Millionaire mummy vlogger who ‘tortured’ her children and ‘concentration camp’ home | WATCH

At just after 11 am on August 30th last year, emergency services received a distress call. The caller’s voice trembled and cracked with emotion as he described a terrified 12-year-old boy who had sought refuge at his home. The boy, with duct tape around his ankles and wrists, appeared hungry, thirsty, and profoundly afraid. It was soon revealed that this distressed child was the youngest son of Ruby Franke, a resident of an affluent suburb in Utah known as “Mormon County.”

Ruby Franke, 42, right, was a successful ‘mommy’ video blogger and YouTube parenting expert. Jodi Hildebrandt, 54, was a licenced mental health counsellor and life coach

Franke had six children with estranged husband Kevin. The children were regularly denied food and water, forced to do hard manual labour in bare feet, kicked and held underwater, and told they were ‘possessed’ and ‘evil’

Ruby Franke, a 42-year-old successful “mommy” video blogger and YouTube parenting expert, had moved into a luxurious $5.3 million home with her six children following her divorce from her husband Kevin. The property, owned by Franke’s business partner and mentor, Jodi Hildebrandt, boasted opulent amenities.

Franke (pictured) and Hildebrandt admitted aggravated child abuse charges and were each sentenced to up to 60 years in prison for the ‘concentration camp-like setting’ in which they had held the boy and his equally malnourished little sister

Hildebrandt said one of the reasons she pleaded guilty, and did not go to trial, was that she did not want the youngsters to relive the experience

Despite their outward success, a dark reality lurked beneath the surface. Franke and Hildebrandt, both seemingly experts in their fields, were found guilty of heinous acts of child abuse. The court heard how Franke’s children were subjected to deprivation of food and water, forced labor, physical assaults, and psychological torment, all under the guise of discipline and love.

The roots of this tragedy trace back to Franke’s online persona and her controversial parenting methods showcased on social media platforms. Criticism mounted as videos revealed extreme disciplinary measures, such as making children sleep on beanbags and withholding food as punishment. Concerns escalated to the point of a formal investigation, but initial visits failed to uncover the extent of the abuse.

Franke was charged with intentionally inflicting and knowingly allowing another adult to inflict serious physical injuries on her two youngest children that prosecutors described as ‘torture’

Hildebrandt convinced Franke and her husband last year that they should separate for a year, and Kevin left the family home

Franke’s partnership with Hildebrandt, a licensed mental health counselor, only deepened the facade of expertise. Behind closed doors, their actions created a nightmare for Franke’s youngest children, culminating in the brave escape of her traumatized son, who sought help from a neighbor.

Both Franke and Hildebrandt faced severe charges of aggravated child abuse and were sentenced to up to 60 years in prison. Despite their attempts to portray remorse, their actions were deemed manipulative and devoid of genuine empathy.

As the perpetrators face justice, the road to healing stretches ahead for Franke’s children. Shari, the eldest daughter, broke her silence on social media, expressing relief that justice was finally served and appealing for privacy and prayers for her family’s recovery.