True Crime Documentary Explores Disturbing Child Abuse Case
The true crime documentary Evil Influencer: The Story of Jodi Hildebrandt (currently on Netflix) may be familiar to some from media reports about a shocking child abuse case in Utah in 2023. This case led to the conviction of therapist Jodi Hildebrandt and her associate, former YouTuber Ruby Franke. If you’re interested, there are other related pieces like Ruby and Jody: The Cult of Sin and Influence and various episodes from Investigation Discovery. Hulu has also released a documentary titled The Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, and a Lifetime movie, Mormon Mom Was Wrong: The Story of Ruby Franke, is set to debut in 2024. With all this content, Netflix might be a bit late to the party, which seems typical for the platform’s recent trend of crime-focused programming.
Key Details: On August 30, 2023, a resident in Washington County, Utah, answered a knock at the door. Standing there was a young boy, desperate for help. He was barefoot, his wrists and ankles bound in plastic wrap and duct tape, and he appeared severely malnourished, pleading for food and water. A 911 call captures the urgency, and footage from doorbell cameras and police body cams shows the first responders visibly shaken by his condition. This boy had escaped from Jodi Hildebrandt’s home located in a wealthy neighborhood. When police arrived at Hildebrandt’s lavish 10,000-square-foot residence, they found the boy’s sister locked in a closet with her head shaved. The children’s mother, Ruby Franke, was discovered mostly unresponsive and staring blankly. Both women were arrested, but it leaves one wondering—what exactly was happening in that house?
To provide some context, Hildebrandt had a long history with the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, working as a therapist and life coach for families and couples focusing on issues like “sexual addiction.” She ran a business called “ConneXions,” offering various services including video guidance and support groups. Ruby Franke, known as a “mom vlogger” on her YouTube channel 8 Passengers, shared insights from her family life, which garnered her 2 million followers and over a billion views. The Franke family sought Hildebrandt’s counseling for their troublesome teenage son, eventually leading to a partnership between the two women that included launching a YouTube channel for LDS-related counseling.
This troubling story unfolds through multiple narrators, highlighting the extreme measures taken by Hildebrandt and Franke, who believed their children had a “devil” within them. Detective Jessica Bate from county police, Washington County prosecutor Eric Clark, and former client Ethan Prete—all share their perspectives. Ethan’s tale involves being separated from his wife and children for a year due to Hildebrandt’s suggestions, a theme echoed by the plight of Kevin Franke, Ruby’s husband, who was devastated to learn of his wife’s abusive actions toward their kids. Comments from interviewees suggest this is a distinctly Mormon story, with one even questioning if it could happen elsewhere.
Noteworthy Directorial Choices: Directed by Skye Borgman, known for her work in the true crime genre, Evil Influencer showcases commentary that remains calm and serious, which is somewhat unusual for this type of documentary.
Content Overview: The documentary, while sensational in its title, isn’t overwhelmingly graphic or exploitative. It avoids convoluted timelines and instead opts for a straightforward, almost traditional news magazine style. It relies on interviews, police footage, and prison calls to effectively narrate a horrifying story.
The core issue highlighted is how Hildebrandt manipulated key elements of Mormonism to seek power and profit. She often pushed the notion of “sexual addiction” to unreasonable extremes, convincing women their husbands were deviant over trivial issues like infrequent porn use, leading to family separations. Many clients paid significant sums—one couple spent $50,000—through what they believed would be beneficial therapy.
Although there are intriguing themes surrounding sexuality, religion, and psychological manipulation, the film can be somewhat jarring, but not for typical reasons. It’s actually disconcerting because it often overlooks deeper implications. Hildebrandt persuaded Franke that her children were possessed by evil that could only be exorcised through torture. A related question emerges: how could individuals arrive at such moral vacuums? Clark emphasizes that Hildebrandt represents a deviation, not the standard for the church, but the documentary wraps up without thorough analysis, leaving viewers pondering both the events and the underlying motivations.
Final Thoughts: Evil Influencer struggles to justify its significance as genuine journalism. It’s advisable to give this one a pass.
