe it. >> [music]. >> Jod was convinced that I had had. abortions, that I was a sex addict. I. wasn't allowed to use tampons because. she was convinced I was masturbating. with them. And at that point in my life, I didn't even know what that meant. I. wasn't allowed to be alone in the. restroom. I had to keep the door open. And who's monitoring you, Jody? We spoke.

to a family member who said they saw you. with duct tape on your face. Yeah, she duct taped me. Um, I wasn't. allowed to speak to anyone. >> What in theory was the justification for. the duct tape? The duct tape was in her. words an external reminder to me that. I'm a liar. And her favorite phrase, which even saying this is just it hurts, is a masterful manipulator. So, even if. I wasn't duct taped, if I was at a.

church function um and someone came up. and spoke to me directly, I had to just. stare at them. But things got even. worse. I um she made me sleep outside in. the snow in a sleeping bag. I started. fantasizing about [music] jumping off. her balcony, about breaking my legs, about stabbing myself, about anything I. could do that would just give me some. escape. After trying to run away a. couple of times, Jesse says it only.

intensified Jod's punishments. >> She ripped me off the love seat by my. hair, blindfolded me, threw me in the car, tied my feet and my. hands. What in theory was the. justification for what you say is being. blindfolded and bound in the back of a. car? the delusion that she has that this. is like saving me and her belief that. God is literally working through her. It's all about power. It's all about. control. [music].

>> In 2010, Jesse Hildebrandt goes to the. police and says that there is extreme. [music]. mental abuse. >> In the police report, Jesse describes. Jod's treatment of them and requested a. referral to a safe house which the. police provided. >> They ask for help. They ask [music]. uh for police to do something. and the. report is closed. >> We contacted American Fork police who. said they can only comment on what is in. the police report. The breaking point, Jesse says, [music] came after they'd. lived with Jod for nearly a year. So.

during the week, I would go to work with. her and because I wasn't in school. [music] at the time, Jod had a. counseling practice in the Salt Lake. City area. She would put me in this. little room off the side of her [music]. office and I would be in there up to 12. hours a day. And one day I just walked. in there and this teenage girl was. sitting there and just said [music] to. Jodie, um, gosh, what is that teenager. doing in there, I think this is the. third day [music]. >> for hours on end. >> Yeah. And Jod got very um I would.

[music] say agitated and said, "Don't. talk to her." All I thought was, "That's. odd.". One of her colleagues had found [music]. this jacket and it was like a reversible. windbreaker raincoat. >> It was cold in the basement. >> And so you put that coat in there. knowing she was cold. >> Yeah. >> And I had this like moment where I was. like, if I don't leave now, I'm never getting. out. And I grabbed that jacket and I. literally just started running. Jesse.

says they ended up staying in a homeless. shelter and slowly began the process of. healing. >> [music]. >> After news broke of Jod and Ruby's. arrests, Jesse reached out to. investigators in Utah who [music] say. Jesse's story mirrored Jod's treatment. of Ruby Frankie's two youngest kids. Why. was Jesse's story important to this case. as a prosecutor? [music]. All of the things that Jodie did to. Jesse, which I totally believe Jesse on,

were the things that happened early on. in the abuse last summer in our. community to R&. behavior. >> and of control, the behavior, the. brainwashing, the manipulation. >> In hindsight, had [music] Jesse's story. been believed, could this have been. avoided? Had Jesse's story been believed. and people had [music] known about it,

I'm not an expert on those standards. Jod's license to practice as a therapist. shouldn't have remained in place and we. would all would have been better off. >> But now, nearly 15 years after Jesse's. escape, it's one of Ruby's children. who's runaway, too. And he's left behind. a message for everyone to see. where. he'd [music] been sleeping outside. He. had left in rocks. A statement.

