Uncomfortably Intimate”: Inside Ruby Franke’s Troubled Relationship with Jodi Hildebrandt

The disturbing story of Ruby Franke, the former YouTube family vlogger convicted of child abuse, takes a deeper and more unsettling turn in a new Hulu documentary. Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke explores the toxic dynamics between Ruby, her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, and the Franke family. Kevin Franke, Ruby’s soon-to-be ex-husband, and their children, Shari and Chad, share shocking details about the relationship that led to Ruby’s downfall.

Relationship Beyond Friendship

Kevin Franke describes Ruby’s bond with Jodi Hildebrandt as “uncomfortably intimate.” In the documentary, he reveals that their connection went far beyond a typical friendship or professional partnership. “It was much more than a friendship,” Kevin says. “It was much more than a sisterhood. It was uncomfortably intimate.”

Hildebrandt, a life coach and Ruby’s business partner, eventually moved into the Franke home, claiming she suffered from “demonic night terrors.” Ruby and Kevin believed they could help her by performing rituals to expel the evil spirits. Kevin recalls, “I would place my hands on her head and command the demons to depart. And I would state every name of Jesus Christ that I could possibly think of.”

However, Ruby and Hildebrandt soon asked Kevin to leave the room, insisting they needed privacy to continue the process. This led to Ruby spending nights with Hildebrandt, claiming she needed to stay with her to keep the spirits at bay.

Shari Franke’s Disturbing Observations

Ruby’s oldest daughter, Shari, now 21, shares her own unsettling observations about her mother’s relationship with Hildebrandt. In her memoir, The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, Shari describes walking into her bedroom one night to find it transformed into what felt like a “honeymoon suite.”

“The room was bathed in the soft glow of candles,” Shari writes. “The air was heavy with the scent of lavender and vanilla wafting from the massage oils on the dresser.” She adds, “I quickly grabbed what I needed and got the hell out of there, feeling like I had just walked into someone else’s honeymoon suite.”

Shari also recalls seeing Ruby leave the room early in the morning with “messy hair” and “flushed cheeks,” further fueling her suspicions. “What the hell was going on?” she writes. “Why was Ruby sneaking around in the middle of the night like a teenager trying not to get caught by her parents?”

When asked in the documentary if she believed her mother and Hildebrandt were lovers, Shari responds, “I do think that they were.”

Condemning Queerness While Embodying It

Shari also highlights the hypocrisy in Ruby and Hildebrandt’s public stance on queerness. In their ConneXions videos, the pair openly condemned LGBTQ+ identities, yet Shari suggests their private behavior told a different story.

“They condemned queerness very publicly in their ConneXions videos, while embodying it privately,” Shari writes. “In my room. On my bed, most likely.”

The Downfall of Ruby Franke

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested in 2023 and later sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for aggravated child abuse. The charges stemmed from their treatment of Ruby’s two youngest children, whom they convinced were “evil” and “possessed by demons.” The children were subjected to severe punishments, including being bound with rope and denied food and water.

The documentary sheds light on the family’s life leading up to Ruby’s arrest, revealing how her relationship with Hildebrandt contributed to the toxic environment. Kevin admits that he and the family were unaware of the full extent of Ruby and Hildebrandt’s actions.

A Family’s Quest for Healing

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke not only exposes the disturbing details of Ruby’s actions but also highlights the resilience of her children. Shari and Chad, now adults, share their experiences of growing up in a household dominated by fear and manipulation.

The documentary serves as a platform for the Franke children to reclaim their narrative and seek closure. For Shari, writing her memoir and participating in the documentary have been steps toward healing. “I want people to know the truth,” she says. “And I want to move forward with my life.”

Final Thoughts

The Hulu documentary offers a chilling look into the Franke family’s unraveling, exposing the dark realities behind Ruby Franke’s public persona. From the “uncomfortably intimate” relationship between Ruby and Jodi Hildebrandt to the abuse inflicted on her children, the series reveals a story of manipulation, hypocrisy, and betrayal.

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke premieres on Hulu on February 27, providing viewers with a raw and unfiltered account of one of the most shocking family vlogger scandals in recent memory. For the Franke children, it’s a chance to share their truth and begin the journey toward healing.