With the December 30 release of Netflix’s new documentary, Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, you might be wondering what happened to Ruby Franke after her arrest. Here’s the latest on where she and Hildebrandt are now, when she could be released, and whether she has contact with her family.
The YouTube channel “8 Passengers” presented Ruby Franke as a loving Mormon “momfluencer” who had a dedicated husband, Kevin, and six well-behaved children. But eventually, cracks appeared in Ruby’s facade of perfection.
In 2020, viewers learned Ruby’s teenage son had been sleeping on a beanbag for months. The following year, she opted to withhold Christmas presents from her two youngest kids. In the end, Ruby’s controversial parenting turned criminal.
By May 2023, the Mormon mom had shut down 8 Passengers, separated from Kevin, and moved with two of their children into the home of her life coach, Jodi Hildebrandt. There, Ruby and Hildebrandt subjected the kids to horrific abuse. This came to light in late August 2023 when Ruby’s then-12-year-old son escaped the house and sought help from a neighbor. That December, Ruby pleaded guilty to child abuse.
The new Netflix documentary, Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, which premieres December 30, “unravels” Hildebrandt’s child-abuse arrest alongside parenting Ruby and frames the case as a “twisted tale of manipulation.”
Earlier this year, Kevin and the two oldest Franke children, Shari and Chad, spoke at length about Ruby on camera for the Hulu docuseries Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.
With the case still drawing interest thanks to Netflix’s Evil Influencer, you might be wondering what Ruby Franke’s life is like today. Here’s what to know about where the now-43-year-old is imprisoned, how she spends her time there, when she’ll be released, and what contact she’s had with her family from behind bars.
Where Is Ruby Franke Now? Inside Her Prison Unit and Separation From Jodi Hildebrandt
Ruby Franke, offender number 262747, is incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility, which is located five miles away from the Salt Lake City airport. USCF is a relatively new prison, having opened its doors in July 2022. It has a 3,600-bed capacity.
USCF’s units include women’s general population; men’s general population; restricted housing for men and women; and a mental health, medical, and geriatric unit. Ruby is one of nearly 375 women residing in the women’s general population unit, known as Dell. She is very familiar with one inmate in her unit: Jodi Hildebrandt.
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However, Karen Tapahe, a public information officer for the Utah Department of Corrections, told Biography.com that Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt are separated within the unit. “Although they are both in Dell, it is divided into a high side and a low side, and then several units within each of those sides. One of them is housed on the high side, and the other is housed on the low side,” Tapahe wrote in an email.
Tapahe says past associations are always taken into account when deciding housing for inmates. In addition to their shared past, Ruby’s plea agreement called for her to testify against Hildebrandt. This turned out to be unnecessary, as Hildebrandt also agreed to plead guilty to child abuse, but it became another reason to keep the two apart.
What Is Ruby Franke Doing While in Prison?
In her 2025 memoir The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, Shari Franke wrote that she heard Ruby is working toward a degree while in prison. USCF inmates can earn college credits by taking classes with Salt Lake Community College. In addition, Davis Technical College offers courses and certification to inmates at USCF.
Other available activities at USCF include a library program, gym, religious services, and a community garden for female inmates.
Ruby has apparently had trouble adjusting to life in prison. Shari shared in her memoir that her mom has written letters to Kevin in which “she described sitting in her cell, crying the days away.” Yet her struggles haven’t resulted in any notable bad behavior. Tapahe tells Biography.com that Ruby has no listed disciplinary actions in her file.
Does Ruby Franke Have Contact With Her Kids or Kevin Franke?
Ruby’s arrest and sentencing shattered her already tenuous relationships with her estranged husband and children. Kevin, who’d only had limited contact with Ruby after they separated in 2022, spoke with her via a few jailhouse phone calls after her arrest, but those soon ceased. Shari’s memoir made it clear Kevin isn’t responding to the letters Ruby has sent him from prison. He filed for divorce in November 2023, and their split was finalized in March 2025.
As part of the divorce agreement, Kevin received full custody of their four youngest children and ownership of their former residence in Springville, Utah. He announced his engagement to Becca Bevan in October 2025, and the couple confirmed their marriage weeks later in December.
