Daughter of ‘YouTube mum’ child abuser Ruby Franke releases new memoir – what you need to know
The eldest daughter of Ruby Franke, who was convicted of physically and emotionally abusing her children, has revealed the torment she went through in a new memoir.
Shari Franke, 21, who reached out to authorities and the child protection services for help before her mother’s arrest in August 2023, writes that she and her five siblings were subject to Franke’s “twisted interpretation of crime and punishment all our lives”.
The mother of six, who gave parenting tips via a once-popular YouTube blog called “8 Passengers”, convinced her two youngest children that they were evil, possessed and needed to be punished to repent.
She and her business partner, mental health counsellor Jodi Hildebrandt, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. The pair were jailed for up to 30 years each last February.
In the memoir, The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, Ms Franke details for the first time what her childhood was like, how this changed when Hildebrandt moved into their family home, and if she has been able to forgive her mother.
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YouTuber mum sentenced for child abuse
Here is everything you need to know about the memoir that was released on Tuesday.
‘Really scary’
Ms Franke said during an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) that she experienced abuse at the hands of her mother when she was five or six years old.
She said her mother was “physical” and would slap her in the face or, when she was playing piano, she would slam her hands down on a surface.
She described her mother’s behaviour as “really scary”.
Ruby Franke in court. Pic: AP
But it was when Franke met Hildebrandt that the physical abuse turned more psychological, Ms Franke told GMA.
“I was like, I don’t like her [Hildebrandt], but maybe this is one good thing that’s come from it, is [Franke is] not yelling, she’s not hitting us any more.
“But it did become more psychological. And in a way, that was more damaging to me.”
Read more: Who is Ruby Franke?
‘My family’s very own cult leader’
In the book, Ms Franke describes Hildebrandt, who ran controversial life counselling organisation ConneXion, as her family’s “very own cult leader” who swept into their lives and turned her mother into “a fawning, starstruck acolyte who lapped up her every demented word like it was holy water”.
Hildebrandt and Franke often collaborated on parenting and relationship advice videos, which were often criticised for extreme teachings.
In since-deleted YouTube videos, the two preached that those who were not living in “truth,” including children, should be cut off from the rest of their families, Sky News’ US partner network, NBC News reported.
‘Strange’ relationship
Ms Franke goes on to hint that the relationship between her mother and her business partner escalated when she moved into their home.
“I don’t think it’s normal at all that a therapist would move into her client’s home,” she told GMA.
“I was moving out to college and hadn’t even left the house yet, and she is in my room and in my bed.”
Jodi Hildebrandt. Pic: Utah State Courts/AP
Ms Franke said her mother was “secretive” about her relationship with Hildebrandt, but said the “vibes [she] was getting was that something was strange between them”.
In an excerpt from her memoir that she shared on GMA, Ms Franke revealed that she found messages on Franke’s laptop after her arrest, that seemed to confirm the pair’s relationship had “spilled over into physical”.
However, when she was asked to elaborate on the matter on GMA, Ms Franke said that she “never saw anything specific about that” and wasn’t “sure” if they were more than friends.
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‘I don’t want to be anything like her’
At her sentencing hearing last year, Franke tearfully apologised to her children, saying: “I’ll never stop crying for hurting your tender souls.”
When asked if she thinks her mother meant her apology, Ms Franke told GMA that she believes she is “as sorry as she can be”.
She said she is now trying to rebuild her relationship with her siblings and her father, Kevin Franke – who filed for divorce from Franke.
“Sometimes I’ll see myself in the mirror and I’m like: ‘Oh, my gosh, I look like her’ or ‘I sound like her,'” Ms Franke said.
“But I don’t want to be anything like her.”
Sky News has not read a copy of the book.
“He was asleep in his bed, where he still is right now, as I wait on the coroner.”
The haunting words of Kimiko Nickerson stopped us in our tracks.
Her father Rodney, 82, was sure the fire wouldn’t reach his home in Altadena. He was wrong.
The inferno cut through this quiet suburb north of Los Angeles at an alarming rate, its path unpredictable.
California wildfires latest – new evacuation order issued
She said: “He just didn’t want to evacuate. He’s been living here since 1968, and he’s been in Altadena my whole life.
“Like all of us on this block, in four blocks, he didn’t think it was going to be this devastating.
“It jumped whole streets, and it hit this community, but it didn’t touch the mountainside at all.”
They’re still trying to process the apocalyptic scenes here and grieving for those who did not get out.
Kimiko said: “I have no words to explain my feelings at this point in time.
“I’m just silent and numb and just mentally trying to go through the process.”
Rodney Nickerson decided not to leave his Altadena home.
Pic: Kimiko Nickerson
‘Truly apocalyptic scenes’ as flames swallow homes in LA wildfires evacuation zone
It would be impossible to exaggerate the scale of the destruction, cars burnt to a cinder, palm trees still alight, powerlines strewn across roads.
So many people have lost the roof over their head but there’s one thing Kimiko says she’ll never lose – her memories.
“Every laugh, every joke he told.
“He was a smart man. He read the LA Times from cover to cover and walked around the Rose Bowl every day.
“He was healthy, he was ambitious… but he went to sleep and died in his bed back there.”
The US Supreme Court has rejected a last-ditch attempt by Donald Trump to delay sentencing in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.
The president-elect was convicted on 34 counts last May in New York of falsifying business records relating to payments made to Ms Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors claimed he had paid her $130,000 (£105,300) in hush money to not reveal details of what Ms Daniels said was a sexual relationship in 2006.
