Jodi Hildebrandt
American counselor and child abuser (born 1969) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jodi Nan Hildebrandt is an American convicted child abuser, former counselor, retired businesswoman, and YouTuber. On August 30, 2023, Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke were arrested in Washington County, Utah, and charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse of two of Franke's children. Hildebrandt ultimately pleaded guilty to four counts, and was sentenced to serve between four and thirty[a] years in prison on February 20, 2024.[1]
Jodi Hildebrandt | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jodi Nan Hildebrandt 1969 (age 55–56) |
| Status | Incarcerated |
| Alma mater | Brigham Young University (BA) University of Utah (MA) |
| Occupation(s) | former counselor, parenting coach, and YouTuber |
| Years active | 2005–2024 |
| Conviction | Aggravated child abuse (4 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | 4 to 60 years (30 year maximum under Utah statute).[a] |
| Accomplice | Ruby Franke |
| Details | |
| Victims | 6 |
Date apprehended | August 30, 2023 |
| Imprisoned at | Utah State Correctional Facility |
Early life and education
Jodi Hildebrandt was born to Jay and Florence Hildebrandt in 1969. She attended Canyon del Oro High School and played on its girl's basketball team.[3] Hildebrandt was part of the high school's 1986–87 team, which the team finished with an undefeated 28–0 record and captured the school's first state championship in girl's basketball.[3][4]
Upon her high school graduation, Hildebrandt attended Ricks College for one year and played on its women's basketball team for its 1987–88 season.[5] In 1988, Hildebrandt transferred to Utah Valley Community College, which she attended for one year.[3]
Hildebrandt was raised by devout followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and her father was a pilot with the United States Air Force.[6]
She participated in the Miss Orem pageant in 1990.[3]
In 1996, Hildebrandt graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts in English language & literature.[7] In 2003, Hildebrandt graduated from the University of Utah with a Master of Arts in educational psychology. Her masters thesis was titled "Experiences of Latter-day Saints women and how their culture influences their manifestations of sexuality."[8]
Counseling career
Summarize
Perspective
Hildebrandt was a counselor licensed in Utah starting in 2005.[9][10] In 2007, she founded the relationship and business counseling business Connexions (styled ConneXions) in Orem, Utah.[11] In 2012, she was the director of LifeStar Utah County, a franchisee of a national company based in Utah that specializes in the psychiatric and psychological treatment of pornography and sex addiction.[12]
In 2012, Hildebrandt's license was put on probation for 18 months after she "disclosed sensitive confidential information" of a former client to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Brigham Young University between 2008 and 2010, according to Utah Department of Commerce's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing documents.[9][10] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that Hildebrandt was no longer on their Family Services' referral list due to the case.[12]
Hildebrandt was a business partner of family YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke.[9] They launched a YouTube channel called ConneXions together in 2022,[13] and created a joint Instagram account called Moms of Truth,[13] offering parenting classes.[14]
As a result of Hildebrandt's criminal convictions, the Utah Department of Commerce's Division of Professional Licensing revoked her clinical mental health counseling license on May 10, 2024.[15][16]
Legal issues
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Perspective
Utah v. Franke/Hildebrandt
On August 30, 2023, Hildebrandt was arrested in Washington County, Utah, and charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse. She surrendered her license as a counselor pending resolution of the court case and a disciplinary investigation.[17][18] After the arrest of Hildebrandt and Franke, YouTube banned both from the platform.[19] After pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse,[20] she was sentenced in 2024 to four consecutive terms of one to 15 years, the maximum for each count under Utah law.[21] Prison sentences in Utah are indeterminate, with a minimum and maximum time frame. The offender must serve the whole sentence unless the Board of Pardons releases them sooner. However, under Utah law, consecutive sentences cannot run beyond 30 years unless the offender has a maximum life term.[1][2]
Hildebrandt has been imprisoned at Utah State Correctional Facility's Dell Facility since the day she was sentenced, along with Ruby Franke.[22][23]
Hildebrandt's first parole hearing is scheduled to take place in December 2026.[24]
Lawsuits
On January 22, 2025, former Connexions Classroom client's husband Michael Tilleman filed a lawsuit in federal court against Hildebrandt and Franke for business fraud and promoting a "methodology that encouraged child abuse among their clients". Examples of the claims made by Tilleman included the two women "engag[ing] in a racketeering enterprise by advertising and selling fraudulent services and encouraging others to perpetuate illegal and harmful acts — specifically child abuse, child torture and psychological abuse." and that the concepts taught in the classes "ultimately led children to 'extreme danger'"[25][26]
Kevin Franke later sued Hildebrandt for emotional distress and negligence.[27]
Depiction in media
Jodi Hildebrandt was portrayed by Heather Locklear in the Lifetime film Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story.[28]
Her case was also featured in the true crime television series The Curious Case Of..., which explores high-profile criminal cases and controversial figures. The episode examines Hildebrandt’s career as a self-help counselor, the allegations of abuse, and the legal proceedings that followed.[29]
See also
Notes
- Each of the four counts Hildebrandt was convicted on carried a term of 1 to 15 years' imprisonment, which were ordered to be served consecutively. The minimum amount of time Hildebrandt must serve is therefore 4 years, and, absent any superseding legislation, the maximum amount of time would be 60 years; however, the Utah Code dictates that the time served by a defendant upon whom consecutive sentences (except those of life imprisonment or the death penalty) are imposed must not exceed 30 years.[1][2]
References
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