Netflix’s latest true-crime release, Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, premiered on December 30, 2025 (ET), reopening a case that once shocked the internet and fractured the illusion of wholesome family vlogging. The series traces the downfall of licensed therapist Jodi Hildebrandt and YouTube creator Ruby Franke, both sentenced to prison after being convicted of severe child abuse. As viewers revisit the unsettling timeline, public attention has once again turned to Ruby Franke, a woman who built a digital empire on parenting advice before becoming a cautionary tale of influencer power gone unchecked.
From Family vlogs to viral backlash
Ruby Franke first entered the public eye in 2015 with her YouTube channel 8 Passengers, documenting daily life with her husband Kevin and their six children in Springville, Utah. What began as typical family content soon evolved into something far more controversial. Franke positioned herself as a strict, values-driven parent, often framing discipline as moral teaching, a stance that increasingly alarmed viewers.
Early warning signs surfaced years before her arrest. One viral moment involved her son Chad being made to sleep on a beanbag for months as punishment for a prank. Another incident sparked outrage when Franke refused to bring lunch to her then-6-year-old daughter at school, insisting that hunger was a lesson in accountability. These moments fueled debates around “tough love” parenting and raised questions about where discipline ends and neglect begins.
By 2022, 8 Passengers was suspended, but Franke didn’t retreat from the spotlight. Instead, she partnered with Jodi Hildebrandt through ConneXions, a self-described mental health coaching business that promoted rigid beliefs around “truth,” obedience, and moral purity. Their joint content leaned heavily into ideological control, with language that critics say blurred the line between therapy and coercion.
Former followers and mental health professionals have since compared ConneXions to high-control groups, noting its emphasis on isolation, confession, and absolute authority. Online, concern escalated quickly, with former fans describing the content as emotionally manipulative and dangerous.
Arrests that shattered the image
In August 2023, the façade collapsed. Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested on multiple counts of child abuse after one of Franke’s children escaped and sought help. Court documents later revealed harrowing details: prolonged physical punishment, starvation, forced labor in extreme heat, isolation, and the use of restraints. Prosecutors said the children were repeatedly told they were “evil” or “possessed,” reframing abuse as moral correction.
Ruby Franke eventually pleaded guilty, admitting to acts that left lasting physical and emotional scars. The revelations ignited widespread outrage, with many questioning how such abuse could continue for so long in plain sight.
The case fractured the Franke family publicly. Ruby’s eldest daughter Shari broke her silence online, posting a single word, “Finally,” alongside images of police activity. She later encouraged others to share concerns about ConneXions, amplifying scrutiny around the organization. Ruby’s sisters also issued a rare statement, saying they had stayed quiet to protect the children while trying privately to intervene.
The scandal reignited conversations about child exploitation in family vlogging, with creators and lawmakers alike calling for stricter protections for minors featured online. Social media platforms faced renewed criticism for failing to act sooner despite years of viewer reports.
In February 2024, a Utah court sentenced Ruby Franke to four consecutive prison terms of 1 to 15 years each. Jodi Hildebrandt received the same punishment. Due to state law, both face a maximum of 30 years behind bars, with parole eligibility dependent on conduct and board review. Franke’s first parole hearing is scheduled for December 2026.
At sentencing, Franke issued a tearful apology, acknowledging the harm she caused while also claiming she had been manipulated, a statement that drew mixed reactions from the public.
Ruby Franke’s life after the scandal
Ruby’s husband Kevin, filed for divorce months after her arrest, with the separation finalized in March 2025. He later remarried, and in 2025 filed a civil lawsuit against Hildebrandt, alleging professional misconduct and emotional manipulation that isolated him from his family.
Today, Ruby Franke remains incarcerated, separated from Hildebrandt despite being housed in the same facility. While the Netflix series revisits the past, its broader impact is forward-looking, forcing audiences to confront how easily abuse can hide behind curated content, religious language, and influencer credibility.
As Evil Influencer trends globally, one message resonates louder than ever: online fame does not equal moral authority, and children should never pay the price for a brand built on control.