[music]. From the very beginning of Mormonism, uh. Latter-day Saints were encouraged to. keep journals. [music]. There's a kind of sacred duty in. recording your life. The journaling is. [music] an act of gratitude to God. It's. an act of devotion. Ruby Frankie was among those practicing. that sacred duty. But according to.

prosecutors, her journal was no list of. ordinary or mundane life events. Instead, it would be a gamecher for the. investigation. Let's talk about Ruby's journal. How was. it discovered? >> When we did the second search warrant of. the home, we found a blue folder and. that was in the bedroom. It's a sheet [music] of papers. documenting the summer day by day.

At the start of the journal, it's R's. 12th birthday. She [music] writes, "I. told R that he emulates a snake. He. slithers and sneaks around. If he. [music] wants to emulate the Savior, he. needs to be 100% obedient with. exactness. 71123. Tuesday. R was told to stand in the sun. with his sun hat. He is defiant. I come. back with a cactus poker. When I poke. his back to get in the sun, R doesn't.

even flinch. >> He had been through so much pain. You. could just see his pain tolerance was, you know, >> through the roof. through the roof. >> On 71423, E refuses to work, screams, has hair shaved off. >> It's [music] the taking away their. identity, >> dehumanizing, >> dehumanizing. >> In the journal, Ruby describes her. children R and E with words like demon, devil, possessed, insisting that they.

must repent. Both Ruby Frankie and Jodie Hildebrand. convinced these children that they had. done atrocious acts and that this. repentance process required them to do. severe acts of punishment. She clearly feels like her children had. not only been like possessed by evil. spirits but were embracing that. possession and celebrating that evilness. inside of them.

And so she clearly felt justified in. doing anything. >> Ruby seems to express zero sympathy for. what [music] she's putting her children. through. When E was outside today, it. was hot. She acted like she [music] was. dying. So pitiful. There was no emotion there. There was a. disconnect from, you know, a typical. mother and a child. It's something to. hear [music] it from R. It's another to. read Ruby's own account of it.

>> Yeah. In her own words, that in itself. must have been shocking. >> It It was just crazy. It was unlike. anything that we've ever seen. All you. can think at that moment is, holy, like, we've got them. This is clear intent, clear knowledge of the abuse is. documented by Ruby herself. She was not only justifying her. behavior, but she believed that her. behavior was acceptable behavior and. that God was approving it.

The twisted logic that's going on in her. mind. As for Jodie Hildebrandt, she's. referred to throughout the journal as G. Joe. >> So, it was my understanding that it was. like grandma Joe, like Jodie. So Gjo, she says, "Go help me intervene after. work. I cut more off E's head. We doused. her with water in the dog wash." [music].

Yeah. So G. Joe is implicated throughout. the journal. >> Yeah. It really shows that both of them. were very involved [music] with the. corporal punishment and physical. emotional abuse. By mid July 2023, [music] the abuse is. so bad that R runs away in a first. failed attempt. Ruby writes, "At 2:45. a.m., I woke straight up out of bed. Straight up. I couldn't see R. He. [music] was gone." Where he'd been.

sleeping outside. He had left in rocks. A statement [music] saying, "Jail, I. will call when I get there." They told. these kids that you have to repent first. and then [music]. you're going to jail. And so that's why. he said, "I'd much rather just go to. jail now.". Ruby writes, "Oh God, oh father, we need. a [music] miracle. We need your help. now. Send the hosts of heaven.". >> She's like praying her guts out and.

driving around in a panic and they're. all just terrified. Ruby and Jodie split up in separate. [music] cars to search for R. After 15. minutes of driving, Ruby finds him. walking on the road and she writes, "I. get out of the car. R is shocked to see. me.". And at that point, that's when he. started to become handcuffed and bound. so that he wouldn't escape again.

>> If all this isn't upsetting enough, then. Ruby reveals something else in her. writings. a plan to leave the state with. her kids and Jod and tow. >> One of the things that terrifies me in. that journal is how she talks about how. important it is for them to move to a. house on a larger property. >> in Arizona. >> In Arizona on a ranch style property, >> Ruby writes, "Go has been looking for. property and is feeling more imminent. [music] The need to get these kids to. open land. Pop, we will drop them like.

hot potatoes out in the desert, their. new home. And why does that terrify you? >> Because if that had happened, we have. zero reason to believe that this abuse. would have stopped short of death. Like. zero. >> How bulletproof was this case as you. were heading towards trial? >> It's not that often that you have one of. the two codefendants cataloging their. criminal acts that they're doing.

