Kevin Franke files lawsuit against Jodi Hildebrandt over emotional distress

Apr 11, 2024, 5:45 PM | Updated: 5:47 pm

Kevin Franke at a court hearing, he has filed a lawsuit against jodi hildebrandt...

Kevin Franke and his attorneys walk into a conference room following a juvenile court hearing on Sept. 18. On Wednesday, Franke filed for divorce from his wife Ruby Franke, a popular YouTube vlogger charged with abusing their children. Kevin Franke and his attorneys walk into a conference room following a juvenile court hearing on Sept. 18. (Emily Ashcraft/KSL.com)

(Emily Ashcraft/KSL.com)

BY JESSICA LOWELL

KSLNewsRadio

SALT LAKE CITY — The husband of former YouTuber and convicted abuser Ruby Franke, has filed a lawsuit against his wife’s former business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt. Kevin Franke is seeking damages for extreme emotional distress.

Franke and Hildebrandt were sentenced to prison in February for abusing Franke’s children.

In the lawsuit, Kevin Franke said Hildebrandt’s actions “completely” damaged his family and marriage.

Kevin outlined some of the conditions his two youngest children were living in at Hildebrant’s southern Utah home. He said the kids were forced outside for long periods of time in the summer heat. He said that, during that time, they were not given food or water.

Franke said that the punishment was so harsh and abusive, both mentally and physically, that the children felt they weren’t worthy of receiving help when first responders found them emaciated.

In the lawsuit, Kevin Franke also said he was unable to help his children emotionally.

Franke is asking for punitive damages that will be determined in a trial. He filed for divorce from Ruby Franke in 2023.

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Kevin Franke files lawsuit against Jodi Hildebrandt over emotional distress

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