Police said the boy had visible wounds and marks from tape around his wrists and ankles and was hungry. They also found Franke’s 10-year-old daughter in “a similar physical condition of malnourishment” inside Hildebrandt’s home, the affidavit stated.
Ron Chaffin/St. George News via AP
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During her sentencing, Franke apologized to her six children. “To my babies, my six little chicks. You are part of me,” Franke said,TODAYreports. “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 added 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,” Franke continued, according to TODAY. “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.”
Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse in December,The New York Timesreported.
As part of a plea deal, she pleaded to four counts, rather than the six she was initially charged with, according toThe Times, which cited prosecutors. Hildebrandt also pleaded guilty to four charges of aggravated child abuse.
At Hildebrandt’s sentencing, which directly followed Franke’s on Tuesday, she also spoke directly about Franke’s children and stated that she loved them.
MOMS OF TRUTH/ INSTAGRAM
“I sincerely love these children,” Hildebrandt said, TODAY reports. “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.”
In November,Franke’s estranged husband, Kevin Franke,filed for divorcefrom his wife.
source: people.com
