Ruby Franke and Business Partner Charged With Aggravated Child Abuse

Ruby Franke, a once-popular YouTuber who gave parenting advice on her now-defunct “8 Passengers” YouTube channel, has been charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse, the Washington County Attorney’s Office in Utah said Wednesday. Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested last week after Franke’s malnourished son ran to a neighbor’s house asking for help, authorities said.

The attorney’s office says Franke and Hildebrandt are accused of a combination of multiple physical injuries or torture; starvation or malnutrition that jeopardizes life; and causing severe emotional harm to two children. They each face six counts, which carry potential prison sentence of one to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The investigation is ongoing, the office said.

Franke’s YouTube channel followed her family of eight and is now defunct, the Associated Press reports. She was at Hildebrand’s home in Ivins, Utah, when the two were arrested last week.

Read the source article at CBS News