A Utah man claims he lost more than $1 million in earning potential after his spouse became enthralled with disgraced Utah parenting bloggers Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt’s bizarre and pricey online “counseling.”

Franke, a 43-year-old mother of six, and Hildebrandt, a 55-year-old mother of two, ran a joint parenting and lifestyle YouTube channel called ConneXions Classrooms before they were arrested and pleaded guilty to four of six counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in a St. George courtroom in December 2023.

“Franke, Hildebrandt, and others known and unknown have been engaging in a widespread racketeering enterprise in pursuit of power and profit through the advertisement, sale, and provision of fraudulent services and products designed to prey on vulnerable individuals, and encourage victims to perpetuate illegal acts onto others,” a complaint states.

Utah authorities filed charges against Franke and Hildebrandt in September after police rescued two of Franke’s children, who were malnourished and neglected, from Hildebrandt’s home Aug. 30. The abuse included forcing her children to do physical labor, restricting food, binding one child’s hands and feet and emotional harm. Franke and Hildebrandt told Franke’s children they were evil and needed to be punished.

Ruby Franke and business partner Jodi Hildebrandt  (Instagram/Moms of Truth)

One-on-one training with Hildebrandt cost $181 per 50-minute session. Male and female “teams” sessions cost $300 per month with a minimum $900 commitment. 

Defendants “prey on individuals in vulnerable positions who are seeking legitimate mental health services and indoctrinate members into the Enterprise — instructing her associates to perpetuate child abuse, child torture, and psychological abuse on any individual in their lives not deemed to be in what Hildebrandt has coined ‘Truth,’ i.e., aligning with Hildebrandt’s will,” the complaint states.

Parenting blogger Jodi Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four of six counts of aggravated child abuse for the physical and emotional harm of two of her co-host’s children. (Sheldon Demke/St. George News/Pool)

Tillerman alleges his spouse “masterfully implemented” Hildebrandt’s and Franke’s “dark teachings to physically abuse and endanger the minor child” they shared.

Franke and Hildebrandt did not have attorneys listed in the federal lawsuit at the time of publication.

They were both sentenced to serve four consecutive terms between a minimum of 30 years and a maximum of 60 years in prison after being found guilty of four counts each of second-degree aggravated child abuse each inflicted upon two of Franke’s children.