On the Rotten Mango podcast, the horrific case of Ruby Franke's alleged severe abuse of her two youngest children is examined. Details emerge about the abusive "prison war torture" conditions, extreme punishments, and malnutrition the children endured in what responders described as a "concentration camp setting." The chilling evidence includes Ruby's journal justifying the abuse and witness accounts of the children's emaciated and injured state.
The blurb delves into the complicated family dynamics, exploring Ruby's husband Kevin's and other family members' reactions, including the advocacy work of Ruby's eldest daughter Sherry. It also touches on the legal aftermath, with Ruby and her partner Jodi pleading guilty, as well as debates around Kevin's potential culpability and the larger implications for protecting child influencers.
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Ruby and Jodi were accused of inflicting "prison war torture"-like abuse on Ruby's two youngest children in a "concentration camp setting." They enforced extreme punishments like forced labor, exposure to elements, and restraints. This resulted in malnutrition, blisters, rope burns, injuries needing hospitalization, according to responder accounts.
Ruby's journal justified abuse, believing the children were "possessed by evil." Witnesses described the children's emaciation and severe injuries. A paramedic was emotionally distressed by the boy's condition.
Sherry, the eldest daughter, wrote about their childhood in her book "The House of My Mother" and advocated for protecting child influencers.
Siblings knew of issues but felt powerless against Ruby's control. Some condemned Ruby's actions, while others remained conflicted.
Kevin stayed loyal to Ruby despite abuse claims, asking about charges against her rather than his children's wellbeing. His actions prioritized protecting Ruby over supporting his children.
1-Page Summary
The podcast hosts delve into serious allegations of child abuse involving severe physical harm, deprivation, and psychological traumas akin to "prison war torture" in a "concentration camp setting."
Ruby Frankie and her partner Jodi enforced punishments on Ruby's two youngest children that demonstrated extreme and harmful methods. The children were subjected to five hours of forced labor in a cemetery without basic necessities, standing barefoot in sweltering heat, and carrying heavy boxes up and down stairs, among other abusive tasks. Their methods also included forcing the nine-year-old daughter to jump into a cactus and the nine-year-old son to balance on one foot while performing tasks—often resulting in self-injury. Inside the home, a safe room revealed rope and handcuffs used to physically restrain the children, sometimes in a hog-tied position.
The children were regularly denied food, water, and entertainment—essentials for their well-being. This deprivation resulted in their being emaciated and malnourished. They were forced to undergo physical tasks that left them with blisters and rope burns, and severe injuries, including sunburns from long hours outside without protection, which sometimes required hospitalization. The children's injuries were clearly visible, with the boy's tendons showing at the Achilles tendon area. In one instance, deep wounds were found around a child's ankles, caused by restrictive ropes.
The abuse inflicted by Ruby and Jodi was likened to the severe and inhumane treatment found in a concentration camp. Jesse, one of the children, noted the absence of celebration on his birthday, which was justified with claims that he hadn't "earned the right to be special."
Ruby documented her faulty justifications in a journal, calling the children weak, infectious, and a setup from the devil. She believed that the abusive tasks she assigned were intended to "destroy" evil within the children and make them repent for their sins. Ruby and Jodi's parenting ideology, documented in their book "Ri ...
Details of the Abuse Allegations and Evidence
The unfolding drama surrounding a family torn apart by allegations of abuse reveals a spectrum of reactions ranging from advocacy to denial.
Sherry, the eldest daughter, has taken a stand to protect child influencers and advocate for her siblings after her family's life unraveled in the public eye. She authored "The House of My Mother," a book that delves into the childhood experiences of those growing up within a family vlogging channel. Sherry reflects on watching Ruby distance herself from family and questions whether this was a step toward healing. Her book aims to shed light on the traumatic experiences not only unique to her but commonly endured by child influencers.
After enduring a tumultuous childhood and her mother, Ruby's, recent sentencing, Sherry has resolved to cease sharing personal details about her life publicly. Despite attending Ruby's sentencing, she chose to avert her gaze, having become all too familiar with what she described as "crocodile tears." Declaring her intention never to communicate with Ruby again, regardless of Ruby's potential apologies, Sherry now focuses on advocating for the protection of child influencers and their exploitation in family vlogs.
