Featured Image Credit: ABC News
Topics: Crime, Parenting, Social Media, US News, Ruby Franke
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Crime, Parenting, Social Media, US News, Ruby Franke
Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Parenting influencer Ruby Franke’s husband has revealed the one thing he’s asked her to do while she’s in prison.
It's been about a year now since the former parenting YouTuber was given four consecutive one to 15-year sentences for second-degree aggravated child abuse.
Ruby, a devout Mormon, admitted in a plea agreement to abusing her two youngest children, telling them they were 'evil and possessed'.
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She also admitted to denying them food and water, handcuffing her son’s wrists and ankles, and holding his head underwater.
In February of 2024, both Ruby and a therapist she worked closely with, Jodi Hildebrandt, who advocated for strict parental discipline, received four consecutive sentences of one to 15 years in prison.
Ruby previously teared up while reading a statement in court before she was charged, saying: "For the past four years, I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion. My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me."
"I was led to believe that this world was an evil place filled with cops who control, hospitals that injure, government agencies that brainwash, church leaders who lie and lust, husbands who refuse to protect and children who need abuse," she continued.
"Jodi Hildebrandt was never my business partner, nor was I ever employed by her. I have never received wages from her or connections. Jodi was employed as my son's counsellor, in 2019 and in 2020, I paid her to be my mentor.
"It is important to me to demonstrate my remorse and regret without blame. I take full accountability for my choices, and it is my preference that I serve a prison sentence."
Ruby's husband, Kevin - who is currently in the process of divorcing Ruby, saying they are 'close' to reaching a settlement - has since issued a statement sharing his request to Ruby telling her to stop writing to him from the Utah State Correctional Facility where she is serving her sentence.
"The last letter that I received from her from prison was maybe in March or April of last year," he told People.
"And then I requested the Department of Corrections to ask her to stop writing me," he continued. "I didn't want to hear anymore. I didn't like what she was saying."
Kevin added: "I'm not going to share.
"That's between her and me. But it just didn't feel right and it didn't feel good, and I'm very angry. I'm still very angry."
Despite the horrific ordeal, Kevin revealed he still has feelings for Ruby: "I'm not ashamed to say that after being married over 20 years to that woman, I truly did and still do love her."
The father-of-six, who tied the knot with Ruby back in December 2000, continued: "But that doesn't excuse what she did, and it doesn't excuse how she hurt our children and how she hurt me,” says Kevin, who was never charged with a crime.
"There's some bridges that you just can't cross and then cross back. She burned the bridges, and so I'm moving on. And I'm going to do what's best for my children, for my family, and for myself, and that's not going to include her."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.