(NewsNation) — Washington County, Idaho, District Attorney Eric Clarke told NewsNation on Monday that the well-being of YouTube parenting vlogger Ruby Franke’s children is improving.
“We’re really careful in how much we talk about the kids,” Clarke said during an exclusive appearance on “Banfield.” But I think people should know that the kids have put on weight. They’re interacting, happy and healthy. It’s not like they’re great, but they’re light-years better. And thank heavens for that.”
Crime scene photos, body camera video, witness statements and interrogation tapes were released a month after Franke and business partner Jodi Hildebrandt were each sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.
A police investigation determined religious extremism motivated the women to inflict horrific abuse on Franke’s children, Clarke announced Friday. The women were each charged with six counts of felony child abuse after two of Franke’s six children were found malnourished in the basement of Hildebrandt’s home. Each pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree child abuse.
In her plea agreement, Franke admitted to torturing her son, including depriving him of food and water and subjecting him to physical labor, isolating him from others and depriving him of any entertainment.
She also admitted to kicking him, holding his head underwater and cutting off his oxygen by putting her hands over his mouth and nose, as well as binding him after he attempted to run away.
Franke became famous for the “8 Passengers” YouTube channel she ran with her husband, documenting her family life and offering parenting advice.
But the channel came under criticism for Franke’s harsh parenting tactics, including taking away a child’s bed as punishment and refusing to bring her 6-year-old child lunch at school after she forgot it.
When “8 Passengers” ended, Franke teamed up with Hildebrandt, a licensed counselor, to start a new counseling-focused channel called ConneXions Classroom. Hildebrandt surrendered her license when she pleaded guilty to the child abuse charges.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.