ID: The Curious Case Of...Jodi Hildebrandt - Everything we know about the upcoming episode of the true-crime docuseries 

Watch the Jodi Hildebrandt episode on ID
Watch the Jodi Hildebrandt episode on ID's The Curious Case Of... series (Image via YouTube/ Investigation Discovery)

Investigation Discovery’s docuseries, The Curious Case Of..., is set to focus on the Jodi Hildebrandt. The show’s upcoming episode, airing on February 10th at 10 PM Eastern/9 PM Central, will look into this Utah-based therapist-turned-abuser. Hildebrandt’s story is as shocking as it is heartbreaking.

Known for her popular family vlogs, Ruby Franke’s world was rocked when her son, aged 12, managed to flee their Ivins, Utah home in August 2023 and revealed the abuse that he and his siblings had endured. This led to the exposure of Jodi Hildebrandt’s dark side, a woman who had built a reputation as a healer but had instead subjected children to unspeakable torment.

The episode will be a journey into the mind of Jodi Hildebrandt, dissecting the tactics she used to manipulate her victims and the eerie cult-like environment she created within her ConneXions business. With the guidance of former prosecutor Beth Karas, the episode will have firsthand testimonies, expert commentary, and an analysis of the psychological factors.

When the dust settled, Hildebrandt and Franke pleaded guilty to their crimes. Their sentences were severe, with each receiving four consecutive terms in prison, ranging from one to fifteen years for every charge.


Who is Jodi Hildebrandt?

Jodi Hildebrandt became well-known in Utah's world of self-improvement and counseling, but her career was marked by warning signs from early on. In 2012, the state took away her therapist license because she didn't keep her clients' secrets private. Despite this serious problem, she didn't stop working.

In 2019, she met Ruby Franke, a popular mom on YouTube who had strong ideas about raising her kids. They became good work friends and started a podcast together, talking about these controversial parenting methods. As they got closer, Hildebrandt's influence grew, and she convinced Franke to move away from her husband and live with her.

What started as something that sounded like a good way to strengthen families turned into a situation where the kids were treated horribly. They were often not given enough to eat, hit, and even had their cuts taken care of with hot cayenne pepper and honey, which isn't a normal thing to do, to say the least.

Beth Karas is going to look into how Hildebrandt's background let her make her actions seem like they were helpful. The show will also explore the ways she was able to control not only Franke, but also other people who came to her for help, and how they now say she made them do things that hurt themselves.


How did Investigation Discovery make The Curious Case Of... Jodi Hildebrandt episode?

Investigation Discovery will now show us a particularly unsettling story in its newest series with the episode The Curious Case Of... Jodi Hildebrandt. This is among the most chilling in the show, which has covered well-known cases like the Funeral Home of Horrors and The Orphan Impostor.

The network is going to uncover the dark beliefs that fueled Jodi Hildebrandt's ConneXions program, something that critics have compared to a cult-like atmosphere. As USA Today reported, Hildebrandt’s strong stance against masturbation ended up causing a lot of harm, pushing people apart, and creating a toxic environment filled with guilt and control.

The show will include commentary from legal expert Beth Karas, who previously looked into the case of Natalia Grace, providing viewers with an understanding of the legal aspect. You'll also hear directly from people who experienced the negative impact of Hildebrandt’s teachings, and their accounts.

The episode will also go back to the courtroom to recount the critical moment when Franke’s son escaped and their operation began to fall apart. The documentary will bring together archival footage, police records, and insights from professionals to shed light on the eerie tactics Hildebrandt used.

The goal is to present a complete and detailed picture of how a once-trusted therapist turned into a figure of notoriety. The Curious Case Of... Jodi Hildebrandt will tell the story of this disturbing transformation.


The Curious Case Of... Jodi Hildebrandt will air on ID and Max.

If you or a person close to you is dealing with abuse, it's important to seek help. You can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453, or go to their website, www.childhelp.org.

Edited by Zainab Shaikh
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