The siblings of the family each have shown different reactions to the unfolding events.
Knowledge of the family's strife was not enough for Ruby's siblings to override her control. Bonnie, Ruby’s sister, has sought to publicly distance herself from Ruby's notorious actions, condemning her brother-in-law Kevin for his inaction. While chat threads reveal the siblings' discomfort with Ruby's extreme ideology and its intrusion into family events, they felt compelled to maintain silence, balancing their love for Ruby with opposition to her abusive behavior.
Chad, the eldest son, has also chosen to break contact with Ruby, hating the actions she took, yet acknowledging the potential for future conversations given their filial bond.
Kevin appeared steadfast in his loyalty to Ruby, expressing love even amid abuse allegations.
Kevin has continued to support Ruby throughout the legal and familial turmoil. In contrast to Sherry's protective actions, Kevin's initial disbelief about the accusations against Ruby indicates his struggles to reconcile with the state of his family.
Despite learning about his child ...
Reactions and Responses of Family Members
Concerns about the involvement of other individuals and the extent of their knowledge or participation in events are raised in discussions on a podcast.
Several points of discussion have suggested that Pam Botcher might have had more involvement than initially believed.
Pam Botcher, a member of the group known as the "three musketeers" alongside Jodie Hildebrandt and Ruby, was accused by internet users of removing what were referred to as "pen papers" from the scene before authorities could access them. This act of potentially destroying evidence has raised accusations about her engagement in the ongoing situation.
Jessie, Jodi's niece, recalls Pam being present while they were held in captivity at Jodi's home. Sherry, an author, also implied that Jodi, Ruby, and Pam collaborated closely, calling them the "three musketeers of the apocalypse."
When the police found two teenage daughters at Pam Botcher's house, they encountered resistance from Pam and her husband when trying to ensure the girls' safety. Pam's husband showed more concern over the image of a police car in their driveway than the wellbeing of the children, and Pam herself made comments about the girls scrubbing her floor, suggesting she may have been prioritizing her needs. Additionally, there were concerns raised when Pam, in the back of a police cruiser, appeared more worried about neighborly perception than the dire situation. It was also noted that none of the individuals associated with her displayed concern for the children's wellbeing amid abuse allegations.
Kevin's role and degree of responsibility concerning the situation with his children remain debated.
The public is divided over Kevin's culpability in the abuse, with Stephanie Soo mentioning that listener opinions varied on whether Kevin was a victim, trying to keep a calm front to gain custody of his children, or if he was complicit. Kevin's own frustrations with law enforcement and child protection services are in stark contrast to his actions at the time, where he admits to ignoring CPS calls due to his belief in Jodi and Ruby's narrative of the situation. He has spoken about the slow indoctrination process he endured and his current state of haunting regret over ...
Discussions of Potential Additional Culpability
The complex case involving Ruby and Jodi has come to a legal conclusion with their sentencing, but the reverberations continue to impact their family and raise important questions about the world of family vlogging.
Ruby and Jodi have both been sentenced to a possible 4 to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. Initially, Ruby's loyalty to Jodi seemed unshakeable until she realized that turning against her could result in a lighter sentence.
During the sentencing, Ruby attempted to shift blame onto Jodi, presenting herself as misled and isolated by Jodi's counsel, and expressing a distorted view of reality influenced by Jodi's supposed mental illness. Ruby thanked authorities for "freeing" her upon her arrest and acknowledged that the harm inflicted on her children was by herself and Jodi.
Jodi, on the other hand, framed her plea deal as a form of protection for the children to prevent further trauma by stirring notions of innocence and victimhood. She suggested that the devil was involved and contended that the children self-inflicted some of the injuries showcased in the allegations. The concerns have risen that Jodi may receive a lighter sentence due to the primary focus on Ruby's actions and notoriety.
The case's outcomes have resulted in Kevin's involvement in protecting Ruby being analyzed and discussed among netizens, impacting the perspectives of culpability. The incident reflects Kevin's initial intent to support Ruby, even after authorities were involved.
Meanwhile, Sherry has left the public eye and is ...
The Sentencing, Legal Aftermath, and Ongoing Effects
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