Suvechha Sarkar
Netflix’s ‘Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story’ sheds light on a deeply unsettling case of child abuse that emerged from Santa Clara-Ivins, Utah, in August 2023. It chronicles the circumstances surrounding the arrest of a former therapist, Jodi Hildebrandt, and a mother and influencer, Ruby Franke, after authorities discovered two of the latter’s children in severe distress. Amid the scrutiny, Jodi’s niece, Jessi Hildebrandt, spoke out about the alleged abuse she experienced at Jodi’s hands. Their short interview in the documentary also dives deeper into the long-lasting impact of the psychological harm it caused.
Jessi Hildebrandt Was Allegedly Abused by Jodi Before the Latter Was Arrested in 2023
Back in 2009, Jessi Hildebrandt was just a teenager living in American Fork, Utah. They currently use the pronouns they/them, and at that time, they were living under the care of their aunt, Jodi Hildebrandt. The prosecutor stated on the show that one morning, Jodi allegedly informed them that their parents were gone and they needed to come with her to be reformed. According to their statement, they were living with Jodi for a little less than a year, during which they were allegedly duct taped, tied with rope, and even had to sleep in the snow outside. Jessi further claimed in one of her interviews that Jodi would keep them majorly isolated. They alleged that Jodi forced them to keep their door open because Jodi believed they were addicted to pornography.
While speaking about Jodi, Jessi stated, “She wanted to make my life so uncomfortable that it would force the sin out.” They claimed that they even admitted to doing things before Jodi to make the alleged abuse stop. The case reportedly led Jessi to file a complaint against Jodi. However, the case was closed on March 10, 2010, and no official charges were filed against Jodi. However, things changed on August 30, 2023, when her business partner, Ruby Franke’s 12-year-old son, sought out help from one of Jodi’s neighbors in Santa Clara, Ivins, Utah. The investigation soon revealed that Ruby’s son and 10-year-old daughter were being abused at Jodi’s home.
Officials discovered that the boy had duct tape on his ankles and knees, along with ropes being found at Jodi’s home. According to reports, further investigation revealed that Jodi posed as a life coach and had asked Ruby’s husband, Kevin Franke, to sever all contact with his wife and children. Ultimately, Ruby and Jodi were both arrested on August 30, 2023, and charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony. While Ruby pleaded guilty to only four counts of the charge on December 18, 2023, Jodi pleaded guilty to the four counts of the charge on December 27, 2023. On February 20, 2024, they were sentenced to four consecutive prison terms of 1 to 15 years for the four counts to which they pleaded guilty.
Jessi Expresses Herself as a Tattoo Artist and Has Found the Love of Her Life
Beyond the ordeal that Jessi claimed to have gone through, they allegedly ran away to a homeless shelter by the time they were 17. Eventually, they reportedly succeeded in moving to Los Angeles, California. There, they established an impressive professional trajectory for themselves as a tattoo artist. While recalling that time, Jessi stated, “Between the shelter and here, it’s a lot of iterations of myself and a lot of chapters and phases. It feels like I’ve had many, many lifetimes between 17 and now.” Currently, Jessi resides in Berlin, Germany, and works there as a tattoo artist. They have their own tattoo parlor, named A Better Way. Moreover, they also proudly share their artwork, showcasing a variety of designs.
Jessi is also a melodious singer who is a part of a band alongside their soulmate, Justin Deaktivere. They currently seem to have found love in him. The pair often goes to several parts of the world, spending their time traveling. In February 2024, they made their way to the serene streets of London, England, which was followed by their incredible trip to Kraków, Poland, in May of the same year. Just two months later, Jessi revealed that the pair had the opportunity to experience the beautiful landscapes of France and Serbia. Friendships are also an integral part of their life. It becomes evident from the fact that they stood beside their friend in times of need.
Jessi shared about a fundraiser for her friend’s brain surgery and recovery. They are also a music enthusiast, which has taken them to many concerts with their friends. In their free time, they also enjoy immersing themselves in the world of books while reading. Although Jessi has tried to move on, some of the effects of the alleged abuse still stick with them. While speaking on the matter, they said, “I don’t want to put too much of a bow on it, but I mean, I still deal with the after-effects of living with Jodi every day. I have severe, complex PTSD from that experience that affects me every day.” Despite the hardship, Jessi continues to move forward in life with unmatched grace and confidence.
Read More: Shari Franke: Where is Ruby and Kevin Franke’s Daughter Now?
