Home security video released by Utah prosecutors shows Ruby Franke’s “emaciated” and abused son calling neighbors for help after daring to flee from his business partner’s home last summer. The moment was reflected.
Authorities say the 42-year-old video blogger mother beat, starved and tortured the unnamed boy and his 9-year-old sister while forcing her feverish son to exercise and do manual labor.
They were denied water, beds, and any form of entertainment, and were forbidden to hide in their rooms and interact with guests.
Video from a neighbor’s doorbell on August 30 last year showed what happened shortly after her son fled.
“Hello, I was wondering if you could do me two favors,” asked a thin boy, whose face was blurred in the video.
“So what are those?” a male resident was heard replying.
“Please take me to the nearest police station,” he asked politely, then offered it as a “personal business.”
After sitting the boy on the balcony, the man called 911.
“A 12-year-old boy just showed up at my door and asked for help. And he said, uh, he just came from a neighbor’s house. He’s skinny and his legs are taped. is wrapped around him, and he is hungry and thirsty.”
“We need someone right away,” the woman interjected.
“I have duct tape wrapped around both ankles,” the man said.
“There are scars all around. I think there’s a good chance he did… oh, he’s got scars on his ankles and wrists as well. Okay, this boy…” and the man walked away. .
The woman who was comforting the child finished saying, “I need help right away.”
Paramedics and authorities later arrived at the home to examine the emaciated child and found injuries to his ankles and wrists, extremely thin limbs, and cuts to his arms, according to a trove of documents released.
Another video of the response shows police giving the boy pizza and a soft drink, which he tried and then took another bite.
Authorities also released a heavily edited copy of Franke’s diary last summer, which chillingly describes the abuse Franke inflicted on the boy and his sister, claiming he was possessed by demons. was.
The horrific abuse was allegedly carried out in collaboration with licensed therapist Jody Hildebrandt and was motivated by “religious extremism,” prosecutors said.
It happened when Franke, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was running an online self-help program with Hildebrandt and the popular “Eight Passengers.” YouTube channel She detailed her approach to raising six children.
“I never imagined he would still be pooping and peeing at 12 years old. Demonic choices lead people, even the wealthiest, to extreme poverty. [sic] Home,” he wrote in his July 9th diary.
“the [redacted] It’s his birthday, but he doesn’t even know what month it is. [The children] Too many deviant behaviors lead to loss of control over bodily functions. They are both furious that their selfish and sinful lifestyles are being interfered with,” her mother wrote the next day.
In another entry, she wrote that her child said, “I want a glass of water more than you, my mother,” and detailed a conversation in which she accused the child of praying to the devil when he asked for “food and a soft bed.” Ta. ”
“About 90 minutes have passed since then.” [the child] ate. I warned him that food would either give him energy for the truth or he would rebel. He is also rebellious. He poops in his pants and tells me no. His poop was so watery that I couldn’t believe he was fasting. [He] He admitted stealing water three times yesterday. [He] He lied and feels no remorse. ”
At one point, she asked him to stand on one leg to improve his balance, but he wrote in disgust that he fell, bleeding from his face and got blood on his shirt when he blew his nose. .
“He is of such emaciated stature that one would not believe he is 90 years old, and even when asked to do the simplest exercise he refuses. He pretends to be completely helpless,” Franke allegedly wrote.
Franke and Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four charges. Worsening child abuse He was then sentenced to 4 to 30 years in prison.
Franke’s husband, Kevin, described Hildebrandt as a “cult leader” who separated her from her family under the guise of treatment for porn addiction (ABC4). reported last week.
Kevin told investigators that he had been “completely isolated” from Ruby and her children for about a year before his arrest and had no knowledge of the abuse.
