Serialously with Annie Elise - Episode 231 Summary

Title: Ruby Franke's Steamy Love Affair with Jodi Hildebrandt | Shari Franke's New Memoir "The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom"

Release Date: January 10, 2025

1. Introduction to the Case

In Episode 231 of Serialously with Annie Elise, host Annie Elise delves into the chilling true-crime case of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt. Initially a beloved Utah mommy influencer with a substantial YouTube following, Ruby's life took a dark turn, culminating in her arrest alongside Jodi Hildebrandt for aggravated child abuse. This episode not only covers the notorious case but also explores new revelations from Ruby's eldest daughter, Sherry Franke, through her memoir.

2. Ruby Franke: Rise to Fame and Controversial Parenting

Ruby Franke launched her YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, in 2015, quickly amassing over 3 million subscribers by showcasing her family's strict Mormon lifestyle and parenting practices. However, Ruby's authoritarian approach to parenting soon drew criticism.

• Annie Elise (03:28): "Ruby's social media empire quickly unraveled when her youngest son escaped In August of 2023, this chilling 911 call leading to her arrest."

Ruby's methods included denying her children food as punishment, forcing them to sleep on a beanbag for extended periods, removing privacy by eliminating doors, and publicly shaming her children for perceived misbehaviors. These actions sparked accusations of abuse, leading to a decline in her fan base by 2021.

• Annie Elise (06:09): "Ruby expressing her frustration about having to cater to Jody's needs for physical affection without getting anything in return. Were they romantically involved with each other?"

3. Introduction of Jodi Hildebrandt and Their Dynamic

Jodi Hildebrandt, a licensed therapist and founder of the counseling service Connections, entered Ruby's life amid her declining reputation. Their collaboration led to the intensification of Ruby's extreme parenting philosophies.

• Kevin Frankie (04:49): "I could feel the shift. I was like, oh, Jody, like, you know, I don't like her. But maybe this is one good thing that's come from it is she's not yelling, she's not hitting us anymore."

In 2022, Jodi moved into the Franke household, coinciding with Ruby's husband, Kevin Franke, relocating to college. Kevin later expressed discomfort with Jodi's presence and the unusual dynamics within the household.

• Kevin Frankie (05:13): "I certainly got weird vibes from Jodi and Ruby. I don't think it's normal at all that a therapist would move into her client's home."

4. The Arrest and Charges

The situation spiraled when Ruby's 12-year-old son escaped from Jodi's care in August 2023, leading to a harrowing 911 call and the subsequent arrest of Ruby and Jodi for multiple counts of child abuse.

• Annie Elise (06:31): "Did you believe that she was apologetic?"

Both Ruby and Jodi pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse against Ruby's two youngest children and were sentenced to four consecutive 1 to 15-year terms in prison, subject to Utah's maximum minimum aggregate sentence of 30 years.

5. Sherry Franke's Memoir: "The House of My Mother"

Sherry Franke, Ruby's eldest daughter, authored a memoir titled The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom, offering a firsthand account of life under Ruby's oppressive regime.

• Annie Elise (17:55): "Sherry's main goal in this book was to write her experience, her story. And even though she shared some simple facts about her younger siblings...she made sure to never tell their story for them."

Sherry details the abusive tactics Ruby employed, including physical punishments and psychological manipulation. She also exposes the romantic involvement between Ruby and Jodi, providing evidence from Ruby's laptop that indicates a personal and physical relationship beyond a professional one.

• Sherry Frankie (04:21): "When I was younger, around like five, six...her hand would slam and like it was really scary."

6. Public Reaction and Impact

The arrest of Ruby and Jodi sparked widespread public outrage, leading to social media backlash against their parenting philosophies and the Connections counseling program. Former followers expressed regret for not recognizing the signs of abuse sooner, and there were calls for systemic changes to better protect children in similar situations.

• Annie Elise: "The public response was overwhelmingly critical. Ruby and Jody's parenting philosophies and the Connections program were completely just, like, labeled and marked as harmful, manipulative, cultish, all of the things."

The episode emphasizes the broader implications of such cases on family vlogging and the potential need for regulatory oversight to prevent exploitation.

7. Conclusion and Future Perspectives

Annie Elise concludes the episode by highlighting Sherry Franke's strength and bravery in sharing her story. Sherry has moved forward, recently announcing her engagement and pledging to focus on advocacy for children without exploiting her family's painful past.

• Sherry Frankie (07:13): "I am just trying to move on with my life and trust that things are gonna work out the way they're supposed to."

Annie encourages listeners to read Sherry's memoir for a comprehensive understanding of the case and expresses hope for healing and justice.

• Annie Elise (07:46): "I really wanted the focus of today's episode to be on the book and about Sherry's point of view and the big takeaways from that."

Notable Quotes

• Sherry Frankie (04:21): "With Ruby, you not only had to say okay and do as she told you to do, but you had to do it enthusiastically. A frown, a groan, or an eye roll, it would get you smacked."

• Kevin Frankie (07:25): "Forgiveness is something I've had to, like, study a lot and kind of think about what it means."

• Annie Elise (06:56): "Jody literally had a safe in the bottom of her house that was, like, where she held them hostage, essentially. It's just horrific."

Final Thoughts

Episode 231 of Serialously with Annie Elise provides a comprehensive and emotionally charged exploration of Ruby Franke's fall from grace, her abusive practices, and the harrowing experiences of her children. Through Sherry Franke's memoir, listeners gain an intimate understanding of the profound impact of familial abuse and the arduous journey toward healing and freedom.

For a deeper dive into specific aspects of this case, Annie Elise offers additional deep-dive episodes, linked in the show notes.

Thank you for reading this summary. For more detailed discussions and updates, consider listening to the full episode on Serialously with Annie Elise.