Mr Trump has denied any liaison with Ms Daniels or any wrongdoing.
By a majority, the Supreme Court found his sentencing would not be an insurmountable burden during the presidential transition since the presiding judge, Juan M Merchan, has indicated he will not give Mr Trump jail time, fines or probation.
Mr Trump’s attorneys argued that evidence used in the Manhattan trial violated last summer’s Supreme Court ruling giving Mr Trump broad immunity from prosecution over acts he took as president.
At the least, they said, the sentencing should be delayed while their appeals play out to avoid distracting Mr Trump during the presidential transition.
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Stormy Daniels. Pic: AP
Mr Trump’s attorneys went to the justices after New York courts refused to postpone sentencing.
Judges in New York found that the convictions related to personal matters rather than Mr Trump’s official acts as president.
Mr Trump’s attorneys called the case politically motivated, and they said sentencing him now would be a “grave injustice” that threatens to disrupt the presidential transition as the Republican prepares to return to the White House.
Mr Trump has said he will appeal again: “I respect the court’s opinion – I think it was actually a very good opinion for us because you saw what they said, but they invited the appeal and the appeal is on the bigger issue. So, we’ll see how it works out,” he said at a dinner with Republican governors at his private club in Florida.
Because the New York case was a state, rather than federal crime, Mr Trump will not be able to pardon himself when he takes office on 20 January.
Hollywood celebrities are among thousands of people who have been evacuated in Los Angeles, some fleeing homes now burned to the ground.
Paris Hilton and actor Billy Crystal have both lost their houses as fires rip through parts of California, including exclusive suburbs home to film stars and billionaires.
Oscar-winning songwriter Diane Warren, talk show host Ricki Lake, actor Cary Elwes, and reality stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag have also confirmed their homes have been destroyed.
US media is reporting that Eugene Levy, and Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, have lost their homes. The stars are yet to confirm this.
Sky News’ US correspondent Martha Kelner reported that Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck and Reese Witherspoon were among those evacuated.
Follow latest: At least five killed as flames spread
Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
The California wildfires as of Thursday morning.
The blaze in Pacific Palisades, a hillside area between Santa Monica and Malibu dotted with celebrity homes, is one of at least five raging in California.
Thousands of firefighters are trying to contain the flames, with a new fire breaking out overnight in the Hollywood Hills, threatening a host of tourist sites including the Walk Of Fame.
‘The loss is overwhelming’
Hilton said she was “heartbroken beyond words” to see her Malibu home, where she has brought up her young children Phoenix and London, “burn to the ground on live TV”.
In a post on social media, she said: “This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London.
“While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe.”
Read more:
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‘Truly apocalyptic scenes’ as flames swallow homes
In a joint statement, US actor Crystal, known for films including When Harry Met Sally and Analyze This, and his wife Janice confirmed their home of 46 years was gone.
“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing,” the couple said.
They added: “We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away.”
Pic: Reuters
The Hills stars Pratt and Montag documented the escalation of the fire at their home on Snapchat, with Pratt saying: “I’m watching our house burn down on the security cameras.”
His sister, Stephanie, who also starred in The Hills, as well as Made In Chelsea, told Sky News yesterday that she did not know if her own home was okay.
“I talked to my neighbour last night and she told me that [Palisades Charter High School] had burnt down, and that’s directly behind me, and so had Gelson’s Supermarket which is adjacent,” she said.
“I just can’t reach anyone to see if my house is okay. I just Googled it and it said that it’s destroyed and terrible… I don’t know if my house is there.”
Jamie Lee Curtis confirmed her home was safe but said “our beloved neighbourhood is gone” as she shared videos of the blaze on her Instagram.
Writer and actor Steve Guttenberg told Sky News he witnessed panic attacks and despair as he tried to help residents as the flames closed in.
The Police Academy star said: “There were mothers trying to find their kids.
“There were panic attacks. It was terrible. And that’s when the fires just lit up.”
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Other celebrities who have fled their properties include the award-winning actor James Woods, who said he had been safely evacuated from his home in Pacific Palisades.
But he added in a post on X: “I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing.”
Actor Mark Hamill, best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films, also posted on social media on Wednesday saying he evacuated his home in Malibu and his family were “fleeing for our lives”.
This Is Us actress Mandy Moore was also forced to leave her home with her children and pets, saying on Instagram they had found temporary refuge with friends.
The actress said: “Trying to shield the kids from the immense sadness and worry I feel.
“Praying for everyone in our beautiful city. So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don’t know if our place made it.”
Mark Hamill and Mandy Moore fled their homes. File Pics: Reuters
An awards ceremony planned for this weekend has been pushed back by two weeks, while the Oscar nominations next week have also been postponed.
According to Velvet Ropes, which maps celebrity properties, Matt Damon, Steven Spielberg, Hilary Swank and Sally Field all have homes close to where fires are raging.
Dr Dre, Tyra Banks, Martin Short, Anna Faris, Milo Ventimiglia, Linda Cardellini, Mary McDonnell, Adam Sandler, Miles Teller, and Jennifer Love Hewitt are also said to have houses in affected areas.
Pic: AP
The LA skyline cloaked in smoke. Pic: Reuters
In neighbouring Malibu, which was also affected by fires in December, stars including Beyonce and Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish are said to be among the celebrity residents.
The Palisades blaze has already burnt through nearly 16,000 acres of land, while the Eaton fire, covering over 10,000 acres, has caused the death of five people.
Three other fires, the Hurst fire, Lidia fire and Sunset fire, are all raging as emergency services battle to bring them under control.
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