Key takeaways:
- Ruby Franke, the mother behind the now defunct family YouTube channel 8 Passengers, was arrested Wednesday night in the southern Utah city of Ivins.
- Police found a malnourished child with open wounds and duct tape on their extremities.
- Franke and her business partner and collaborator, Jodi Hildebrandt, have been charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse.
A Utah woman who was the face of a once popular YouTube channel has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated child abuse.
Ruby Franke, the mother behind the now defunct family YouTube channel 8 Passengers, was arrested Wednesday night in the southern Utah city of Ivins. Franke was taken into custody at the home of Jodi Hildebrandt, who owns a counseling business called ConneXions Classroom.
Police found a malnourished child with open wounds and duct tape on their extremities. Franke was arrested alongside her business partner and collaborator, Jodi Hildebrandt, who is the founder of the controversial life counseling organization ConneXions. Franke has recently appeared in YouTube videos with Hildebrandt that were posted online by Hildebrandt’s counseling business.
The two women create advice videos that critics say promote a harsh style of parenting. Franke and Hildebrandt have been charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse.
The 8 Passengers YouTube channel was popular for its family-oriented content, but it was shut down in 2019 after allegations of child abuse surfaced. Franke and Hildebrandt are currently being held in the Washington County Jail and are awaiting trial.
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