Who Is Jodi Hildebrandt? Quick Explainer for Netflix Viewers
Who Is Jodi Hildebrandt? (Quick Explainer for Netflix Viewers)
Last updated: January 10, 2026
If you just watched Netflix’s Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story and found yourself thinking “Wait… who exactly is she, and how did this happen?” — this is the fast, clear rundown.
The quick answer (60 seconds)
Jodi Hildebrandt is a former Utah mental health counselor and the founder of a life-coaching/relationship program called ConneXions. She became widely known after being arrested with parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke in 2023 in a child abuse case involving Franke’s children. In February 2024, Hildebrandt pleaded guilty and was sentenced to multiple consecutive prison terms in Utah. Her total time served is determined by Utah’s parole process (within the limits of Utah law).
Jodi Hildebrandt at a glance
- Known for: ConneXions (life coaching / relationship curriculum), “Moms of Truth” content, and the Ruby Franke case
- Netflix connection: The documentary Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story
- Case headline: Arrested in 2023; pleaded guilty; sentenced in February 2024
- Why people cared: She presented herself as a “truth-telling” authority on parenting and relationships—then the criminal case revealed extreme harm behind closed doors
Why Netflix viewers are searching her name
Netflix’s Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story focuses on how Hildebrandt gained influence through her counseling/teaching, how her relationship with Ruby Franke escalated, and how the case ended in arrests, guilty pleas, and prison sentences.
The documentary sits in a bigger wave of public attention around:
- family-vlogging ethics (“kidfluencing” and monetized parenting content),
- high-control coaching communities,
- and how “therapy language” can be used to isolate and control families.
What was ConneXions (and “Moms of Truth”)?
ConneXions (often styled “ConneXions Classroom”) presented itself as a relationship/parenting curriculum centered on values like honesty, personal responsibility, and humility. Over time, Ruby Franke pivoted away from her “8 Passengers” family vlog content and began appearing with Hildebrandt in a more doctrine-like format that many viewers came to know as “Moms of Truth.”
A major reason this story hit so hard is the contrast between the public messaging (“healthy families,” “truth,” “strong parenting”) and the criminal case outcome.
Note: As with any public case, online commentary can be emotional and speculative. For the most reliable picture, focus on court outcomes, official statements, and reporting that cites filings.
Timeline: from therapist to headline
| Date | What happened | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Hildebrandt’s relationship with the Franke family deepens (therapy/mentorship). | Marks the turning point from “counselor” to major influence in the family system. |
| 2022 | Ruby Franke increasingly appears with Hildebrandt (ConneXions / “Moms of Truth”). | Public-facing content shifts from family vlogging to “values enforcement” messaging. |
| August 30, 2023 | Police are alerted after one of Ruby Franke’s children escapes and seeks help; arrests follow. | This is when the private situation becomes a criminal investigation and national story. |
| December 2023 | Guilty pleas (four counts of aggravated child abuse). | Establishes criminal responsibility without a full trial. |
| February 20, 2024 | Sentencing in Utah (multiple consecutive 1–15 year terms). | Utah uses indeterminate sentencing; parole decisions matter a lot. |
| December 30, 2025 | Netflix releases Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story. | Renews public attention and explains the broader influence network. |
| December 2026 (scheduled) | First parole hearing (as publicly reported). | That hearing can shape actual time served under Utah’s system. |
Watch: a related trailer to understand the wider story
Conviction & sentence: what she pleaded guilty to
Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse and was sentenced in February 2024 to four consecutive prison terms of 1 to 15 years each. Utah’s parole board ultimately determines the actual time served within the legal framework (Utah’s sentencing structure is different from “fixed” sentences in many states).
If you’re coming to this story fresh through Netflix, that “1 to 15 years” phrasing is why different headlines can sound confusing: it’s an indeterminate range per count, not a single fixed number.
Where is Jodi Hildebrandt now?
As reported in Netflix’s own coverage and major Utah reporting, Hildebrandt is serving her sentence in the Utah state prison system, with parole timing handled through Utah’s Board of Pardons and Parole process.
In other words: the court imposed the sentence ranges, but the parole board decides how long she remains incarcerated (subject to the applicable limits).
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FAQ
Is Jodi Hildebrandt a real therapist?
She was a licensed counselor in Utah and later became best known publicly for her ConneXions coaching content. Her professional status changed after the criminal case, and multiple reports describe disciplinary actions and licensing consequences connected to her conduct and the case.
Is “Evil Influencer” only about Ruby Franke?
No. Ruby Franke is central to the case, but Netflix’s framing is specifically about Hildebrandt’s influence and how her role expanded into the Franke family’s private life.
Why do headlines say “up to 60 years,” but others say “up to 30”?
You’ll often see both because the court imposed multiple consecutive terms, but Utah law and Utah’s parole system affect the practical maximum time served. That’s why many articles emphasize that the parole board determines the real-world outcome.