Where is Jodi Hildebrandt now? Subject of Netflix's Evil Influencer series

From the director behind Unknown Number: The High School Catfish comes yet another deeply shocking documentary – Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story.

The feature-length documentary traces Hildebrandt's rise within her community and the events that uncovered the abuse and rescue of two young children.

"All of these things were happening in full view and broadcast to the world," director Skye Borgman told Tudum. "This kind of manipulative behaviour and coercive control can happen right in front of your eyes. It's essential to understand that if we want to prevent this from happening again."

Read on to learn further about Jodi Hildebrandt and her crimes, and where she is as of 2026.

Who is Jodi Hildebrandt?

Jodi Hildebrandt is a former therapist and counsellor.

Though much of her personal life has been kept private, Hildebrandt got married in 1993 and had two children with her now ex-husband.

Upon their divorce in 1996, Hildebrandt returned to university and studied English, before obtaining her master's degree in psychology in 2003.

She soon rose to prominence with her relationship counselling business, the now defunct ConneXions, a programme designed to help people "learn to successfully navigate life and relationships".

As per People, ConneXions offered individual, group, couple and family therapy, as well as week-long programmes and workshops. It was estimated that Hildebrandt was earning approximately $46,000 per month.

How did Jodi Hildebrandt know Ruby Franke?

In 2019, Jodi Hildebrandt met Ruby Franke after Ruby and her former husband Kevin turned to Jodi for counselling.

Soon, Ruby became a prominent figure in a number of classes and videos for ConneXions and the pair often collaborated.

It was around this time when viewers of Ruby's now defunct YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, grew suspicious of some of the published content.

In one video, Franke told the camera that her daughter "needed" to go hungry after she forgot to take her lunch to school that day.

"Hopefully nobody gives her food and nobody steps in and gives her a lunch, because then she's not going to learn," she said in the video (via BBC News).
In 2023, Hildebrandt and Ruby moved Ruby's youngest children to Hildebrandt's home in Utah, in which strict punishments were enforced.

"Ms. Franke and Ms. Hildebrandt held Franke's 12-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter in a work-camp like setting," the Washington County Attorney’s Office previously said in a statement. "The children were regularly denied food, water, beds to sleep in, and virtually all forms of entertainment."

When did Jodi Hildebrandt get arrested?

Hildebrandt was arrested in August 2023, after Ruby's 12-year-old son climbed out of a window and ran to a neighbour's home, asking for food and water.

The boy appeared emaciated and had duct tape on his ankles and wrists. The neighbour went on to call the police.

What was Jodi Hildebrandt charged with?

Jodi Hildebrandt was charged with six counts of felony child abuse.

In December 2023, she pleaded guilty to four felony counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse.

What was Jodi Hildebrandt sentenced to?

Hildebrandt was sentenced to four consecutive terms of one to 15 years in February 2024.

Her first parole hearing is set for December 2026.

Where is Jodi Hildebrandt now?

Jodi Hildebrandt is currently serving time at Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City.

Ruby Franke also pleaded guilty. She and Hildebrandt received the same sentence and are serving time in the same prison, though in separate sections.

Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story is available to watch on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media.

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