UT - Parenting influencer, Ruby Franke, and blogger/podcast partner Jodi Hildebrandt, arrested for Child Abuse, Aug 2023

[ifindedout]

Creators who reupload Ruby Franke, Jodi Hildebrandt content could face YouTube expulsion

All Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt content scrubbed from YouTube. Creators warned not to reupload or face expulsion themselves.

kutv.com

Franke's 8 Passengers was taken off the platform earlier in 2023, and her personal channel was removed following her arrest. Hildebrandt's ConneXions Classrooms channel, though, remained online, as well as her professional therapist page.

Both were gone by Wednesday, Sept. 13.

[...]

YouTube confirmed that Ruby Franke will no longer be able to use, own, or create another YouTube channels [sic] in accordance with the Repeat Infringer Policy in the YouTube Terms of Service.

The company's policy could also have a ripple effect that's detrimental to other creators - specifically those putting videos or clips from Franke or Hildebrandt after they've been removed by YouTube.

 

[Quiche]

I've been following this case very closely since it broke...

I have a question: Does anyone else anticipate additional charges (much like the crimes already alleged) levied on behalf of the older children? As far as I can tell, Utah statutes may permit felony charges on even the oldest children as far as timing goes.

Since Ruby and Kevin were involved with Jody for about four years (or more), it seems the other children were likely harmed in the same fashion, imo.

 

[Howl]

Hmm. I missed where JH explicitly referenced RF in her interview.

Apologies, @Cedars, I didn't read carefully for original context!

When I said "IIRC, Jessi H referenced at least 14 years. I'd have to go back and watch the interview again to be certain," I was referring to when Jessi H recalled that Jodi H developed and put into motion her current beliefs, rather than when Jodi H first encountered RF.

For a timeline on Connexions, here's a snip from the ConneXionsClassroom.com web site, which is still up:
"Hi, I'm Jodi. Ruby and I want to help you learn the tools you need for calm, honest connection with your child.
"I [Jodi H] founded ConneXions in 2012 to help you flourish in your relationships.
Ruby is a certified mental fitness trainer and the mother of 6 wonderful children..."

SRSLY, what the heck is a "certified mental fitness trainer"? The website doesn't clarify when Ruby came on board, or really anything else about her.

Anyway, as I navigated through the website, it sounds SO GOOD...and postive...and healing! If ConneXions gave what it promised on the website... Too bad what Jodi manifested was toxic and destructive.

I'd recommend navigating through the website to review the business model, cost, and what is promised.

 

[CeraUnderscore]

I've been following this case very closely since it broke...

I have a question: Does anyone else anticipate additional charges (much like the crimes already alleged) levied on behalf of the older children? As far as I can tell, Utah statutes may permit felony charges on even the oldest children as far as timing goes.

Since Ruby and Kevin were involved with Jody for about four years (or more), it seems the other children were likely harmed in the same fashion, imo.

I would really like that to be the case but I'm doubtful. I think that Ruby and Jodi have only been physically abusive recently (the last 13 or so months - after the dad Kevin was kicked out the home), but its obvious that emotional abuse has been going on a lot longer. I mean the clips we see from their YouTube where their eldest son was made to sleep on a beanbag in the family room for 7 months (he didnt even have a bedroom) was investigated by CPS and they didnt see any issue with it (allegedly).

I have zero clue about anything legal wise so I may be wrong, but I think it's harder to find a 'charge' for the emotional abuse these poor kids went through.

 

[Betty P]

Franke's 8 Passengers was taken off the platform earlier in 2023, and her personal channel was removed following her arrest. Hildebrandt's ConneXions Classrooms channel, though, remained online, as well as her professional therapist page.

Both were gone by Wednesday, Sept. 13.

[...]

YouTube confirmed that Ruby Franke will no longer be able to use, own, or create another YouTube channels [sic] in accordance with the Repeat Infringer Policy in the YouTube Terms of Service.

The company's policy could also have a ripple effect that's detrimental to other creators - specifically those putting videos or clips from Franke or Hildebrandt after they've been removed by YouTube.

Well, that's a relief. It's probably difficult for YouTube and other social media to monitor content, but they really need to make an effort to keep these people off their platforms. The public who is watching should also feel free to alert those in charge.

It's terrifying to think there are parents out there who participate in child abuse or recommend it to others. Children have rights, too, including the right to not be abused according to the demands of a religion they have no choice in following.

Children aren't possessions or chattel.