In an interview with People, Shari said she doesn’t want to rebuild any relationship with Ruby. “Part of me feels guilty if I don’t forgive,” she admitted. “But I’ve come to realize that forgiveness for me just means that I don’t let her actions consume my thoughts.”
Chad Franke, the former couple’s oldest son, marked the one-year anniversary of his mother’s arrest on Snapchat with the words “Happy Prisonversary.”
Although Ruby’s sisters have also distanced themselves from her, other members of her family of origin have offered support. Ruby’s parents and her brother sent statements asking for compassion in her February 2024 sentencing. The two letters mentioned their belief that Ruby had been “brainwashed” by Jodi Hildebrandt.
“She has been taken advantage of by Ms. Hildebrandt,” her brother, Beau Griffiths, wrote. “As soon as Ruby was removed from the fog of the cult, she recognized she was wrong and was ready and willing to unfeignedly take responsibility for the wrongs she had done.”
Her parents, Jennifer and Chad Griffiths, wrote, “As her mother and father, we plead with you to show her as much mercy as you possibly can.” They also expressed the hope that Ruby would one day re-establish a relationship with her kids and that they “will find it in their hearts to forgive her.” Jennifer, Chad, and Beau haven’t publicly discussed what kind of contact they’ve maintained with Ruby during her time in prison.
When Will Ruby Franke Be Released? Her Parole Hearing Timeline Explained
Ruby was convicted of four charges of aggravated child abuse, each with a sentence range of one to 15 years. She has to serve these consecutively, so she’ll spend at least four years behind bars. Because Utah law sets a limit of 30 years for consecutive sentences (except for life sentences or capital punishment cases), Ruby’s maximum sentence is actually 30 years, not 60.
When she’ll be released is up to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole. The process begins with the board holding what is known as an original hearing. Ruby’s original hearing is currently scheduled for December 2026. Before then, the board wants Ruby to attend cognitive behavioral therapy and have a mental health evaluation. Jennifer Yim, administrative director for the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, told Biography.com via email that these will be handled by the Department of Corrections.
Come December 2026, Yim explains, there are a few possible outcomes for the original hearing: The board could set a parole date, schedule another hearing, or decide that Ruby will serve a full 30 years. If the parole or rehearing date is far in the future, or if she’s ordered to complete her full sentence, Ruby could request that the board review her case five years after the previous hearing. Yim told Biography.com the original hearing could also result in “orders related to other aspects of incarceration, such as assessment and programming.”
Victims can attend parole hearings, and Ruby’s underage children can choose different ways to participate. Yim explained that underage victims “have the option to represent themselves or have a designated victim representative represent them.” She added, “All victims have the option of participating in writing, by phone, by video, or in person depending on their preferences.”
If Ruby were to serve the maximum sentence of 30 years, her release date from prison would be August 30, 2053.
What Has Happened to Child Abuse Legislation in Utah Since Ruby’s Case?
In spring 2025, the Utah legislature passed bill SB24, which expanded existing definitions of child abuse and mandated harsher sentences for convictions. Under the new guidelines, child torture is a first-degree felony with a 10-year minimum sentence and could be extended to a life sentence.
The bill does not change Ruby’s convictions for aggravated child abuse, which are second-degree felonies.
Eric Clarke, the Washington County attorney who prosecuted Ruby, supported the bill. “It sends a clear signal to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole of how long the legislature intends for these people to be in prison, and the board can use that in how they handle people who are currently in prison,” he told KSL 5 TV. He also said that after handling Ruby’s case, “I was concerned that the punishment for child torture, I don’t feel it was proportionate to the severity of the crime.”
How to Watch Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story on Netflix
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, a 100‑minute TV‑MA documentary directed by Skye Borgman, begins streaming on Netflix on December 30, 2025.
Sara Kettler is a Connecticut-based freelance writer who has written for Biography.com, History, and the A&E True Crime blog. She’s a member of the Writers Guild of America and also pens mystery novels. Outside of writing, she likes dogs, Broadway shows, and studying foreign languages.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