So, as their case moves closer to trial, prosecutors are preparing what their. evidence might be, including phone calls. Jod's making from jail. >> So, now it's it's abusive to make a kid. sleep on the floor. It's abusive. It's. ridiculous. It's ridiculous. You can't even raise your kids anymore. >> [music].

[music]. >> purgatory. In some religious traditions, it's a. place between heaven and hell. But it's. also the name of the jail where Ruby. Frankie and Jodie Hildbrand are being. held [music] without bail, facing up to. six charges of aggravated child abuse. each. >> [music]. >> This is a call from and paid for by. >> Charity Telegram, >> an inmate at Purgatory Correctional.

Facility. [music] This call is subject. to recording and monitoring. >> We frequently monitor jailhouse calls. [music] on cases because a lot of people. say stuff that you can use in trials. [music] Jod gets in there and starts. saying things like, you know, I [music]. don't I don't know why I'm here. >> I should be here. I haven't done. anything wrong. >> I can't believe what I'm being accused. of. I just can't believe it. I just.

can't believe it. >> To this must be part of God's bigger. plan. >> I'm like, what's a better example than. to go [music] to prison and just like. and then go teach the gospel. >> to like it's the it's these rotten kids. fault. >> We didn't do that. Those pictures we did. not do. He did that to himself? Yes. Did. we put that on him and then he rubbed. around and cut himself? Yes. But we. didn't do that. >> So, what [music] does that tell you.

about her mindset? >> It's. troubling at least to hear someone. justify the type of abuse that we know. happened and to continue to try to. convince others that everything that she. was doing was the right thing. In the weeks following their arrests, Ruby and Jod claim innocence [music] on. the charges against them. And remember, when police first question Ruby's. husband, Kevin, he stands by her. >> What's going to happen? It's my wife. I.

love my wife and I trust my wife. >> And just [music] to be clear as day, Kevin initially was considered a. suspect. >> In that circumstance, he's going to be. considered a suspect. However, [music] two weeks later, police. call Kevin in for a second interview. And this time, instead of defending his. wife, [music] Kevin has a change of. heart. >> Every week was just hell. Psychological. hell. And Jod was running it. I can't.

describe to you what torture and hell it. was to [music] live an entire it was. more than a month really in complete. isolation. believing that I was like evil. >> You going through that is going to be. extremely helpful with and cuz a lot of. those are the same words [music] that. were used with them and you're going to. understand how they felt. The main.

difference between that interview and. the first interview [music] is he now. knows what his children had been. subjected to. That his wife Ruby and. Jodie had done some terrible things. And. at that point, his willingness to. protect his wife and keep her from. getting in further trouble was removed. He was more concerned about his. children. it became clear that he wasn't really a. person of interest and. >> he was off the hook pretty quick.

>> He was off the hook pretty quickly. [music]. because there just wasn't any evidence. We we had a journal saying everything. that had happened in the home over the. summer and [music] and it never said he. was in the home. >> Kevin is no longer on investigators list. of suspects. He's now reconciling with. his two oldest and once aranged. children, Sherry and Chad. >> Any comments for today? Not today. Probably shouldn't today things. >> And he's fighting to regain custody of. his youngest [music] four. Kevin also.

files for divorce from Ruby. Meanwhile, Ruby faces [music] the. possibility of spending Christmas in. jail. Prosecutors monitoring her calls. since she's also starting to see things. differently. Could Ruby be ready to. flip? This has been the strangest and the most. miraculous intervention. It put. everybody where they needed to be. It. separated me from Jodie. So, I'm not.

hearing her. And I think just being gone. and not hearing her has cleared a lot of. things up for me. By listening to the. jailhouse calls, we were able to. determine that Ruby Frankie that the. more time that [music] she was away from. Jodie Hilderbrand, the more. understanding that she had of the. [music] injuries to her own children, that she was able to express remorse,

regret, and that she wanted to then help with. the case. She was willing to admit that what she. did was awful and that she was going to. plead to to a pretty strict plea. dealing. >> Miss Frankie is now here. >> But also, she was willing to [music]. testify against Jod. >> Yeah, >> that's a big deal. [music].

