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The Devil In The Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke - BBC IPlayer

(5 Posts)
TerriBull Fri 24-Jul-26 08:32:10

Has anyone seen this? I was vaguely aware of the story when it hit the news a while back, but very much a US based piece of domestic news, so didn't really pay much attention to it.

Truly shocking! This YouTube "muminfluencer" who used the channel to project herself as the perfect all American mum to six children. Although behind the scenes, as the children grew they became less co-operative in being forced to appear in these films as part of being presented, superficially, as a wholesome family. I think it's an example of how shameful some well known people are who use their children to that end. As one child expressed, it was an intrusion into their lives once it became a forced routine and they were punished for a lack of co-operation.

The family were Mormons, the father a rather passive background figure. Their lives were to take an altogether darker twist when the mother falls under the influence of a Jodi Hildebrandt, a pernicious self style counsellor, specialising in psychiatric and psychological mental health, who goes on to became not only a fixture in the family's life, but also moving into their home. At which stage husband and the 2 older children are evicted and the younger children are left at the mercy of two increasingly deranged women who go on to physically and mentally abuse them.

I merely wanted to see what it was all about, but became riveted and watched the whole lot last night.

BlueBelle Fri 24-Jul-26 08:38:03

I watched half then unfortunately fell asleep, not because it was boring just because that’s what I often do 🤣
It was very interesting, a complete personality disorder I would think, I thought the Dad was rather nice but too much in love or too passive to stop her( or happy to have the money coming in ). she got completely over run with the adoration and money didn’t she? I ll watch the rest later today and come back with further observations.. I saw up to when the older children were about 12 ish

TerriBull Fri 24-Jul-26 09:14:29

Well it was rather long, unusually I didn't fall asleep grin Yes the dad was rather nice, but suffered from an inferiority complex, on the assumption that he was punching above his weight in landing this glamorous wife, describing himself as a nerd. I thought she was an awful mother, even before she fell under the auspices of the completely insane Hildebrandt woman. Yes, initially she made the family a lot of money but had a total disregard for her children's well being they were mere props in her brand building. They all suffered, the eldest daughter, no longer has anything to do with her and the older son is very conflicted in how he feels. She and her accomplice are in prison now, two of the children nearly died whilst in their care. Both the woman were charged with physical cruelty and neglect.

Galaxy Fri 24-Jul-26 09:24:07

I haven't seen that one but have listened to a number of podcasts on the case, it is a well known case in American true crime. One of the children escaped and ran to a nearby property, the audio of the elderly couple unable to comprehend how badly the child had been treated is heartbreaking. I am glad the first people that child encountered after escape were kind. I think the case also shows the dangers of 'counsellors' and how easy it is to establish yourself as an 'expert' in peoples lives.

Chocolatelovinggran Fri 24-Jul-26 09:47:18

I am familiar with this story, which seems beyond belief.
I understand that the " counsellor" is appealing her sentence.