 

[cottonweaver]

Didn't youtube send somebody round to Franke's address within hours of the news breaking, in order to remove the Youtube branding from the Franke's vehicle?

Also, once the news broke, didn't multiple people say that they'd complained to Youtube over many years re her distribution of harmful material?

 

[tlcya]

A woman who shared a jail cell with Ruby Franke for three nights said Franke seemed fixated on her YouTube partner Jodi Hildebrandt and complained that they were held separately from one another.
[snip]
Monsen said she spent around an hour with Hildebrandt at the start of her stay in the Purgatory Correctional Facility, followed by three nights with Franke in a medical area. As of Thursday, both Franke and Hildebrandt were listed as still being in the jail.
[snip]
Most notably, she seemed distressed that she and Hildebrandt had been separated.

"She said, 'God, how long are they going to keep us in here? And why did they separate me and Jodi?'" Monsen said. "She said, 'I can't understand why they separated me and my friend.'"
[snip]
Monsen said Franke was interested after she let her know that she was briefly held alongside Hildebrandt.

"She's like, 'Oh, what did she say? How did she act? Did she say anything at all?'" she said, and described Franke as "almost childlike" in her manner and "almost smitten" with Hildebrandt.
A woman in jail with Ruby Franke said she seemed 'smitten' with Jodi Hildebrandt and was upset they didn't share a cell

Franke's sisters, Julie Griffiths Deru and Bonnie Hoellein, said in videos uploaded to their own YouTube channels that they were not aware of their sister's actions. Both also said that Franke had ceased contact with their family about three years ago, which Hoellein said caused their mother to have a "heart attack" and "kidney failure." Deru said that even before then, their extended family had expressed skepticism about ConneXions and Franke's relationship with Hildebrandt.

"ConneXions was not a great resource, and we all saw it," Deru said. "We all felt weird about this Jody lady, we didn't, we weren't comfortable with it. We didn't like it, we didn't like the teachings Ruby was bringing to the family functions and we were this close to telling her 'If you come to our family events anymore, we do not want to hear what you were learning through ConneXions' ... We never did say that to her, but we thought it."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ruby-franke-sisters-speak-out-child-abuse-charges-i-had-no-idea-what-was-happening/

 

[Lusitana]

Didn't youtube send somebody round to Franke's address within hours of the news breaking, in order to remove the Youtube branding from the Franke's vehicle?

Also, once the news broke, didn't multiple people say that they'd complained to Youtube over many years re her distribution of harmful material?

Uh? Why would YouTube send someone? They couldn't even legally do that... In my opinion, the logo was already going to be removed and the timing is just odd or Kevin had the logo removed once his wife was arrested.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Uh? Why would YouTube send someone? They couldn't even legally do that... In my opinion, the logo was already going to be removed and the timing is just odd or Kevin had the logo removed once his wife was arrested.

My impression was that her husband removed the YT sticker on the vehicle.

 

[Gardenista]

Jodi's book is free on Kindle Unlimited if anyone wants to check it out

https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Not-NOT-Enough/dp/B0BJYSTNM5

 

[cottonweaver]

Uh? Why would YouTube send someone? They couldn't even legally do that... In my opinion, the logo was already going to be removed and the timing is just odd or Kevin had the logo removed once his wife was arrested.

It was reported in a link which was posted in this thread. US news site but I'm not going to go through all 20 pages /400 posts re-finding it.

why? very bad optics imo

why bad optics?
for instance
'.... bringing renewed attention to a dark underside of family vlogging channels. In recent months, a growing chorus of voices online have spoken out about the dangers of “sharenting,” or when content creators share their children’s lives on social media for profit..'

Youtube is the platform of choice for this

Why family vlogger Ruby Franke's downfall has become such a spectacle

"I think it was so hard for people to believe that something so bad could be going on beyond the surface," said a creator who was among those posting commentary about Franke's hearing.

www.nbcnews.com

for instance 2
'Family vloggers profit from invading their offspring’s privacy, and there is barely any regulation of what is shared online...' We must do more to protect the children of YouTube

 

[Lusitana]

It was reported in a link which was posted in this thread. US news site but I'm not going to go through all 20 pages /400 posts re-finding it.

why? very bad optics imo

why bad optics?
for instance
'.... bringing renewed attention to a dark underside of family vlogging channels. In recent months, a growing chorus of voices online have spoken out about the dangers of “sharenting,” or when content creators share their children’s lives on social media for profit..'

