Jodi Hildebrandt is a 54-year-old mental health counselor and former business partner of Ruby Franke, the disgraced family YouTuber who was sentenced to up to 60 years in prison for abusing her children. Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse and will also serve time behind bars. But who is Jodi and how did she influence Ruby Franke to commit such horrific acts? Here is everything you need to know about the woman who was once hailed as a parenting guru.
Jodi Hildebrandt’s Background and Career
Jodi was born in Utah and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in psychology. She worked as a therapist and a life coach, specializing in helping people overcome trauma, addiction, and relationship issues. She founded a company called ConneXions, which offered online courses, workshops, podcasts, and videos on topics such as self-awareness, emotional honesty, and personal responsibility. She also wrote a book called ConneXions: Healing for Addicts and Their Families.
Hildebrandt claimed to have a unique and effective approach to healing, based on her own personal experience of overcoming childhood abuse, sexual assault, and drug addiction. She said she had developed a method called “The Process”, which involved confronting one’s fears, anger, and shame, and learning to forgive oneself and others. She also advocated for strict discipline and accountability for children, saying that parents should not tolerate any disobedience, disrespect, or dishonesty from their kids.
Hildebrandt had a loyal following of clients and fans, who praised her for her wisdom, compassion, and charisma. She was also a popular speaker at various events and conferences, where she shared her insights and stories. She appeared on several media outlets, such as ABC News, Fox News, and The Dr. Phil Show, where she offered her advice and opinions on various issues.
Jodi Hildebrandt Wiki | BIO
| Name | Jodi Hildebrandt |
|---|---|
| Birth date | June 1969 |
| Birthplace | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Occupation | Former mental health counselor and life coach |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University |
| Book | ConneXions: Healing for Addicts and Their Families |
| Company | ConneXions (shut down) |
| Business Partner | Ruby Franke (former family YouTuber) |
| Criminal charges | Aggravated child abuse (4 counts) |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Sentence | 3 to 45 years in prison |
Jodi’s Connection to Ruby Franke
Ruby Franke was one of Jodi Hildebrandt’s clients and fans. Franke was a former family vlogger who ran a YouTube channel called 8 Passengers, where she documented her life with her husband, Kevin, and their six children. The channel had almost 2.5 million subscribers and 1 billion views, and Franke was known for giving parenting tips and advice to her viewers.
However, in 2020, Franke’s parenting methods came under scrutiny, after one of her children revealed that he had been banned from his bedroom and made to sleep on a bean bag for seven months. Other incidents of Franke’s harsh discipline also surfaced, such as withholding food, sending a child to a wilderness camp, threatening to behead a stuffed toy, and telling two of her children that Santa Claus would not bring them anything for Christmas. A petition was launched to report Franke for child abuse and neglect, and her YouTube channel declined in popularity.
Franke defended her actions, saying that they were taken out of context and that she was following the guidance of her therapist, Jodi. Franke said that Hildebrandt had helped her overcome her own trauma and addiction, and that she trusted her to help her raise her children in the best way possible. Franke said that Hildebrandt had taught her to be more honest, accountable, and responsible, and that she was applying the same principles to her kids.
In 2022, Franke separated from her husband and deleted her YouTube channel. She started working as a mental health coach at ConneXions, alongside Hildebrandt. The two women launched a new video channel, an Instagram account, and a parenting class together, where they promoted Hildebrandt’s ConneXions program. They also moved in together, along with Franke’s four youngest children, who were aged 10 to 15.
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Hildebrandt’s Role in the Child Abuse
According to the authorities, Jodi was not only Franke’s therapist and business partner, but also her accomplice in the child abuse. Hildebrandt was accused of helping Franke starve, beat, torture, and isolate her children, as part of a twisted form of therapy and discipline. The abuse took place at Hildebrandt’s house in Ivins, Utah, where Franke and her children lived.
The abuse came to light on August 30, 2023, when Franke’s 12-year-old son, Russell, escaped from Jodi Hildebrandt’s house and asked for food and water at a neighboring house. The boy appeared emaciated and had open wounds and duct tape around his limbs.
He told the police that he and his sister, 10-year-old Emma, had been locked in a room for days, without food, water, or bathroom access. He said that Franke and Hildebrandt had kicked him, held his head under water, and covered his mouth and nose with their hands. He also said that they had forced him to watch videos of Hildebrandt’s ConneXions program, and that they had threatened to kill him and his sister if they tried to escape.
The police found Emma in the house, also malnourished and injured. They also found evidence of the abuse, such as ropes, handcuffs, duct tape, and a camera. They arrested Franke and Hildebrandt and charged them with six counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony. The two other children who lived with them, 13-year-old Chad and 15-year-old Abby, were also removed from the house and placed in protective custody. The two oldest children, 18-year-old Shari and 20-year-old Julie, who lived elsewhere, were also interviewed by the police.
However, on December 23, 2023, Franke and Hildebrandt changed their pleas to guilty, as part of a plea deal that dropped two of the charges for each of them. They also waived their right to appeal their convictions. On February 20, 2024, Franke was sentenced to 4 to 60 years in prison, and Hildebrandt was sentenced to 3 to 45 years in prison. They will both be eligible for parole after serving at least 85% of their minimum sentences.
Jodi’s Aftermath and Legacy
Jodi Hildebrandt’s arrest and conviction shocked and outraged many people, especially those who had followed her work and trusted her advice. Many of her former clients and fans expressed their disbelief, anger, and betrayal, and said that they felt manipulated and deceived by her. Some of them also said that they had experienced harm or abuse from Hildebrandt, or that they had witnessed her mistreating others. They accused her of being a fraud, a cult leader, a narcissist, and a sociopath.
Hildebrandt’s company, ConneXions, was shut down and removed from the internet, along with all of her online content. Her book, ConneXions: Healing for Addicts and Their Families, was also taken off the market. Her license as a therapist was revoked, and she was sued by several of her former clients for malpractice and damages. She also faced criticism and condemnation from other mental health professionals, who denounced her methods as unethical, unscientific, and dangerous.
Hildebrandt’s case also raised awareness and concern about the issue of child abuse, especially in the context of online influencers, therapists, and cults. It sparked a debate about the regulation and oversight of these fields, and the need for more education and prevention. It also highlighted the importance of listening to and protecting the children, and the role of the media, the authorities, and the public in doing so.
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Content Source:- Wikipedia.org
