Heather Locklear Is a Manipulative Marriage Counselor in Lifetime's Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story (Exclusive)

Heather Locklear takes on a new persona.

In PEOPLE’s exclusive first look at Lifetime’s upcoming film, Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Story of Ruby Frankethe Melrose Place The alum, 63, turns life into art when she takes on the role of Jodi Hildebrandt in a dramatic retelling of the true crime story.

“Together, six adorable children, a loving husband, and Ruby Franke (Emilie Ullerup) have created ‘8 Passengers,’ a web series documenting the group’s daily life and Ruby’s LDS-influenced parenting style,” reads the official synopsis. “For viewers, Ruby had a perfect life, but everything took a turn for the worse when Ruby’s marriage counselor, Jodi Hildebrandt (Locklear), entered their lives.”

When Jodi moves into Ruby’s home, the two create a “toxic” environment and Ruby’s husband is “forced to move out.” Their definition of disciplining children was not “strict parenting” but actually child abuse.

Heather Locklear in ‘Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story’.

Lifetime

A Timeline of the Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke: From Family Vlogger to Convicted Child Abuser

The synopsis continues: “But when Ruby’s 12-year-old son escapes from Ruby and Jodi’s house of horrors with clear signs of abuse, the truth comes out. How could this idolized, family-friendly mother of six, her spirit guide turn into convicted child abusers?”

“Between us, they’re not perfect,” Ruby begins in the trailer as the scene pans to a shot of her getting emotional on camera. As the video progresses, Ruby tells her followers that her daughter Eve “forgot her lunch today” and will “have to starve” as punishment.

“I’d like to help,” Jodi says, responding to her plea. “My counseling has saved a lot of Christian families… The souls of your children are in danger. Together we will make them perfect.”

Violent family vlogger Ruby Franke seemed to be ‘in a trance’ when questioned by police: New 20/20 Episode

‘Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story’.

Lifetime

Finally, Ruby tells her husband Kevin that Jodi is “moving in with us.” Things eventually reached a tipping point when she announced Jodi’s recommendation that they separate and he “no longer has contact with the children”.

“I’m suspicious of Jodi’s methods,” Kevin admits to a friend who replies, “She’s using faith to brainwash people.”

Despite the skeptics, Jodi claims she gets her “directions straight from God” and vows to keep the kids from “living on distortion” while she messes with a pair of handcuffs.

“Jodi is God’s messenger,” sighs Ruby as scenes of law enforcement and sirens flash on screen. “I believe in Jodi.”

Chad Franke Marks One Year Since Ruby Franke’s Mom Was Arrested and Later Convicted of Child Abuse: ‘Happy Prisoner’

(L) Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke.

MOMS OF THE TRUTH/ INSTAGRAM

Parenting advice vloggers Ruby and Jodi were arrested and charged with child abuse in September 2023. The two were arrested when Ruby’s then 12-year-old “skinny” son Russell ran away from Hildebrandt’s Utah home and asked a neighbor for a “favor.” In the Ring camera footage, the juvenile asked “Can you take me to the nearest police station.”

As PEOPLE previously reported, police said the boy had visible wounds and marks from tape around his wrists and ankles, and they later found Ruby’s then-9-year-old daughter Eve in a “similar physical state of malnutrition” at Joda’s home.

In December, Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse. On February 20, Ruby and Jodi were sentenced to four to 60 years behind bars after four convictions for aggravated child abuse.

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Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Story of Ruby Franke premieres Saturday, October 26 at 8:00 PM ET on Lifetime.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education