Shari Franke’s publication, The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Pursuit of Freedom, recounts her journey of uncovering the connection between her mother, Ruby Franke, and her business associate, Jodi Hildebrandt.
In her memoir, Shari says that after her mother’s arrest, she found messages on her laptop confirming the true nature of their relationship.
The abuse the children endured came to light when a 12-year-old boy climbed out of a window and ran to neighbors, begging for food and water.
The child is the offspring of Ruby Franke, a well-known content creator recognized for the online platform 8 Passengers. The residence was owned by Franke’s business confidante, Jodi Hildebrandt.
Local residents contacted the authorities. Law enforcement officers described the boy as severely underweight and undernourished. They observed severe injuries caused by being restrained with rope, along with duct tape binding his wrists and ankles. Upon inspecting Hildebrandt’s residence, law enforcement discovered Franke’s ten-year-old daughter in a similar state of distress. Both youngsters were swiftly transported to a medical facility.
Franke’s parenting channel, 8 Passengers, which once had over 2 million followers, offered parenting advice. In one video, she admitted to withholding food as a form of punishment.
Both women were convicted of aggravated child abuse.
Joining Nancy Grace Today:
Additional Guest
Dr. Dana Anderson – Forensic Psychologist and consultant, court appointed expert witness, Twitter: @psychologydrcom, TikTok: @psychologydr
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[Feature Photo:Jodi Hildebrandt, Ruby Franke/Instagram]
