Imprisoned YouTuber Mom Ruby Franke Reportedly Journaled Abuse Of Her Kids

As if abusing her kids was not enough, new reports suggest that Ruby Franke kept a record of the tortures. The convicted YouTuber mom reportedly recorded some gory details of how she punished her children in her personal entry.

YouTuber mom Ruby Franke, alongside her former business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse in late 2023.

In a series of journal entries, the content creator recounted troubling experiences involving her two youngest children, whom she believed was possessed by demons.

She shared several instances where she harmed them, expressing a belief that this was necessary for their repentance and spiritual well-being. In Hulu's docuseries "Devil In The Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke," a police investigator shares compelling entries from Franke's writings: 

"Sleep outside, shaved her head, doused her with water, over his nose and mouth, head in the toilet, needs to be painful. Blood on his face, scream and scream." In another entry, as shared by PEOPLE, she wrote:

"I told the boy, he emulates a snake. If he wants to emulate the Savior, he needs to be a hundred percent obedient with exactness. The body must engage in good work and the good works need to be painful. I have the power of God and he must obey."

After admitting to pushing her son into the sun, Franke reportedly returned with a "cactus poker" writing:

"When I poke his back to get in the sun, he doesn't even flinch. I told him, give your demon friend a message for me. I will not rest. I will not stop. I will not leave. I will fight him until the day you die."

Franke admitted that she abused her two youngest children as part of a 10-page plea agreement. Her arrest occurred in August 2023 after her 12-year-old son managed to escape their home and sought help from a neighbor.

The neighbor was deeply affected by the boy's emaciated condition and called the police, leading to the intervention. Authorities reported that they found Franke's 12-year-old boy physically wounded with several marks from tape around his wrists and ankles. 

Shortly after this incident, the police also located Franke's 9-year-old daughter in a similarly malnourished condition inside Hildebrandt's home in Ivins, Utah.

Franke and her husband, Kevin, gained fame through their YouTube channel "8Passengers," which showcased their strict parenting approach and attracted over 2 million followers since its launch in 2015. 

However, YouTube ultimately shut down the channel after Franke's arrest, while Kevin was not charged or arrested in connection with the incident.

The family's situation became increasingly dire with the arrival of Hildebrandt, a former sex therapist and the founder of the religious social media network ConneXions.

Her involvement reportedly marked a troubling escalation in the abuse the children were already experiencing. In the Hulu docuseries, a therapist highlighted that Hildebrandt had a tendency to exploit the vulnerabilities of others.

The professional explained that Hildebrandt would mainly target those within the Mormon community and capitalize on their anxieties. 

Hildebrandt, along with Franke, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of aggravated child abuse and received identical prison sentences ranging from four to 30 years. However, the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will determine the specific length. 

During her sentencing, Franke expressed deep remorse for her actions, tearfully apologizing to her children and stating, "I will never stop crying for hurting your tender souls."

In a troubling revelation, Russell, one of Franke's sons, shared how his mother and her business partner misled him into believing that the harsh treatment he endured was an "act of love" and a necessary form of repentance. 

The Blast shared that the pair also sought to indoctrinate him, convincing him that "he was evil and possessed." Reports indicate that social workers and law enforcement had visited the family's home several times over the years, yet no formal allegations were made against them. 

Franke, in her plea agreement, admitted that the severity of child abuse increased notably during the summer of 2023.

Her youngest daughter, Eve, who was just nine years old at the time, faced horrific treatment, which included being forced to work outdoors in the heat without shoes and running barefoot on rough dirt roads for extended periods. 

Additionally, she was denied food and water while being repeatedly told that she was evil and possessed. As a result, Franke acknowledged that Eve became convinced of her own wickedness.

The distress suffered by Franke's two youngest children was also visible, with reports indicating they displayed severe physical distress, such as blistering skin. 

Initial law enforcement documents from the investigation suggested that their injuries were sometimes treated with a mixture of cayenne pepper and honey, another form of torture.

In 2021, Franke and her husband Kevin, who gained attention for documenting their parenting experiences on the now-defunct "8 Passengers" vlog, sought marriage counseling with Hildebrandt.

Hildebrandt, who has a history of divorce and estrangement from her children, founded ConneXions in 2012 to provide relationship enhancement services aimed at helping individuals thrive in their relationships. 

During their counseling sessions, she advised the couple to consider a trial separation to save their marriage. This included the idea of confronting and dispelling "distortion's ugly lies" to achieve a life grounded in truth, connection, and freedom. 

Following this recommendation, Kevin, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing and initiated divorce proceedings, moved out and cut off contact with his family as part of the process.

Will the newly discovered entries have any effect on Ruby Franke's sentence?