Ruby Franke to Enter Plea Agreement, Claims She Was ‘Led Astray’ by Jodi Hildebrandt, Lawyers Say

Ruby Franke is expected to take a plea deal next week, her attorneys say.

Attorneys for the family vlogger, 41 — who was arrested in Utah on Aug. 30 along with her business partner and podcast co-host Jodi Hildebrandt and subsequently charged with six counts of child abuse — said in a statement Friday, obtained by PEOPLE, Franke will take a plea deal Monday when he appears in Washington County court.

According to the statement, Franke’s lawyers described her as someone who “found herself on this challenging path under the influence of Ms. Hildebrant” and said that Franke had “lost her way.”

Attorneys for Hildebrandt did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt in a post from their Moms of Truth Instagram page.

MOMS OF THE TRUTH/ INSTAGRAM

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Arrest of two women — who hosted a parenting advice podcast Connections of 2022 — came after Franke’s 12-year-old son allegedly ran away from Hildebrandt’s home in late August and went to a neighbor’s house to look for food and water, police said in a statement at the time.

The neighbor who called 911 was emotional as she explained to authorities that the boy looked “skinny” and was “covered in wounds,” media outlets such as KUTV News, ABC News and the Deseret News reported in September.

When Santa Clara Department of Public Safety officers arrived at the Ivens, Utah, property of Hildebrandt, 54, in August, they discovered Franke’s daughter, 10, in what authorities described as “a similar physical state of malnutrition.”

The two children were subsequently sent to the hospital, and Franke and Hildebrandt were charged with six counts of child abuse on Sept. 6, PEOPLE confirmed at the time.

According to a statement Friday, Franke is now working with prosecutors on his plea deal.

“Our client is working with the prosecution and expects to quickly resolve this matter by entering into a plea agreement with the court on Monday, December 18,” the statement said.

Describing Franke as a “devoted mother” who is “also a woman committed to continuous improvement,” the statement then cited Hildebrandt’s “influence” on her.

Ruby Franke in a picture from her Instagram page Moms of Truth.

MOMS OF THE TRUTH/ INSTAGRAM

Before her arrest, Ruby Franke said her estranged husband and children’s life was ‘blissful’

“In the beginning, Ms. Franke believed that Jodi Hildebrant had the insight to offer a path to continuous improvement. Mrs. Hildebrant took advantage of this quest and turned it into something hideous. Over an extended period, Ms. Hildebrant systematically isolated Ruby Franke from her extended family, her older children, and her husband, Kevin Franke. This prolonged isolation resulted in Ms. Franke being subjected to a distorted sense of morality, shaped by Ms. Hildebrandt’s influence,” the statement read.

The statement went on to say that during the months in the Washington County Jail since her arrest, Franke “has actively engaged in introspection that has allowed her to reset her moral compass and realize the full gravity of her actions.”

“Ms. Franke is committed to taking responsibility for the role she played in the events that led to her incarceration,” the statement added. “Showing a sincere commitment to personal growth and rehabilitation, she actively began the process by reaching out to her family members. Through sincere apologies, she strives to repair relationships and positively contribute to her family’s healing journey.”

Family vlogger charged with child abuse after malnourished child allegedly asked neighbor for help

Additionally, the statement said Franke is “aware” that her husband, Kevin Franke, has filed for divorce and is “devastated,” but added that she has “offered her full cooperation to help the children reunite with by his father.” (In September, PEOPLE obtained an arrest report that said authorities took Franke’s two other children into the custody of child protective services.)

Friday’s statement concluded: “Winward Law recognizes the deep love Ms. Franke has for her children and we are sincerely saddened that she has found herself on this challenging path under Ms. Hildebrant’s influence. We firmly believe that Mrs. Franke is a devoted mother who, unfortunately, has gone astray. She is sincere in her commitment to securing the best possible future for her family, and we remain hopeful that, with the right support and understanding, she will be able to follow a path of healing and growth.”

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Both Franke and Hildebrandt have been held without bond since their arrests in late August. On September 7, they held their first court appearance, which was watched by more than 1,000 people online. Neither of the two women made a statement at the time.

After her arrest and charges, members of Franke’s family and community, including neighbors, spoke out about her behavior and parenting style.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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Source: HIS Education