>> [music]. >> I really did feel like being left was. like a rescue. Like I just felt so many. angels around and it was like a relief. [music]. >> Summer has turned to fall, has turned to. winter, and prosecutors are learning. that as the seasons have changed, Ruby's.

story might be changing, too. >> Miss Frankie is now here. It was our. understanding that Ruby felt that the. right thing to do at that point was to. accept responsibility. for her own conduct [music] and that. Jodie should do the same. And if that. meant for Ruby to testify against Jod. Hildebrandt, she would do that. [music]. On December 18th, 2023, Ruby pleads. guilty to four secondderee felony. charges of aggravated [music].

child abuse. The remaining two charges. are dropped. Miss Frankie, how do you. plead to count one, aggravated child. abuse? >> Guilty. >> To count three, aggravated child abuse. >> Guilty. >> To count five, aggravated child abuse. >> Guilty. >> And to count six, aggravated child. abuse. >> With my deepest regret and sorrow for my. family and my children, guilty. The stakes for Jodie were higher because.

Ruby was now going to testify against. her and we were seriously looking at. adding additional charges. >> But that would [music] not come to pass. On December 27th, 2023, Jodie, knowing. that her former friend and business. partner was willing to testify [music]. against her, she also pleads guilty to. the same four charges of aggravated. child abuse. >> Guilty. court. Therefore, it dismisses the. remaining two counts.

>> What did you think when you heard that. Jod was going to take a plea? >> I was relieved because I didn't want to. have to drag the victims through all of. this. >> Thank you. We'll be in recess. >> The plea bargain was that we would drop. two of the six charges and they had to. agree to plead to four counts and that. they would serve prison for each count. and that those counts would run. consecutively, not concurrently. With both women pleading to the same. charges, the plea deal makes no.

distinction between the codefendants's. roles in the abuse. Although in. recognition of Ruby's cooperation in the. case, prosecutors make one small. concession regarding the terms of her. parole. >> Ruby's plea deal said that she would. testify against Jod and [music] we would. not go to the parole board arguing that. she stay in prison longer. >> So you wouldn't put the finger on the. scale for her to stay in prison more? Yeah. >> All rise.

>> I was led to believe that this world was. an evil place filled with church [music]. leaders who lie and lust, husbands who. refuse to protect and children who need. abused. I stand before you today ready. to take accountability. to my babies, [snorts] my six little chicks. You're a part of me. I was the mama black who was.

consistently welding me to safety. I can see now. [snorts]. 4 years. I was in a deep undercurren but. led us to danger. >> Jod's sentencing was decidedly. different. When Jodie uh made a. statement at the time of sentencing, she. never once said she was taking. responsibility for her conduct or that. she did anything wrong. >> Go ahead. >> I sincerely love these children.

I desire for them to heal physically and. emotionally. My hope and prayer is that they will. heal and move forward to have beautiful. lives. I am willing to submit to what the state. feels would be an appropriate amount of. time served to make restribution. >> compared to to Ruby um who had um. accepted at some level responsibility. Uh I think the judge was concerned that. Jod was not taking responsibility.

