In August 2023, police invaded Jodi Hildebrandt’s residence, a pivotal moment now captured in a new documentary examining the disturbing case involving Ruby Franke and her associate.
Ruby Franke gained recognition as a YouTube creator by sharing her experiences and parenting advice from her life in Utah, where she was raising six children. Her channel, ‘8 Passengers’, which is no longer active, showcased her methods of home-schooling, cooking, and spending quality time with her family.
Franke and her mentor, Jodi Hildebrandt, were apprehended following a harrowing incident where Franke’s 12-year-old son managed to escape from Hildebrandt’s home. He sought help from a neighbor, arriving with duct tape on his ankles and pleading for food and water.
In 2023, Franke and Hildebrandt both admitted guilt to four charges of child abuse involving two of Franke’s children. They were each sentenced to four consecutive terms ranging from one to 15 years, potentially leading to 30 years behind bars, according to Utah law.
The infiltration of Hildebrandt’s home is depicted in the Investigation Discovery documentary, Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence. This series provides ‘unprecedented insight into the motivations and disturbing relationship’ between Franke and Hildebrandt.
In the second episode, Eric Clarke, Washington County Attorney, recounts how it was immediately evident to authorities that they were dealing with a “real bad case of child abuse.”
The alarming situation came to light when Franke’s 12-year-old son managed to flee Hildebrandt’s residence and sought help from a neighbor, ringing their doorbell.
The boy requested to be taken to the ‘nearest police station’ and asked for food. The neighbor promptly contacted the police, reporting to the 911 operator: “I just had a 12 year old boy show up here at my front door asking for help. He’s emaciated. He’s got tape around his legs. He’s hungry and he’s thirsty.”
Shortly after, police officers entered Hildebrandt’s $5.3 million desert home in Ivins. The documentary captures the moment when Hildebrandt answers the door, informing officers she’s speaking with her attorney.
Armed officers searched the premises and, fortunately, discovered a ‘little girl’ alive, though they initially feared the worst.
The child was found hiding in a closet, with Clarke describing how the nine-year-old was ‘so afraid that she wouldn’t come out of a closet’ without Hildebrandt’s permission.
Only after consuming an entire pizza did the girl feel comfortable enough to emerge.
As this unfolded, police conducted a thorough search to ‘find evidence of child abuse.’ They discovered a panic room along with handcuffs and rope.
The search also revealed a Murphy bed, cabinets, a refrigerator, a sink, and various cleaning products stocked in the room.
ID’s RUBY & JODI: A CULT OF SIN AND INFLUENCE debuts over two nights, Monday, September 1 and Tuesday, September 2, from 9-11PM ET/PT. The episodes will be available for streaming on HBO Max.