Early Life and Education
Jodi Hildebrandt was born in 1969 in Tucson, Arizona, into a devout family associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints (LDS Church). Raised within strict religious and cultural values, she partook in typical community activities – including being a high‑school athlete – and pursued higher education focused on English and psychology. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University, she went on to earn a Master of Arts in educational psychology from the University of Utah in 2003. Her academic work included a thesis on the influence of LDS culture on women’s expressions of sexuality, signaling an early interest in the intersection of belief systems, personal identity, and family dynamics.
Her formative years were not without struggle. Hildebrandt experienced a brief marriage in the 1990s that ended in divorce, and later, her personal relationships – including with her own children – would become strained or severed. Details about her family life remained private for many years, but later investigations and media reporting revealed estrangement from her adult children and allegations of serious abusive behavior toward her niece in earlier decades.
Counseling Career and Rise to Influence
Hildebrandt entered professional therapeutic work in 2005, quickly establishing herself as a counselor and coach in Utah. By 2007 she had founded ConneXions, a relationship‑counseling business that she used as a platform to offer guidance on marriage, parenting, and personal transformation. Through workshops, counseling sessions, online content, and community engagement, she developed a devoted following – particularly within the LDS community – for her blend of religious principles, psychological insights, and motivational messaging.
Her counseling services covered a broad range of issues, including pornography addiction, marital conflict, communication challenges, and spiritual guidance. The business was popular enough to sustain her financially and grant her a degree of notoriety, with clients paying substantial fees for her coaching practices. However, her approach was not universally endorsed: critics later alleged that her methods were manipulative, unscientific, and capable of doing harm when applied without proper ethical oversight.
In 2012, concerns about Hildebrandt’s professional conduct became official when her counseling license was placed on probation for 18 months by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. The disciplinary action stemmed from her disclosure of confidential client information to religious authorities and other institutions without appropriate consent, violating professional ethical standards. As a result, she lost standing with some community organizations, including removal from the LDS Family Services referral list.
Association With Ruby Franke and Social Media Visibility
The most consequential development in Hildebrandt’s later career came from her association with Ruby Franke, a popular YouTuber known for her family channel 8 Passengers. The two met around 2019, and their partnership grew into a professional collaboration that would eventually meld Hildebrandt’s counseling philosophy with the Franke family’s large online audience. Together, they launched an Instagram project called Moms of Truth, amplifying their messages about parenting, discipline, and personal transformation to a broader following.
The relationship between Hildebrandt and the Frankes, particularly with Ruby and her children, deepened over time. Hildebrandt moved into the family’s Utah home and, according to later criminal investigations, assumed an increasing degree of influence over the household. Her teachings reportedly emphasized strict behavioral control, religious justification for discipline, and a hierarchical power dynamic that put her at the center of decision‑making. Critics have described this dynamic as cult‑like, pointing to the use of religious rhetoric to legitimize extreme discipline and control over both adults and children.
The Child Abuse Case: Discovery, Arrest, and Conviction
The turning point came in August 2023, when a 12‑year‑old son of Ruby Franke escaped from the Utah home in which Hildebrandt and Franke were living. The boy – visibly malnourished, wounded, and bound with duct tape – sought help from a neighbor, triggering law enforcement intervention. Police found evidence consistent with severe deprivation, restraint, and physical punishment inflicted on the child and his younger sister.
Both Hildebrandt and Franke were quickly arrested and charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse. Prosecutors presented a harrowing portrait of systematic maltreatment, alleging the children were denied basic necessities such as food, water, adequate sleep, and safety, and were forced to undertake strenuous labor under harsh conditions. Investigators also uncovered implements such as ropes, handcuffs, and evidence of times when children were tied up or confined.
In early 2024, Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse and was sentenced to four consecutive prison terms of one to 15 years each, with the maximum combined sentence capped at 30 years under Utah law. She began serving her sentence at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Her co‑defendant, Ruby Franke, received the same sentence.
Notably, during her sentencing, Hildebrandt did not apologize or express remorse for her actions; instead she framed her behavior as rooted in love and a desire to promote healing, language that most observers saw as a continuation of her manipulative self‑justification.
Public Perception, Media, and Documentary Coverage
Following the conviction, public curiosity about the case exploded. In December 2025, Netflix released a documentary titled Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, exploring the case and drawing attention to the intersection of online influence, religious authority, and child welfare. The film used interviews, journal entries from Ruby Franke, police records, and expert commentary to illustrate how trust, belief, and influence can be abused with devastating consequences.
The documentary further highlighted Hildebrandt’s techniques for gaining followers and controlling narratives, an aspect that drew critical scrutiny from therapists, clergy, and child‑protection advocates. Viewers and commentators noted that the combination of social media credibility, religious veneer, and charismatic coaching created a powerful – and potentially dangerous – platform that ultimately harmed the very families it claimed to help.
Life in Prison and Ongoing Developments (2025–2026)
As of early 2026, Hildebrandt remains incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Her first scheduled parole hearing is set for December 2026, at which point Utah’s Board of Pardons and Parole will evaluate whether she should remain in prison or be considered for conditional release.
Reports from media interviews and documentary sources suggest that Hildebrandt continues to exhibit the same patterns of behavior that defined her pre-incarceration professional life: seeking to offer counsel, forming small groups, and engaging other incarcerated women in discussions about personal growth and coping with addiction. Some commentators have compared these behaviors to her earlier attempts to influence clients, raising questions about her capacity for genuine rehabilitation versus continued manipulation.
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