Ruby Franke, whose now defunct channel "8 Passengers" followed her family, was arrested Wednesday night in the southern Utah city of Ivins. She was taken into custody at the home of Jodi Hildebrandt, who owns a counseling business that she says teaches people to improve their lives by being honest, responsible and humble.
Franke has recently appeared in YouTube videos with Hildebrandt that were posted online by Hildebrandt's counseling business, ConneXions Classroom.
Franke's 12-year-old son climbed out of a window in Hildebrandt's residence in Ivins and ran to a neighbor's house Wednesday morning and asked for food and water, according to an affidavit filed by an officer with the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department.
The neighbor saw duct tape on the boy's ankles and wrists and called law enforcement, the affidavit said. The boy was taken to a hospital, where he was put on a medical hold "due to his deep lacerations from being tied up with rope and from his malnourishment," arrest records state.
Franke's 10-year-old daughter was later found malnourished in Hildebrandt's house and was also taken to the hospital, officers said. Two other of Franke's children were in the custody of child protection services, the affidavit said.
Court documents reference a YouTube video posted to Hildebrandt's channel just two days before the arrest as playing a part in both women's arrests, CBS affiliate KUTV reported.
"Ruby Franke was seen on a YouTube video filmed in Jodi Hildebrandt's downstairs, which was posted two days ago," according to the Aug. 30 affidavit.
The arresting officer reported the video was evidence the women were "present in the home and having knowledge of the abuse, malnourishment, and neglect," KUTV reported.
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Originally Posted by marakisses
