Ruby Franke's estranged husband claims he was 'resident exorcist' when Jodi Hildebrandt lived with them

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UTAH, UNITED STATES: Ruby Franke’s estranged husband Kevin Frank has claimed that he was the "resident exorcist" for her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt. 

Franke, who filed for divorce in November from the disgraced mommy blogger, said that their Utah home turned into a crazy house after Ruby’s friend Hildebrandt moved in with them in 2021.

Jodi initially tried to help Ruby find evil spirits and cast demons out, he alleged, adding that when she started going into a trance, he would have to give her blessings, DailyMail reported.

What did Kevin Franke say?

In a newly released interview with the Washington County Attorney’s office, Ruby’s estranged husband Kevin claimed that once Hildebrandt was under their roof, strange episodes of flickering lights, loud noises and floating objects started to take over the home. 

Kevin said, “It was weird and I hated it, I became the resident exorcist that was the title I came up with myself - I thought it was kind of funny.”

Kevin also added that it was his job to give Jodie blessings when she started to go into a trance and go into possession. Ruby and Jodi were very close, according to Kevin. He said that Ruby would go upstairs to check on Jodi when she wasn't feeling well.

He said, “It started like every four hours at night and then it moved every two hours at night and then it moved every two hours at night and then it moved every hour at night.”

Kevin also said, “At some point Ruby said, 'You know what I’m just gonna start sleeping in there. And if i need you I’ll come down and get you.’”

Kevin admitted that he thought it was strange when Ruby started sleeping with Jodi, but he agreed to it. "They started sleeping in the same bed. Then Ruby started having likes trances and stuff," he said.

Kevin added that they would stay in a room for four or five hours before coming out. Ruby said she "had this amazing vision", "I wrote and recorded it all down" and "we have a work to do from God," he said.

Ruby became famous on her YouTube channel 8 Passengers where she and her husband, Kevin Franke, showed how they raised their six children. Ruby was already controversial in the parenting vlogging community.

The Frankes were criticized for banning their oldest son from his bedroom for seven months for pranking his brother. In other videos, Ruby talked about not bringing lunch to a kindergartener who forgot it at home.

Last year, shocking allegations came out that Ruby, who is a Mormon, had been abusing her children for years.

Disturbing images with terrible wounds of Ruby’s tortured children have emerged

Graphic images and videos showing the terrible wounds suffered by Ruby's tortured children — including the moment when the children were discovered by police inside a wardrobe inside her house — were made public.

Her son was caught on camera escaping the torture and telling a neighbour about their ordeal thanks to footage from the doorbell camera.

Additional photos, which demonstrated the two malnourished victims with duct tape wrapped around their arms and feet, scratches, and bruises all over their bodies, demonstrated the severity of Ruby's torture.

Along with adult diapers and rope that would be used to bind the kids, police also found a small, sealed safe room in the property's basement. Images captured on location revealed the frail bodies of the malnourished kids, who were covered in wounds, bruises, and scars.

Some pictures showed the small child's duct-taped hands and feet, along with festering wounds that are pus- and blood-filled on his feet as a result of the restraints.

The nine-year-old child had bruise marks on her foot and scratches all over her limbs.

The children endured various forms of torture, such as being restrained by rope, made to wear adult diapers, and imprisoned in a small secure room.

The children in Ruby's care were deprived of basic necessities such as food, water, and proper bedding, and they lacked any means of entertainment. 

Despite this, the kitchen was stocked with food, and Ruby maintained a spacious office dedicated to creating content for her YouTube channel.

Moreover, the children were isolated from the outside world, prohibited from interacting with others, and instructed to remain hidden when visitors arrived. 

Investigators uncovered that they were also subjected to grueling outdoor labor in sweltering summer conditions, forced to toil without protective footwear.

Disturbingly, the children were convinced by their abusers that they were possessed, and the abuse they endured was framed as a means of liberation from these supposed demons. 

Testimony from the 12-year-old revealed instances of being restrained and subjected to makeshift medical treatments administered by Jodi.

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt are sentenced for their crime

In a harrowing scene captured on video, Ruby's frightened daughter was discovered hiding in a closet by authorities. Following their rescue, the children were promptly taken to the hospital and reunited with family members.

Child protective services intervened, removing the children and two older siblings from Ruby's custody upon her arrest. Ruby and Jodi faced serious legal consequences for their actions, and charged with six counts of child abuse.

As a result of their crimes, their YouTube channels were terminated. Ruby, aged 42, received a 30-year prison sentence for her role in the abuse, while Jodi received the same punishment.