Youtube is the platform of choice for this

Why family vlogger Ruby Franke's downfall has become such a spectacle

"I think it was so hard for people to believe that something so bad could be going on beyond the surface," said a creator who was among those posting commentary about Franke's hearing.

www.nbcnews.com

for instance 2
'Family vloggers profit from invading their offspring’s privacy, and there is barely any regulation of what is shared online...' We must do more to protect the children of YouTube

Why would YouTube send someone to Utah to remove a sticker that was put on a car by its owner? That's not very legal, is it? Makes zero sense.

 

[tlcya]

The husband of a Mormon YouTuber, who was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of abusing two of her six children, was seen pacing around outside the Utah family home on Saturday - as neighbors spoke out about their fears for their children's safety.
[snip]
A workman at Kevin and Ruby Franke's Springville home, with a heat gun took off 8Passengers' from Ruby Franke's Van that she used for promotion on her YouTube Channel.
[snip]
Later, the same van was seen with the branding having been removed from the bodywork
House of horrors where YouTuber mom is accused of abusing her two kids

This is the only news coverage I saw about the logos (youtube and 8passengers) It doesn't specify who directed the removal from the van but the article states workman which implies hired by someone (maybe Kevin) not a youtube representative. MOO If anyone finds the article saying youtube was responsible for it's removal let me know TIA

 

[ifindedout]

The husband of a Mormon YouTuber, who was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of abusing two of her six children, was seen pacing around outside the Utah family home on Saturday - as neighbors spoke out about their fears for their children's safety.
[snip]
A workman at Kevin and Ruby Franke's Springville home, with a heat gun took off 8Passengers' from Ruby Franke's Van that she used for promotion on her YouTube Channel.
[snip]
Later, the same van was seen with the branding having been removed from the bodywork
House of horrors where YouTuber mom is accused of abusing her two kids

This is the only news coverage I saw about the logos (youtube and 8passengers) It doesn't specify who directed the removal from the van but the article states workman which implies hired by someone (maybe Kevin) not a youtube representative. MOO If anyone finds the article saying youtube was responsible for it's removal let me know TIA

I wonder if there is, or will be, an effort to change the van's registration so that the 8PSNGRS plates can be removed (Utah requires front and back plates).

 

[tlcya]

I wonder if there is or will be an effort to change the van's registration so that the 8PSNGRS plates can be removed (Utah requires front and back plates).

I guess it depends on if Kevin intends to keep the van or sell it. Selling it will take care of the plate problem. If he intends to keep it, yeah, I can see them switching out the plates.

 

[Luna20]

The husband of a Mormon YouTuber, who was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of abusing two of her six children, was seen pacing around outside the Utah family home on Saturday - as neighbors spoke out about their fears for their children's safety.
[snip]
A workman at Kevin and Ruby Franke's Springville home, with a heat gun took off 8Passengers' from Ruby Franke's Van that she used for promotion on her YouTube Channel.
[snip]
Later, the same van was seen with the branding having been removed from the bodywork
House of horrors where YouTuber mom is accused of abusing her two kids

This is the only news coverage I saw about the logos (youtube and 8passengers) It doesn't specify who directed the removal from the van but the article states workman which implies hired by someone (maybe Kevin) not a youtube representative. MOO If anyone finds the article saying youtube was responsible for it's removal let me know TIA

“A workman removed the 8psnger…

Later the same van was seen with the branding having been removed”

What are they implying here, it’s redundant if it was just the workman doing it?

 

[Lusitana]

“A workman removed the 8psnger…

Later the same van was seen with the branding having been removed”

What are they implying here, it’s redundant if it was just the workman doing it?

That someone was hired to do it. Which makes sense. How many people have the tool laying around to do that type of job?

 

[ifindedout]

That someone was hired to do it. Which makes sense. How many people have the tool laying around to do that type of job?

Very easy to find in any hardware store (I have one). Search on YT "removing decals from car" and the rest is history.

 

[tlcya]

hearing this morning to take place in Washington county courthouse - in person, Jodi and Ruby 11am mountain time
Video: Preview of Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke in person hearings - KSLTV.com

 

[tlcya]

ST. GEORGE, Utah (KUTV) — The hearing in the Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt criminal case that was scheduled to take place Monday, Sept. 18, has been postponed.

Officials of Utah State Courts cited "additional time needed to review copious amounts of discovery" as the reason for the delay.

The court date, initially scheduled for 11 a.m. today, was postponed after attorneys filed a stipulated motion to continue the review hearing after Oct. 5.
Court hearing for Ruby Franke, Jodi Hildebrandt postposed due to copious amounts of info