>> Miss Hilda Brandt, this this. circumstance is tragic. It's largely of. course of your making. Adults are. supposed to protect children. Adults with specialized training in. particular are supposed to protect. children. In this case, you terrorize. children. And the results have been. tragic. The court finds that it is. appropriate that you serve a prison. sentence. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.

will determine how long uh they'll end. up spending in prison. And from what we. know of the level of felony that both. Ruby Frankie and Jodie Hildebrandt plead. guilty to, they can get anywhere from. four years in prison to 30 years. >> What does justice look like in this. case? >> To me, justice in this case looks like. them not coming out of prison. until the child victims are adult and.

grown enough that they can handle them. being out. >> [music]. >> For Jod's niece, Jesse, the possibility. their aunt could be released on parole. before the 30-year maximum prison. sentence seems like justice [music]. denied. >> The sentencing is a joke. Even if it is. the law, it doesn't feel like a like. closure at all because now [music] every. time there's a parole hearing, I have to.

be there. Those children have to relive. that trauma. I believe that she is a very dangerous. dangerous [music] person that she cannot. be trusted. with anyone children and adults alike. I. think [music] Jod is exactly where she. needs to be. [music and singing]. >> While Jod's fate is beyond Jesse's. control, that still hasn't stopped them.

from finding a way forward. You said that um Jod stripped you of. your identity. >> Yeah. >> Clearly, you've regained your identity. in some form or fashion. [music]. >> Who is Jesse Hildebrand today? >> I'm a tattoo artist and a a painter and. a musician and [music] want to. experience. all the things that the world has to. offer. If I could wake up tomorrow and. never think about [music] her, that I mean, that would just be the.

greatest day of my life. The question. is, what does tomorrow look like for the. Frankie children? [music]. What we see in this story, people can be. given too much power. People can start. to believe that they deserve that power. >> Go and face that officer. Put your hand.

on the top of your head, please. In. resolving this case, we wanted to make. sure that both. Jod Hildebrandt [music] and Ruby Frankie. would not be able to injure any other. child. I also hope that Ruby can [music]. be reformed and can come out and not be. a bad influence on the kids. And then it should be 100% up to each of. the victims individually whether they. choose to have a relationship or not.

[music]. >> Through his attorney, Kevin Frankie. tells us in hindsight, much like some of. her other clients, it was Jodie who. falsely convinced him he had a problem. with [music] pornography. In January of 2024, Kevin [music]. Frankie filed a restraining order to. block the sale of Jod Hildebrand's. house. In the filing, he's asking for. restitution [music] to pay for the. ongoing psychological care of the kids. and what can you tell us about how R and.

E are doing now and what road lies ahead. for them? >> Last time we saw them, [music]. it's a 180. E and R, they're. they look so much better. They've put on. weight. They look [music] healthy. They're happy. They're, you know, back. to their hobbies. [music]. >> We're told E and R have been placed. together in foster care. As for their. siblings, the middle teens, [music] ABC. News reached out to the Department of.

Child and Family Services, citing. privacy policies. They told us they. can't share any information. Kevin does want custody of the kids. [music] He has made inroads. He wants a. relationship with his four minor. children. R is [music] a hero of a lot of people. in our office and it gives us such great. examples of someone who is just. resilient against the awful things. R. was extremely brave. Not only did he. save himself, [music].

but he saved E. And in E's own interview, she was. grateful for R. [music]. I see a little boy that [music]. saved himself even though everyone. around [music] him should have had his. back. Jesse Hildebrandt is 15 years ahead of R. and E [music] in the healing process and. is able to gather strength after Jod has.

been found guilty and is behind bars. [singing and music]. >> If you go, I'll be here. keep the light on for [singing] you, [music] my dear. >> I hope that the shocking nature of this. story doesn't blind people [music]. to the commonality of the story. It's. easy to distance ourselves from. something that seems so shocking and. feel like it has nothing to do with you.

or or your community. >> Treat your [music] kids like angels. Treat them like you treat yourself. Kids. need our our help. Helping them become. [music] good human beings. People that. will be good parents in the future. >> Baby, [singing] just stay. Oh, stay. [music].

We should note tonight that in Utah, the. parole board actually determines the. sentence while the inmate is serving. time based on their behavior. >> So both Ruby Frankie and Jodie. Hildebrandt could be eligible for parole. as early as August 2027. That's our program for tonight. Thanks. so much for watching. I'm Deborah. Roberts. And. >> I'm David Muer. From all of us here at. 2020 and ABC News, good night. And you can [music] find all new. broadcast episodes of 2020 Friday nights.

at 9 on ABC.