Utah Blogger Accused of Child Abuse Faces Serious Health Scare in Jail
A Utah parenting and lifestyle blogger recently accused of child abuse suffered a “life-threatening medical injury” in jail, according to court documents.
Jodi Hildebrandt and her business partner Ruby Franke, known for their parenting YouTube page ConneXions Classroom, faced charges of six counts of child abuse each after Utah police discovered two of Franke’s six children, who were malnourished and emaciated, at Hildebrandt’s home on Aug. 30.
Hildebrandt’s attorney, Douglas Terry, has filed a motion for an expedited detention hearing due to her “life-threatening medical issue resulting in her hospitalization for several days.”
Franke’s attorney, LaMar Winward, also requested an expedited detention hearing, believing that both cases should be heard simultaneously. Winward cited a scheduled family vacation as a reason for the request.
Santa Clara-Ivins police initially responded to Hildebrandt’s Utah residence on the evening of Aug. 30 after receiving a 911 call about a juvenile asking for help.
“I just had a 12-year-old boy show up here at my front door asking for help, and he said he just came from a neighbor’s house, and we know there’s been problems at this neighbor’s house,” a man said in a 911 call. “He’s emaciated. He’s got tape around his legs. He’s hungry, and he’s thirsty.”
Upon arrival at Hildebrandt’s home, police noticed that the child had “wounds” and was severely malnourished, so they took him to a hospital for treatment. He “was placed on a medical hold due to his deep lacerations from being tied up with rope and from his malnourishment,” an affidavit states.
Law enforcement located another one of Franke’s children — also malnourished — inside Hildebrandt’s home after the first child contacted police. The second child “initially refused medical” assistance but was later taken to a hospital.
Police rescued a total of six children from Hildebrandt’s Washington County home.
In a YouTube video filmed at Hildebrandt’s residence, Ruby Franke was seen, leading authorities to believe she had knowledge of the abuse and neglect her two children suffered at Hildebrandt’s house.
Police have requested that Franke and Hildebrandt be held without bail.
Internet sleuths on social media platforms quickly descended upon Franke’s and Hildebrandt’s pages following their arrests to uncover alarming statements made by the two influencers.
Franke and Hildebrandt face charges including “causing or permitting serious physical injury to the [two juvenile] victims in three different ways: (1) a combination of multiple physical injuries or torture; (2) starvation or malnutrition that jeopardizes life; and (3) causing severe emotional harm,” according to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.