Ruby Franke’s sister has spoken out after the former parenting YouTube star was convicted of aggravated child abuse earlier this week.
Bonnie Hoellein shared a video on Instagram on Friday in which she can be seen bonding with her four children during a family vacation.
“A world full of distractions and I only have eyes for them. Satan himself couldn’t even come close to making me harm them,” she wrote in her caption, apparently referring to the scandal surrounding her sister.
In the comments section, Hoellein was met with kind words from others, who praised her role as a mother amid her sibling’s sentencing.
“Any true loving mother would go to the end of the world for her children!!!!” one user wrote, while another added: “I can only imagine what you are going through, and I know the love you have for your children will be a great example to your extended family.”
Want to keep up with the latest crime reports? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for the latest crime news, coverage of ongoing trials and details on intriguing unsolved cases.
A Timeline of the Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke: From Family Vlogger to Convicted Child Abuser
Earlier this week, Franke received four separate prison terms of 1 to 15 years, which will run consecutively, TODAY reports, KSL 5 and KUTV.
The length of each prison sentence will ultimately be decided by the Utah Board of Pardons and Paroles, according to Utah Deseret News. However, she will not serve more than 30 years due to Utah’s law regarding consecutive sentences, Business Insider reported.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Jodi Hildebrandt — a therapist and Franke’s former business partner, who she claims directed the abuse — received the same sentence as Franke, according to outlets.
Both women previously signed plea agreements to four second-degree felonies in December, admitting their roles in the abuse and waiving their right to appeal their convictions. Under the plea agreement, two more counts of aggravated child abuse for each woman were dismissed, Tania Mashburn, spokeswoman for the Utah State Court, confirmed to PEOPLE.
Ruby Frank.
Ron Chaffin/St. George News via AP
‘I Am Not My Sister’: Ruby Franke’s brother made a video about the strained relationship, her doubts
Hoellein previously spoke out about her sister when she was arrested in September 2023.
At the time, she said the rest of the embattled YouTube vlogger’s family “didn’t know” about Franke’s violent behavior because she and husband Kevin Franke were estranged from them.
“We didn’t know what they were doing,” Hoellein said in a recent YouTube video in which she and other siblings, Ellie Mecham and Julie Griffiths Deru, distance themselves from Franka.
“We were cut off. We had no access to anyone,” she continued.
“I’m not my sister,” Hoellein added in the video. “I am not my sister’s fault.” (She, Mecham and Griffiths Deru are family vloggers themselves.)
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education