Utah constabulary received a telephone astir a starved kid being found, they shared successful a property release. The minor—who appeared "emaciated and malnourished" with "open wounds and duct portion astir the extremities"—was taken to the infirmary successful "severe" condition.

He was aboriginal identified arsenic YouTuber Ruby Franke's 12-year-old son, according to a probable origin affidavit obtained by NBC News. He had been astatine the location of Ruby's concern spouse Jodi Hildebrant and had climbed retired of a model earlier going to a neighbor's location to inquire for help, per the document.

Police past searched a adjacent home, wherever different kid was recovered "in a akin carnal information of malnourishment" and was besides hospitalized, per the property release.

Authorities aboriginal explained that they discovered Ruby's 9-year-old girl "petrified" portion sitting by herself successful an bare closet successful Jodi's house, per grounds released by the Washington County Attorney's Office.

On Aug. 31, E! reported that Shari Franke, Ruby's estranged big daughter, reacted to the quality connected her Instagram Story.

"Me and my household are truthful gladsome justness is being served," wrote Shari, who was calved successful 2003. "We've been trying to archer the constabulary and CPS for years astir this, and truthful gladsome they yet decided to measurement up. Kids are safe, but there's a agelong roadworthy ahead."

Ruby's sisters Ellie Mecham, Bonnie Hoellein and Julie Deru spoke retired arsenic well, saying the YouTuber's apprehension "needed to happen."

"For the past 3 years we person kept quiescent connected the taxable of Ruby Franke for the involvement of her children," they wrote successful a associated Instagram statement. "Behind the nationalist scene, we person done everything to effort and marque definite the kids were safe. We wouldn't consciousness close astir moving guardant with regular contented without addressing the astir caller events. Once we do, we volition not beryllium commenting connected it immoderate further."

The siblings said Ruby's kids are "now safe, which is the fig 1 priority."

Ruby's hubby Kevin Franke came guardant to contradict engagement successful her alleged crimes. His lawyer Randy Kester told Good Morning America the spouses had been surviving isolated for 13 months earlier the arrest.

"He is simply a bully person, he's precise gentle," the lawyer said. "He's a precise gentle guy. And nary 1 has ever made immoderate allegations that he's physically abused those kids oregon anyone else." 

E! confirmed Dec. 18 that Ruby had entered a blameworthy plea for 4 of her charges. At the time, per the Associated Press, she stated, "With my deepest regret and sorrow for my household and my children, guilty."

Jodi would besides plead blameworthy to 4 counts of second-degree felony aggravated kid abuse.

The genitor vlogger apologized during her sentencing to her six kids and estranged husband.

"For the past 4 years, I've chosen to travel counsel and guidance that has led maine into a acheronian delusion," she said successful court. "My distorted mentation of world went mostly unchecked arsenic I would isolate from anyone who challenged me."

She continued, "To my babies, you are a portion of me. I believed acheronian was airy and close was wrong. I would bash thing successful this satellite for you. I took from you each that was soft, and safe, and good."

Prosecutors released her chilling diary entries, successful which she wrote astir her mistreatment of her children, including her "Satanic" tween son.

"He slithers & sneaks astir looking for opportunities erstwhile nary 1 is watching & past helium scurries," she wrote successful an introduction from July 10, 2023, which was her son's 12th birthday. "If helium wants to emulate the savior, helium needs to beryllium 100% obedient with exactness. No wavering, nary hiding."

She wrote astir punishing her children by beating them and withholding nutrient and water.

Prosecutors released audio footage of Kevin talking with investigators aft Ruby was arrested, successful which helium spoke astir alleged restrictions helium faced successful their house.

"There were each these rules present placed connected me, similar I tin permission erstwhile I privation but I couldn't travel backmost until Ruby gave maine permission," Kevin said successful an audio clip obtained by E!. "I couldn't travel into the room to devour until Ruby gave maine support and the upstairs wherever Jodi was was wholly offline. I couldn't spell upstairs anymore successful my ain house. And Ruby would dictate each of the presumption of however our interactions would be, erstwhile we would talk. And that was hard."