Host of YouTube Parenting Channel Is Charged With Child Abuse
Ruby Franke, Parenting Advice YouTuber, Arrested on Suspicion of Child Abuse The New York Times
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Utah Mother Arrested for Child Abuse
Summary:
Ruby Franke, a Utah mother known for chronicling her strict parenting style, was arrested after one of her children ran to a neighbor’s house seeking help.
A Utah mother who chronicled her strict parenting style on YouTube and other social media channels was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse this week after one of her children climbed out a window and ran to a nearby house seeking help, officials said.
Ruby Franke, 41, was arrested on Wednesday in Ivins, a city in southern Utah, at the home of Jodi Hildebrandt, her business partner, who was also arrested. Ms. Franke hosted the now-defunct YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” where she posted videos about her parenting approach with her six children, including refusing them food as a form of punishment.
Ms. Franke and Ms. Hildebrandt were each charged on Friday with six counts of aggravated child abuse, according to the Washington County attorney’s office. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, the attorney’s office said.
According to an affidavit, Ms. Franke’s 12-year-old son, identified as R.F. in the document, climbed out a window at Ms. Hildebrandt’s home and went to a neighbor’s house on Wednesday morning, asking for food and water. The child had duct tape on his ankles and wrists, as well as open wounds. He appeared to be emaciated and malnourished.
The neighbor called the police, who then found Ms. Franke’s 10-year-old daughter, Eve, at Ms. Hildebrandt’s. She also appeared to be malnourished, the affidavit said. Both children were taken to a hospital. The boy was placed on a medical hold “due to his deep lacerations from being tied up with rope and from his malnourishment,” according to the affidavit.
A search of Ms. Hildebrandt’s home found evidence “consistent with the markings” found on the 12-year-old, the police said in a statement. The police contacted the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, and a total of four children were taken into its care.
A judge on Thursday denied bail for both Ms. Franke and Ms. Hildebrandt because of “the severity of the injuries of her two kids located in the home,” according to court records.
At one point, Ms. Franke had nearly 2.5 million subscribers to her channel, following the lives of her six children. In 2020, Chad Franke, then 15, told YouTube viewers in one family video that he had been sleeping on a beanbag for months and that he had lost his bedroom after playing a prank on his little brother.
A YouTube spokeswoman confirmed that two channels linked to Ms. Franke had been terminated.
Ms. Franke now appears on social media channels on behalf of Ms. Hildebrandt’s counseling business, ConneXions Classroom, which claims on its website to empower people by “educating them with principles of truth (learning to be honest, responsible, and humble).”
Shari Franke, one of Ruby Franke’s children, posted about her mother’s arrest on Instagram, expressing relief that justice was being served. Other individuals claiming to be Ruby Franke’s sisters also made statements acknowledging the need for the arrests and emphasizing the safety of the children.
Eduardo Medina contributed reporting.
Introduction
Arrest and Charges
Child’s Escape and Condition
Investigation and Care
Legal Proceedings
Impact and Termination of YouTube Channels
Current Endeavors
Response and Statements
Conclusion
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
- SDG 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
- SDG 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.
- SDG 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
- SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
- SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 1.2: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line
- Indicator for SDG 2.1: Prevalence of undernourishment
- Indicator for SDG 3.2: Under-5 mortality rate
- Indicator for SDG 4.1: Completion rate for primary education
- Indicator for SDG 5.2: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner
- Indicator for SDG 10.2: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income
- Indicator for SDG 16.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 1: No Poverty | 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. | Proportion of population living below the national poverty line |
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round. | Prevalence of undernourishment |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births. | Under-5 mortality rate |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. | Completion rate for primary education |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation |
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Source: nytimes.com
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