Crime scene photos show that disgraced YouTube mom blogger Ruby Franke’s business partner Jodi Hildebrandt had a pantry full of food in the home where they tortured and starved Franke’s children.
Franke, 42, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in February for brutally abusing two of her six children in a ‘concentration camp-like environment’. A month later, crime scene photos, doorbell videos and interrogation tapes were released.
They were regularly denied food, water, beds to sleep in, and virtually all forms of entertainment.
Meanwhile, photos released by the Washington County Attorney’s Office show the kitchen and pantry were stocked with food and a large office was dedicated to making YouTube videos.
Hildebrandt’s five-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Ivins, Utah, where Franke’s son was able to escape, is worth $5.3 million, according to Zillow.
Jodi Hildebrandt kept a pantry full of food while they starved Ruby Franke’s children
Franke’s children were regularly denied food, water, beds to sleep in, and virtually all forms of entertainment
The two victims were found emaciated with infected cuts on their legs, while Hildebrandt’s pantry was full of food.
Hildebrandt’s five-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Ivins, Utah, where Franke’s son was able to escape, is worth $5.3 million, according to Zillow
Released images highlight the extent of Franke’s abuse, showing the two emaciated victims with infected cuts on their legs and duct tape around their arms and feet
The disgraced YouTube mom blogger, 42, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in February for brutally abusing two of her own children in a ‘concentration camp-like environment’
Her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor, was also sentenced to 30 years after it was revealed she was involved in the abuse.
Doorbell camera footage captured how her 12-year-old boy managed to escape the torture and alert a neighbor to their suffering, while another clip shows an officer discovering the nine-year-old girl crouched in a cupboard.
Other released images highlight the extent of Franke’s abuse, showing the two emaciated victims with infected cuts on their legs, duct tape around their arms and feet and scratches and bruises on their bodies.
Police also discovered a cramped safe room in the basement of the property that was locked from the outside, with rope that would be used to tie up the children and adult diapers.
The address of the YouTube mom, who provided parenting advice to her 2.5 million subscribers, is listed in court documents as a $1 million, seven-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Springville.
She subjected her children to horrors including starvation and forced her son to suffer severe sunburn by working outside for weeks without adequate protection.
Her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor, was also sentenced to 30 years after it was revealed she was involved in the abuse. Franke’s estranged husband, Kevin, had not seen the children in more than a year.
Both children were told they were possessed and the torture was done as a way to help them.
The 12-year-old boy told authorities that Hildebrandt had tied him up and used home remedies to treat the wounds he suffered.
Newly released footage shows him ringing his neighbor’s doorbell and walking away because he thinks no one is home – until a neighbor calls him back.
The address of the YouTube mom, who provided parenting advice to her 2.5 million subscribers, is listed in court documents as a $1 million, seven-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Springville
Video taken from the ambulance shows the 12-year-old boy eating from a bag of nuts while being treated. A cop asks him who tied him up with rope.
The two victims had scratches, cuts and bruises all over their bodies
The young boy was wrapped in duct tape and had infected sores on his feet filled with blood and pus as a result of the restraints.
“I was wondering if you could do me two favors,” the boy says politely.
“Well, what are they?” the neighbor responds.
“I’m taking me to the nearest police station,” the boy replies before being asked to take a seat and explain what happened. He also said he needed police for “personal matters.”
The neighbors – a man and a woman – then hand him water and a banana while he calls 911. They are heard telling police that he has duct tape on his feet and sores all over his body.
“Oh, you’re such a good boy,” the woman says to the boy, crouching down to his level and placing her hands on his shoulders.
Meanwhile, the officer’s bodycam footage shows the moment police discovered the young girl, alone in a basement in Franke’s home.
“Hi, I’m a police officer,” one says quietly before the other asks if she’s okay. The young girl is scared and doesn’t want to talk, but the officer assures her that everything will be fine.
Another clip shows an EMT trying to make contact with the victim, but telling her she’s “just nervous.”
Video taken from the ambulance shows the 12-year-old boy eating from a bag of nuts while being treated. A cop asks him who tied him up with rope.
Police also discovered a cramped safe room in the basement of the property, which was locked from the outside
‘You have no problem with me. “We’re just trying to figure out what’s going on,” the officer said. “Our main focus right now is you.”
EMT personnel are also seen cleaning the young boy’s cuts that are severely infected.
Photos taken at the scene show the emaciated children’s fragile bodies, covered in cuts, bruises and scars.
Franke, who has six children, pleaded guilty last year to four counts of child abuse and is serving her sentence in Utah State Prison.
In the plea agreement, Franke admits to torturing her son from May 22 through August 30 by forcing him to perform long hours of physical tasks, outdoor summer work without adequate water and “repeated and severe sunburn” with blisters.
How much time she will spend in prison will be determined by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, and state law means she could serve a maximum of 30 years.
Her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt was also ordered to serve up to 30 years behind bars for the crimes.