Ruby Franke to Enter Plea Agreement, Lawyers Say

Ruby Franke is set to enter a plea agreement next week, according to her lawyers.

Lawyers for the family vlogger, 41 — who was arrested in Utah on Aug. 30 alongside her business partner and podcast co-host Jodi Hildebrandt, and subsequently charged with six felony counts of child abuse — announced in a statement on Friday, which was obtained by PEOPLE, that Franke will enter a plea deal on Monday when she appears in court in Washington County.

According to the statement, Franke’s lawyers described her as having “found herself on this challenging path under the influence of Ms. Hildebrant,” and said that Franke was “led astray.” 

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

The arrest of the two women — who had co-hosted parenting advice podcast ConneXions since 2022 — came after Franke’s 12-year-old son allegedly escaped Hildebrandt’s home in late August and went to a neighbor to ask for food and water, police said at the time in a statement.

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

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

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

According to the Friday statement, Franke is now working with prosecutors on her plea agreement.

“Our client is working with the prosecutor’s office and anticipates resolving this matter quickly by entering a plea agreement with the court on Monday, December 18th,” the statement said.

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

“Initially, Ms. Franke believed that Jodi Hildebrant had the insight to offer a path to continual improvement. Ms. Hildebrant took advantage of this quest and twisted it into something heinous. Over an extended period, Ms. Hildebrant systematically isolated Ruby Franke from her extended family, 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 said.

The statement then said that during the months that Franke has been in Washington County jail since her arrest, “she has actively engaged in an introspection that has allowed her to reset her moral compass and understand the full weight of her actions.”

“Ms. Franke is committed to taking responsibility for the part she played in the events leading up to her incarceration,” the statement added. “Demonstrating a sincere dedication to personal growth and rehabilitation, she has actively begun the process by reaching out to members of her family. Through heartfelt apologies, she seeks to mend relationships and contribute positively to the healing journey of her family.”

Additionally, the statement noted that 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 their father.” (In September, PEOPLE obtained an arrest report which said that two of Franke’s other children had been taken into the custody of child protective services by authorities.)

The Friday statement concluded that: “Winward Law recognizes the profound love that Ms. Franke holds for her children, and we are genuinely saddened that she found herself on this challenging path under the influence of Ms. Hildebrant. It is our firm belief that Ms. Franke is a devoted mother who, unfortunately, was led 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 can navigate a path of healing and growth.”

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Both Franke and Hildebrandt have been held in jail without bond since their arrest in late August. On Sept. 7, they made their initial court appearance, which was watched online by more than 1,000 people. Neither of the two women entered pleas at that time.

Following their arrest and charges, members of Franke’s family and community, including neighbors, have spoken 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 toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.