Heather Locklear Is a Manipulative Marriage Counselor in Lifetime's "Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story" (Exclusive)

10/04/2024 10:00 AM

In the Lifetime film, which premieres Saturday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. ET, Locklear plays convicted child abuser, Jodi Hildebrandt, in the dramatic retelling of the true crime story

Heather Locklear is taking on a new persona.

In PEOPLE's exclusive first look at Lifetime's upcoming film, Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story, the Melrose Place alum, 63, turns life into art when she takes on the role of Jodi Hildebrandt in the dramatic retelling of the true crime story.

"Together, six adorable kids, a loving husband, and Ruby Franke (Emilie Ullerup) made up '8 Passengers,' a web series documenting the group's every-day-life and Ruby's LDS-influenced parenting style," the official synopsis reads. "To viewers, Ruby had the perfect life, but everything took a turn for the worse when Ruby's marriage counselor Jodi Hildebrandt (Locklear), entered their lives."

When Jodi moves into Ruby's home, the two create a "toxic" environment and Ruby's husband is "forced to move out." Their definitions of disciplining children wasn't "strict parenting" but actually child abuse.

Related: A Timeline of Ruby Franke's Rise and Fall: From Family Vlogger to Convicted Child Abuser

The synopsis continues, "But when Ruby's 12-year-old son escaped from Ruby and Jodi's real-life house-of-horrors with clear signs of abuse, the truth came to light. How could this idolized family-friendly mother of six and her spiritual guide transform into convicted child abusers?"

"Between you and me, they're not perfect," Ruby begins in the trailer as the scene shifts to a shot of her becoming emotional in front of a camera. As the video progresses, Ruby tells her followers that her daughter Eve "forgot her lunch today" and as punishment she'll "need to go hungry."

"I would like to help," Jodi says, answering her plea. "My counseling has saved a lot of Christian families... Your children's souls are in jeopardy. Together, we're gonna make them perfect."

Related: Abusive Family Vlogger Ruby Franke Seemed to Be 'In a Trance' When Questioned by Police: New 20/20 Episode

Eventually, Ruby tells her husband Kevin that Jodi is "moving in with us." Things eventually hit a breaking point when she announces Jodi's recommendation that they separate and he has "no more contact with the children."

"I have doubts about Jodi's methods," Kevin confesses to a friend who replies, "She's using faith to brainwash people."

Despite the skeptics, Jodi claims she gets her "direction straight from God" and vows to keep the children from "living from distortion" as she fidgets with a pair of handcuffs.

"Jodi is God's messenger," Ruby sighs as scenes of law enforcement and sirens flash on screen. "I believe in Jodi."

Related: Chad Franke Marks 1 Year Since Mom Ruby Franke Was Arrested and Later Sentenced for Child Abuse: 'Happy Prisonversary'

Parenting advice vlogger, Ruby and Jodi were arrested and charged with child abuse in Sept. 2023. The two were arrested when Ruby's then-12-year-old "emaciated" son Russell, escaped Hildebrandt's Utah home and asked a neighbor for a "favor." In footage captured by a Ring camera, the minor asked "If you could take me to the nearest police station." 

As PEOPLE previously reported, police said the boy had visible wounds and marks from tape around his wrists and ankles and they later found Ruby's then-9-year-old daughter Eve in "a similar physical condition of malnourishment" at Jodi's home.

In December, Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse. On Feb. 20, Ruby and Jodi were sentenced to four to 60 years behind bars after four convictions each of aggravated child abuse.

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Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story premieres Saturday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

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