'A world full of distractions': Ruby Franke's sister breaks silence as she is sentenced for child abuse

ST GEORGE, UTAH: Ruby Franke's sister broke her silence after the former parenting YouTube star was sentenced behind bars for aggravated child abuse earlier this week. On Friday, February 23, Bonnie Hoellein shared a video on Instagram in which she could be seen bonding with her four children during a family getaway.

"A world full of distractions, and I only have eyes for them. Satan himself could not come close to making me harm them," she penned in her caption, as per People, while referring to the controversy surrounding her sister. 

Bonnie Hoellein was met with kind words from her followers

 Hoellein was met with kind words from her followers in the comments section who praised her role as a mother amid her sibling's sentencing.

"Any real loving mother would go to the end of the earth for her children!!!!!" wrote one user, as another added, "I can only imagine what you're going through, and I know the love you have for your children will be a great example to your extended family as well."

Ruby Franke received four separate prison sentences

According to Today, KSL 5 and KUTV, Franke received four separate prison sentences for one to 15 years earlier this week, which will run consecutively. The length of each prison sentence will ultimately be decided by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, according to Utah's Deseret News.

However, she will not serve more than 30 years due to a Utah law regarding consecutive sentences, Business Insider reported.

Ruby Franke's ex-business partner received the same sentence 

Jodi Hildebrandt, a therapist and Franke's ex-business partner, who she claims directed the abuse, received the same sentence as Franke, per the outlets.

Both women previously signed plea agreements to the four second-degree felonies in December, acknowledging their roles in the abuse and relinquishing their right to appeal their convictions. Under the plea agreement, two more charges of aggravated child abuse for each woman were dropped, Tania Mashburn, a spokeswoman for Utah State Courts, previously confirmed.

Bonnie Hoellein previously spoke out about her sister Ruby Franke

Hoellein previously spoke out about her sister when she was arrested in September 2023.

At the time, she stated that the rest of the disgraced YouTube vlogger’s family “did not know” about Franke's abusive behavior because she and husband Kevin Franke had become estranged from them. “We did not know what they were doing,” Hoellein said in a past YouTube video of herself and other siblings, Ellie Mecham and Julie Griffiths Deru, being distanced from Franke.

“We were cut off. We did not have access to anyone," she continued, adding “I am not my sister,” Hoellein added in the clip. “I am not my sister’s mistakes.”

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