Content warning: This story discusses child abuse.
Ruby Franke's sister has broken her silence after her YouTuber sibling was sentenced to prison for child abuse.
Bonnie Hoellein shared a video of herself spending time with her four children during a family RV road trip. "A world full of distractions, and I only have eyes for them," she captioned the Feb. 23 Instagram post. "Satan himself could not come close to making me harm them. #valentinesday #valentines2024."
On Feb. 20, Ruby, a parenting influencer who documented her family life in Utah with now-estranged husband Kevin Franke and their six children on the now-deleted YouTube channel 8 Passengers, was given four consecutive one to 15 year prison sentences (equal to four to 60 years), two months after pleading guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse.
"I am humbled and willing to serve a prison sentence," she told the judge during the Utah court hearing. "I understand this is going to take time."
Ruby also apologized to her ex and their kids. "For the past four years, I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion," she said. "My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me."
Ruby continued, "To my babies, you are a part of me. I believed dark was light and right was wrong. I would do anything in this world for you. I took from you all that was soft, and safe, and good."
Ruby's business partner Jodi Hildebrandt also received a four to 60 year prison sentence on Feb. 20, and had also previously pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse.
Ruby, 42, and Jodi, 54, were arrested last August after one of the Frankes' sons, 12, climbed out a window at the latter's home and went to a neighbor's house, asking for food and water. He was found emaciated and bearing open wounds and duct tape on his ankles and wrists, according to an affidavit obtained by NBC News.
Police also found his sister, 10, inside the home and in a similar malnourished condition, the document said. Ruby and Kevin's four minor children were then taken into the care of Utah's Division of Child and Family Services.
Following the women's arrests, several of Ruby's sisters spoke out against her.
"For the last 3 years we have kept quiet on the subject of Ruby Franke for the sake of her children," Bonnie, Ellie Mecham and Julie Deru wrote in a joint statement shared to Instagram in August. "Behind the public scene, we have done everything to try and make sure the kids were safe."
Bonnie, a fellow YouTuber, later spoke about her estrangement from Ruby, saying in a September 13 video that her sister and Kevin cut her family off years ago. She went on to slam her sister's controversial extreme parenting techniques as well as her company.
"My thoughts towards Ruby and Jody and Kevin and ConneXions is that it was all bullcrap," she continued. "It was it was complete indoctrination of this thing that they created. I knew that they were off."
Bonnie added, "I am not my sister. I am not my sister's mistakes."
E! News previously attempted to reach a rep for Ruby but contact information was not made available and attempts to reach her directly were unsuccessful. Kevin was not been arrested or charged in the case and his lawyer said on Good Morning America in September that his client has been living apart from Ruby for over a year and was "distraught" over how the allegations had affected his family.
Read on for a complete timeline of the case.
Aug. 30, 2023: Children Found Malnourished
Utah police received a call about a starved child being found, they shared in a press release. The minor—who appeared "emaciated and malnourished" with "open wounds and duct tape around the extremities"—was taken to the hospital in "severe" condition.
He was later identified as YouTuber Ruby Franke's 12-year-old son, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NBC News. He had been at the home of Ruby's business partner Jodi Hildebrant and had climbed out of a window before going to a neighbor's house to ask for help, per the document.
Police then searched a nearby home, where another child was found "in a similar physical condition of malnourishment" and was also hospitalized, per the press release.
Authorities later explained that they discovered Ruby's 9-year-old daughter "petrified" while sitting by herself in an empty closet in Jodi's house, per evidence released by the Washington County Attorney's Office.
Aug. 30, 2023: Arrest
Ruby was arrested for aggravated child abuse charges in Utah along with Jodi, who in 2007 established a life coaching service called ConneXions, which former clients described to NBC News as a "cult-like" program based on principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Aug. 31, 2023: Ruby's Daughter Speaks Out
On Aug. 31, E! reported that Shari Franke, Ruby's estranged adult daughter, reacted to the news on her Instagram Story.
"Me and my family are so glad justice is being served," wrote Shari, who was born in 2003. "We've been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this, and so glad they finally decided to step up. Kids are safe, but there's a long road ahead."
Aug. 31, 2023: Ruby's Sisters React to Arrest
Ruby's sisters Ellie Mecham, Bonnie Hoellein and Julie Deru spoke out as well, saying the YouTuber's arrest "needed to happen."
"For the last 3 years we have kept quiet on the subject of Ruby Franke for the sake of her children," they wrote in a joint Instagram statement. "Behind the public scene, we have done everything to try and make sure the kids were safe. We wouldn't feel right about moving forward with regular content without addressing the most recent events. Once we do, we will not be commenting on it any further."
The siblings said Ruby's kids are "now safe, which is the number one priority."
Sept. 6, 2023: Charges Filed
The former 8 Passengers YouTuber and her business partner Jodi were each formally charged with six counts of felony child abuse by the Washington County Attorney in Utah.
Sept. 6, 2023: Kevin Franke Breaks Silence
Ruby's husband Kevin Franke came forward to deny involvement in her alleged crimes. His lawyer Randy Kester told Good Morning America the spouses had been living apart for 13 months before the arrest.
"He is a good person, he's very gentle," the attorney said. "He's a very gentle guy. And no one has ever made any allegations that he's physically abused those kids or anyone else."
Nov. 29, 2023: Kevin Files for Divorce
Kevin officially filed for divorce from the Utah influencer, according to a domestic relations injunction obtained by NBC News.
Dec. 18: Guilty Pleas
E! confirmed Dec. 18 that Ruby had entered a guilty plea for four of her charges. At the time, per the Associated Press, she stated, "With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children, guilty."
Jodi would also plead guilty to four counts of second-degree felony aggravated child abuse.
Feb. 20, 2024: Prison Sentencing
Both women were sentenced to four consecutive one to 15 year sentences, which will be capped at the 30-year max in Utah.
Feb. 20, 2024: Ruby Apologizes
The parent vlogger apologized during her sentencing to her six kids and estranged husband.
"For the past four years, I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion," she said in court. "My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me."
She continued, "To my babies, you are a part of me. I believed dark was light and right was wrong. I would do anything in this world for you. I took from you all that was soft, and safe, and good."
March 25, 2024: Ruby's Diary Revealed
Prosecutors released her chilling journal entries, in which she wrote about her mistreatment of her children, including her "Satanic" tween son.
"He slithers & sneaks around looking for opportunities when no one is watching & then he scurries," she wrote in an entry from July 10, 2023, which was her son's 12th birthday. "If he wants to emulate the savior, he needs to be 100% obedient with exactness. No wavering, no hiding."
She wrote about punishing her children by beating them and withholding food and water.
March 25, 2024: Kevin's Interview With Authorities Becomes Public
Prosecutors released audio footage of Kevin talking with investigators after Ruby was arrested, in which he spoke about alleged restrictions he faced in their house.
"There were all these rules now placed on me, like I can leave when I want but I couldn't come back until Ruby gave me permission," Kevin said in an audio clip obtained by E!. "I couldn't come into the kitchen to eat until Ruby gave me permission and the upstairs where Jodi was was completely offline. I couldn't go upstairs anymore in my own house. And Ruby would dictate all of the terms of how our interactions would be, when we would talk. And that was hard."