Kevin Franke is going after his estranged wife Ruby Franke’s former business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, with hopes that she’ll be forced to pay for his children‘s medical care after her abuse.
“The children remain in professional care for the aggravated psychological and emotional injuries suffered,” Kevin stated in a motion filed Friday and obtained by Pvnew.
“It is clear and admitted that the children suffered immediate and continuing irreparable harm as a result of the crimes perpetrated upon them by [Hildebrandt].”
Kevin, who is in the midst of divorce proceedings from the former “8 Passengers” YouTube host and hoping to regain custody of their kids, failed to mention in his court filing the abuse his children endured at Ruby’s hands.
Hildebrandt, 54, pleaded guilty on Dec. 27 to four counts of child abuse.
In her plea, she admitted to forcing a boy to remain outside at all hours of the day, causing sunburns, regularly binding the boy’s hands and feet and forcing a girl to jump into a cactus multiple times.
Ruby, 42, also had pleaded guilty to the same charges just over a week before Hildebrandt and admitted to torturing her kids by holding their heads underwater.
Kevin said once the juvenile court matter was resolved, the cost of his family’s long-term care would have to come out of his pocket.
“This would be a completely inequitable result; that the victims and the victims’ family would have to pay for their own treatment for injuries caused by [Hildebrandt],” the motion said.
Kevin said the cost of this ongoing treatment could be established before Hildebrandt is sentenced on Feb. 20, when the ConneXions co-founder will be sentenced.
Kevin requested the judge prevent the liquidation or transfer of Hildebrandt’s assets, including her house, which was recently listed for sale for $5.1 million, so the funds could be made available for his children’s recovery.
He further claimed Hildebrandt is trying to conceal or unload her resources.
Ruby and Hildebrandt were arrested by Utah police on Aug. 30, 2023.
