YouTuber Ruby Franke TEARFULLY Apologizes During Child Abuse Sentencing _ E! New
YouTuber Ruby Franke TEARFULLY Apologizes During Child Abuse Sentencing _ E! New
Transcript
00:00 Former YouTuber Ruby Frankie is sentenced to up to 60 years in prison for child abuse.
00:07 Ruby, a former mom-fluencer and founder of the popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers,
00:12 which documented her life with six children,
00:15 has been sentenced to 4 to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to child abuse.
00:22 Ruby's former YouTube collaborator and business partner Jodi Hildebrandt was given the same sentence.
00:28 Ruby also tearfully spoke out in court, according to local affiliate KUTV,
00:34 explaining, "For the past four years, I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion.
00:42 My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked, as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me."
00:50 She goes on to apologize to her children, saying, "To my babies, you are a part of me.
00:56 I believed dark was light and right was wrong.
00:59 I would do anything in this world for you. I took from you all that was soft and safe and good."
01:05 NBC News reports the exact number of years Ruby and Jodi will spend behind bars
01:11 will be determined by Utah's Board of Pardons and Parole.
01:15 The sentencing news comes two months after Ruby pleaded guilty to six counts of felony child abuse.
01:21 Utah authorities announced Ruby's arrest in August after a dispatch center said it received a call from a juvenile asking for help.
01:29 According to a press release from the Santa Clara-Ivans Public Safety Department,
01:34 "The calling party stated the juvenile appeared to be emaciated and malnourished,
01:39 with open wounds and duct tape around the extremities," adding the juvenile was asking for food and water.
01:46 According to the release, police obtained a search warrant and conducted a search of the juvenile's home,
01:52 finding evidence consistent with the markings found on the juvenile.
01:56 The child was taken to a local hospital alongside another minor from the home,
02:01 who was found in a similar state of malnourishment.
02:04 In December, Jodi pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse.
02:08 Shortly after the charges were announced, Ruby's sisters also released a joint statement
02:13 in response to the arrests of Jodi and Ruby, writing in part,
02:17 "Ruby was arrested, which needed to happen. Jodi was arrested, which needed to happen.
02:22 The kids are now safe, which is the number one priority."
02:27 Ruby's sister, Bonnie, also got emotional talking about the situation in a September YouTube video.
02:33 "I am mad at what has happened. I am beyond disgusted, and I feel like I've...
02:44 It makes me tremble. It makes me tremble because it is unheard of. It is truly...
02:55 It's truly unbelievable."
02:57 According to court documents obtained by NBC News, Ruby's husband filed for divorce from the Internet star in November.
03:04 He denies any involvement in the abuse case.
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