The recent release of police records and a personal journal detailing child abuse in the Ruby Franke case has shed new light on the tragic events that unfolded in her home. The documents reveal a pattern of physical and emotional abuse inflicted upon Ruby and her siblings by their parents, painting a disturbing picture of neglect and cruelty.
The police records show multiple visits to the Franke household in response to reports of domestic violence, yet little action was taken to protect the children from further harm. The personal journal, written by Ruby herself, provides heartbreaking details of the abuse she endured at the hands of those who were supposed to love and protect her.
Washington County prosecutors released a slew of records Friday detailing the “horrific abuse” Utah parenting influencer Ruby Franke and former mental health counselor Jodi Hildebrandt inflicted last summer on two of Franke’s young children.
The records include police reports, witness statements and more than 30 body camera and surveillance videos showing Franke, Hildebrandt and the children interacting with authorities.
Franke, 42, and Hildebrandt, 54, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse that included convincing Franke’s two youngest children they were evil and subjecting them to manual labor, dayslong fasting and conditions Clarke has described as “concentration camp-like.”
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were arrested last August at Hildebrandt’s house in Ivins, a picturesque suburb of St. George, after her neighbor Danny Clarkson opened his door to find the emaciated boy. Their actions have been condemned by other Mormon parenting bloggers who say they misrepresented their community and the religion.
Utah, home of Ruby Franke's friend and business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, Kevin arrived at the Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department. He told the police he was looking for his two youngest children, who ABC News is referring to by their initials -- R and E -- to protect their privacy.
Nearly seven months later, Kevin Franke is seeking to regain custody of his four minor children, and he's filed for divorce.
"20/20" has learned that R and E have been placed in foster care together and Bate told Juju Chang that they are doing much better. Bate said, "They've put on weight, they look healthy, they're happy, they're back to their hobbies."
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