Netflix has released the true-crime documentary Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt story, shedding light on the shocking child abuse case involving Utah life coach Jodi Hildebrandt and content creator Ruby Franke.
The series explores how Hildebrandt, founder of the life-coaching firm ConneXions, became deeply involved in Franke’s family.
In 2023, Hildebrandt’s obsession with “rectifying” the vlogger’s household led to a horrifying incident in which Franke’s 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s residence, where he and a younger sister were allegedly held captive.
Security camera footage reportedly showed the child pleading for food and water, with evidence of restraint.
Both Hildebrandt and Franke were arrested and charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse.
Hildebrandt admitted to four counts and is currently incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City.
Under Utah law, her consecutive sentences cannot exceed 30 years, meaning she could remain in prison into her 80s. Ruby Franke received an identical sentence, though the two are housed separately. Hildebrandt’s first parole hearing is scheduled for December 2026.
Hildebrandt, now in her mid-50s, is a mother of two adult children, reportedly estranged from her. Accounts from family members describe a history of strict and abusive behavior, including confinement and punishment methods.
Experts involved in the case emphasized: “Just because you reframe it as ‘tough love’ or ‘tough parenting,’ that’s not love. That is abuse.”
The documentary adds to Netflix’s growing catalog of true-crime content, providing a chilling insight into the case and sparking conversations about parental abuse and accountability.
