Ruby Franke to Enter Plea Agreement, Lawyers Say

Ruby Franke is ready to enter a plea settlement subsequent week, in accordance to her attorneys.

Lawyers for the household vlogger, 41 — who was arrested in Utah on Aug. 30 alongside her enterprise companion and podcast co-host Jodi Hildebrandt, and subsequently charged with six felony counts of kid abuse — introduced in a press release on Friday, which was obtained by PEOPLE, that Franke will enter a plea deal on Monday when she seems in courtroom in Washington County.

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

Lawyers for Hildebrandt didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for remark.

The arrest of the 2 girls — who had co-hosted parenting recommendation podcast ConneXions since 2022 — got here after Franke’s 12-year-old son allegedly escaped Hildebrandt’s residence in late August and went to a neighbor to ask for meals and water, police stated on the time in a press release.

The neighbor who referred to as 911 was emotional as she defined to authorities that the boy regarded “emaciated” and was “covered in wounds,” retailers reminiscent of KUTV News, ABC News and the Deseret News reported in September.

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

The two youngsters have been subsequently despatched to the hospital, and each Franke and Hildebrandt have been charged with six felony counts of kid abuse on Sept. 6, PEOPLE confirmed on the time.

According to the Friday assertion, Franke is now working with prosecutors on her plea settlement.

“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 assertion stated.

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

“Initially, Ms. Franke believed that Jodi Hildebrant had the perception to provide a path to continuous enchancment. Ms. Hildebrant took benefit of this quest and twisted it into one thing heinous. Over an prolonged interval, Ms. Hildebrant systematically remoted Ruby Franke from her prolonged household, older youngsters, and her husband, Kevin Franke. This extended isolation resulted in Ms. Franke being subjected to a distorted sense of morality, formed by Ms. Hildebrandt’s affect,” the assertion stated.

The assertion then stated that in the course of 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 ethical compass and perceive the complete 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 assertion added. “Demonstrating a honest dedication to private development and rehabilitation, she has actively begun the method by reaching out to members of her household. Through heartfelt apologies, she seeks to mend relationships and contribute positively to the therapeutic journey of her household.”

Additionally, the assertion famous that Franke is “aware” that her husband, Kevin Franke, has filed for divorce and is “devastated,” however added that she “has supplied her full cooperation to assist the kids reunite with their father.” (In September, PEOPLE obtained an arrest report which stated that two of Franke’s different youngsters had been taken into the custody of kid protecting companies by authorities.)

The Friday assertion 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 with out bond since their arrest in late August. On Sept. 7, they made their preliminary courtroom look, which was watched on-line by greater than 1,000 individuals. Neither of the 2 girls entered pleas at the moment.

Following their arrest and fees, members of Franke’s household and neighborhood, together with neighbors, have spoken out about her conduct and parenting type.

If you watched baby abuse, name 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 out there 24/7 in additional than 170 languages.