Ruby Franke’s Daughter Has ‘Mixed Emotions’ During Holidays Ahead of Mom-fluencer Guilty Plea, Posts Throwback of Her With Baby Doll

The daughter of Utah “mom-fluencer” Ruby Franke said in a social media post that she’s been experiencing “mixed emotions” during the holiday season, about two weeks before her mom pleaded guilty to second-degree aggravated child abuse. 

Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested four months ago after one of her children escaped from Hildebrandt's home and police arrived in response to a neighbor’s call about an emaciated child. Both were charged with multiple counts of aggravated child abuse.

The child who escaped and wandered around the neighborhood reportedly had duct tape on parts of his body and open wounds. Police found other children who were also malnourished and injured. Four minors were placed under the care of Utah's Department of Child and Family Services.

Officers with the Springville Police Department went to Franke’s Springville, Utah, home on April 16 and September 18 of last year, as The Messenger previously reported.

The September incident concerned Franke’s oldest daughter, Shari Franke, who told police that her siblings had been left home alone for five days while their mother visited a friend. Shari, a student at Brigham Young University, called in the welfare check, asking police to make sure the children had enough food. 

In the April incident, a case worker with the state’s Department of Child and Family Services contacted police to report that Franke’s children were running in the street unsupervised. 

On December 3, Shari wrote an Instagram post in which she said the holidays “are full of mixed emotions for me,” sharing a photo in which she posed with a doll baby. 

“I’m so grateful for all the memories I have to hold onto,” she wrote. “I also look forward to the memories I know I can create.”

Her mom ran a popular YouTube channel called “8 Passengers,” in which she doled out parenting advice featuring her own husband and children. Ruby Franke and Hildebrandt also ran a joint YouTube account called ConneXions, in which the two offered general life advice and aimed to serve as a mom support group.

Members of the community where Ruby Franke lived said they felt a collective sigh of relief when she and Hildebrandt were arrested. Two neighbors told NBC News they were long concerned for the children living in Ruby Franke’s house.