THE RISE AND FALL OF RUBY FRANKE

and Jodi were arrested and charged with child abuse when one of Ruby’s ‘emaciated’ children knocked on a neighbour’s door, asking for food and water. Alarmed, and noticing tape marks around his ankles and wrists, the neighbour alerted the authorities. Ruby pleaded guilty to

four counts of child abuse, as did Jodi, and in February 2024, the pair were sentenced to at least four years, and a maximum of 60 years, in prison. But what led a mother, who appeared to adore her family, to become a grave danger to her own children? Woman’s Own delves deeper…

Franke and Hildebrandt in court

maternal abuse. When a parent is under the sway of a partner or advisor who champions power dynamics that favour dominance and submission, as in the case of Ruby Franke, it can exacerbate the parent’s abusive behaviours. In rare and extreme cases, some abusive mothers display sadistic tendencies. Sadism involves deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering or humiliation on others. When a mother exhibits sadistic behaviour towards her children, it manifests as a deliberate infliction of physical, emotional or psychological harm, not as a by-product of discipline or misguided

Ruby Franke set herself up as an influencer ✣ Ruby and Kevin Franke start parenting channel 8 Passengers on Youtube, amassing around 2.5 million followers.

✣ As videos are shared showing harsh punishments handed out to the Franke children, suspicions rise amongst viewers over their wellbeing. An online petition circulates, asking authorities to look into their welfare. Ruby defends herself, saying she is just trying to show ‘what a responsible mother looks like’.

✣ Ruby joins forces with therapist and life coach Jodi Hildebrandt on parenting podcast Connexions and Facebook page Moms of Truth. Meanwhile, the Frankes separate and Kevin moves out.

✣ Both women are arrested and charged with six counts of child abuse.

✣ Ruby Franke agrees to a plea deal, pleading guilty to four counts of child abuse. Jodi Hildebrandt follows suit.

✣ Franke and Hildebrandt are told they must serve one to 15 years in prison for each count, to run consecutively.

parenting strategies but as an end in itself. These individuals may use their position of power and trust to subject their children to severe abuse, underpinned by a desire to exert control and enjoy the sense of power derived from the suffering of their own offspring. Certain mothers blame their child for their personal failures, convincing themselves their lives would have been happier, their relationships with partners better and their economic landscape less stressful had they remained childless. Over time, they grow more resentful towards their child and use these feelings as a justified excuse

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to punish them for simply being born. In cases like Ruby Franke, the abuse took a long time to uncover due to several factors. Her Youtube channel, 8 Passengers, presented a curated view of her family life that normalised her strict parenting methods. The channel’s popularity and the veneer of authenticity might have made viewers and followers hesitant to question what they saw. Moreover, concerns raised by viewers were often drowned out by the channel’s supporters or dismissed as misunderstanding Franke’s parenting style. It wasn’t until a direct and undeniable incident of abuse was reported that authorities intervened.

‘ABUSE WAS FRAMED AS LOVE’