Former YouTuber Ruby Franke was sentenced to time in prison this week, and during her sentencing, she took the time to apologize to her six children for the suffering and abuse they've gone through at her hand. She pleaded guilty to child abuse in December.
More from Mom.com: YouTuber Ruby Franke Pleads Guilty in Child Abuse Charges
"To my babies, my six little chicks. You are part of me," Franke said during her time in court. "I was the mama duck who was consistently waddling you to safety. I can see now that over the past four years, I was in a deep undercurrent that led us to danger."
She went on to add that she was "disoriented" and "believed dark was light and right was wrong."
"I took from you all that was soft, and safe, and good," she continued. "I took from you your mother. How terrifying this must have been for you. I will never stop crying for hurting your tender souls. You're so precious to me. I'm sorry."
Jodi Hildebrandt, Franke's former business partner, was also charged with multiple counts of abuse after Franke's children were found "emaciated" in Hildebrandt's home. During her sentencing, which happened immediately after Franke's, she also apologized to the Franke children.
"I sincerely love these children," Hildebrandt said. "I desire for them to heal physically and emotionally. One of the reasons I did not go to trial is that I did not want them to emotionally relive the experience which had been detrimental for them. My hope and prayer is that they will heal and move forward to have beautiful lives."
both Franke and Hildebrandt received four separate sentences of one to 15 years in prison that will run consecutively, KSL 5 tweeted. Although the maximum sentence is 60 years, the women won't serve more than 30 years thanks to a Utah law regarding consecutive sentences, according to Business Insider.
