Crime scene photos show disgraced YouTube mommy blogger Ruby Franke’s business partner Jodi Hildebrandt had a pantry full of food at the home where they tortured and starved Franke’s children.
Franke, 42, was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison in February for brutally abusing two of her six children in a ‘concentration camp-like setting’, and crime scene photos, doorbell videos and interrogation tapes were released a month later.
They were regularly denied food, water, beds to sleep in and virtually all forms of entertainment.
Meanwhile, pictures released by the Washington County Attorney’s Office show the kitchen and pantry was filled with food and a large office dedicated to making YouTube videos.
Hildebrandt’s five bedroom, six bathroom home in Ivins, Utah where Franke’s son was able to escape is worth $5.3 million, according to Zillow.
Jodi Hildebrandt kept a pantry full of food while they starved Ruby Franke’s children
Franke’s children were regularly denied food, water, beds to sleep in and virtually all forms of entertainment
The two victims were found emaciated victims with infected cuts on their legs while Hildebrandt’s pantry was full of food
Hildebrandt’s five bedroom, six bathroom home in Ivins, Utah where Franke’s son was able to escape is worth $5.3 million, according to Zillow
Images released highlight the extent of the abuse by Franke and show the two emaciated victims with infected cuts on their legs and duct tape around their arms and feet
The disgraced YouTube mommy blogger, 42, was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison in February for brutally abusing two of her own children in a ‘concentration camp-like setting’
Her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor, was also sentenced to 30 years after it was revealed that she was involved in the abuse
Doorbell camera footage captured how her 12-year-old boy managed to escape the torture and alert a neighbor to their suffering, while another clip shows a cop discovering the nine-year-old girl crouched down in a closet.
Other images released highlight the extent of the abuse by Franke and show the two emaciated victims with infected cuts on their legs, duct tape around their arms and feet and scratches and bruises on their bodies.
Police also discovered a cramped safe room in the basement of the property that was locked from the outside, rope that would be used to tie up the children and adult diapers.
The YouTube mom, who dispensed parenting advice to her 2.5 million subscribers, address is listed on court documents as a seven bedroom, six bathroom $1 million home in Springville.
She subjected her kids to horrors including starvation and forcing her son to endure severe sunburn by working outdoors for several weeks without adequate protection.
Her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor, was also sentenced to 30 years after it was revealed that she was involved in the abuse. Franke’s estranged husband, Kevin, had not seen the children for more than a year.
Both children were told they were possessed and the torture was done as a way to help them.
The 12-year-old boy told authorities that Hildebrandt had tied him up and used home remedies to treat the wounds he suffered.
In newly released footage, he is seen ringing the doorbell of his neighbors and walking away as he thinks no one is home – until a neighbor calls him back.
The YouTube mom, who dispensed parenting advice to her 2.5 million subscribers, address is listed on court documents as a seven bedroom, six bathroom $1 million home in Springville
A video taken from inside the ambulance shows the 12-year-old boy eating from a bag of nuts while being treated and a cop asks him who tied him up with rope
The two victims had scratches, cuts and and bruises all over their bodies
The young boy was wrapped in duct tape and had infected sores on his feet which are filled with blood and pus as a result of the restraints
‘I was wondering if you could do me two favors,’ the boy says politely.
‘Well what are they?’ the neighbor responds.
‘Taking me to the nearest police station,’ the young boy replies before he is asked to take a seat and explain what’s happened. He also said he needed cops for ‘personal business.’
The neighbors – a man and a woman – then hand him water and a banana while dialing 911. They can be heard telling the cops he has duct tape around his feet and sores all over his body.
‘Oh, you are such a good kid,’ the woman says to the boy as she crouches down to his level and places her hands on his shoulders.
Meanwhile, officer bodycam footage shows the moment cops discovered the young girl crouched down in a basement on her own inside Franke’s home.
‘Hi, I’m a police officer,’ one calmly says before the other asks if she is OK. The young girl is scared and reluctant to speak but the officer reassures her that everything will be okay.
In another clip, an EMT is seen attempting to engage with the victim but she tells her she is ‘just nervous.’
A video taken from inside the ambulance shows the 12-year-old boy eating from a bag of nuts while being treated and a cop asks him who tied him up with rope.
Police also discovered a cramped safe room in the basement of the property which was locked from the outside
‘You’re not in trouble with me. We’re just trying to work out what’s going on,’ the officer said. ‘Our main focus right now is you.’
EMT staff are also seen cleaning the young boy’s cuts that are severely infected.
Photos taken at the scene show the fragile bodies of the emaciated children who are covered with cuts, bruises and scars.
Franke, who has six children, pleaded guilty last year to four counts of child abuse and is serving her sentence at Utah State Prison.
In the plea agreement, Franke admits that she tortured her son from May 22 through August 30 by forcing him into hours of physical tasks, summer work outdoors without adequate water and ‘repeated and serious sunburns’ that blistered.
How much time she will spend in jail will be determined by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, and state law means she can only serve a maximum of 30 years.
Her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt was also ordered to serve up to 30 years behind bars for the crimes.