A Utah man has filed a lawsuit against Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt, accusing his ex-wife of becoming obsessed with the incarcerated mommy vloggers and spending thousands on their phony counseling sessions. The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court, describes Hildebrandt’s and Franke’s joint parenting and lifestyle YouTube channel, ConneXions Classrooms, as an “organized criminal enterprise.”
Michael Tillerman, the plaintiff, alleges that his ex-wife used the teachings of Hildebrandt and Franke to physically abuse and endanger their child. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop Hildebrandt’s enterprise from operating and $2.25 million in damages. Hildebrandt is accused of offering fraudulent marital and self-improvement classes and workshops that preyed on vulnerable individuals seeking legitimate mental health services.
The suit also claims that Franke and Hildebrandt indoctrinated victims into creating chaos at home. The mommy vloggers were arrested and pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in December 2023, resulting in a sentence of up to 30 years in state prison.
Tillerman alleges that his ex-wife sought counseling from Hildebrandt, who convinced her to turn on their family using warped teachings on discipline and abuse. The lawsuit accuses Franke, Hildebrandt, and others of engaging in a racketeering enterprise to profit from fraudulent services and products.
The case gained attention in 2020 when police rescued two of Franke’s malnourished and neglected children from Hildebrandt’s home in Utah. The children were reportedly forced to do manual labor, deprived of food, and had their hands and feet bound. They were also told they were evil and needed to be punished.
Overall, the lawsuit paints a disturbing picture of the alleged actions of Franke and Hildebrandt, highlighting the serious consequences of their supposed criminal enterprise. The legal battle between Tillerman and the mommy vloggers continues as authorities investigate the claims made in the lawsuit.
