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Inside the downfall of mommy vlogger Ruby Franke: 8 takeaways from the Hulu docuseries

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Approximately a year following Ruby Franke’s conviction for child abuse, her spouse, Kevin Franke, along with their eldest children, Shari and Chad Franke, are recounting their experiences in Hulu’s latest documentary series titled “Devil in the Family: The Downfall of Ruby Franke.

Initially launched in 2015 as a YouTube family channel called “8 Passengers,” documenting their everyday experiences, later became the subject of child exploitation allegations by the family. A three-part documentary (now available) delves into how Ruby, who gained over 2.5 million subscribers and earned more than $100,000 per month from her channel, transformed from a devout Mormon mother into what Kevin refers to as “an instrument of God.”

This documentary employs conversations with previous neighbors and acquaintances, as well as over a thousand hours of unpublished footage. In this footage, Franke is depicted making threats towards her children and forcing them to perform for the camera. The eldest kids discuss their public upbringing and the changes they noticed in their mother. For privacy reasons, the identities of the four youngest children are hidden within the series.

In August 2023, Ruby along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt found themselves in custody, following a dramatic turn of events. This transpired shortly after Ruby’s youngest son appeared at a neighbor’s residence. The boy was severely undernourished, had duct tape on his wrists and ankles, and requested the neighbor to escort him to the local police station.

Ruby and Hildebrandt admitted their guilt for four charges of severe second-degree child abuse, receiving identical sentences: four terms of imprisonment, with each term ranging from one year to fifteen years.

Here are some key takeaways from the docuseries.

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Vlogging wasn’t about the money for Ruby, she wanted to be “America’s mom”

As stated by Kevin, Ruby wasn’t motivated by money; instead, she aspired to be known as “America’s mom” and felt she had a greater purpose. Brannon Patrick, a local psychotherapist who knew Hildebrandt, explains in the documentary that for Mormons, striving for perfection and demonstrating a perfect life can be considered missionary work. Thus, for Ruby, recording and sharing her family’s life was similar to fulfilling a divine duty.

Initially, Kevin felt quite different about it. Before receiving their first $85 paycheck from YouTube, he found the camera awkward. As he put it, “It wasn’t enough for me to interact with her. I had to interact with the camera.” Yet, despite his initial discomfort, he chose to actively contribute to the video content.

Their house felt more like a “set than a home”

In the quaint town of Springville, Utah, often referred to as “Happy Valley,” the family resided. As Shari, their eldest daughter claims, with their children growing up and gaining popularity, their house seemingly transformed into a movie set. The constant demand for cleanliness and frequent swapping of light bulbs in the home to bright white ones became necessary for filming reasons, she asserted.

At the busiest times of filming, all family members’ daily routines centered around YouTube videos. Over time, the kids began to feel irritated by the continuous camera attention and demands to perform, as Kevin points out. In one instance from “8 Passengers,” the children are visibly agitated about being filmed while sitting in the family vehicle. Ruby, trying to emphasize their work, says, “Remember, this is our job! And everyone gets $10 for a video they contribute to. Would you like $10?

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Never-before-seen footage reveals Ruby’s verbal abuse

As a dedicated movie buff, let me share my take on the series: This three-hour production presents uncensored footage from Ruby’s vlogs, revealing her making threats towards her children. In one video clip, she menacingly positions her daughter’s beloved stuffed cat toy against her own face and issues this chilling warning: “If you damage another item in my home, I swear, I will swiftly remove the head of your treasured cat toy.

In some videos, it’s clear how far she’d push for content. For instance, in one of her vlogs, Ruby is speaking to the camera when one of her little daughters climbs onto her lap and begins talking over her. Frankie quickly picks her up, muffles her mouth, and says, “You need to get down and be quiet. This isn’t your time yet, so sit still… We’ll edit that part out.” In another snippet, she scolds her daughter for looking directly into the camera, asking, “What was that glance for?” The girl apologizes, saying she gets nervous, and Frankie responds, “Just be natural.” When the child explains, “That is being natural,” Frankie bluntly tells her, “Then change it.

The oldest children allege that Ruby was always an abusive mother

From the very start, Chad, the oldest son, was widely loved by the channel’s viewers according to the family. As a kid, he took being on camera in stride, but during his teenage years, he started to push back against these public appearances. He openly confessed that there was a period when he intensely disliked his mother. Filming brand deals were something he dreaded, and he would make things difficult for her during the process. A raw video of him and his mother conversing in front of the camera showcases how she coaxed him to be more open and instructed him to “pretend to be cheerful.

He asserts that Ruby physically punished him by using a belt and administering corporal punishment out of camera’s view. Shari, being the eldest among them, declares that their mother would brutally beat Chad until he bled, and she was forced to assist in cleaning bloodstains from the walls.

Following Chad’s dismissal from school, his parents compelled him to undergo therapy with Hildebrandt, enrolled him in a wilderness program, and removed his privilege of having a private bedroom, making him sleep on a beanbag for approximately seven months. This revelation significantly affected the content on the “8 Passengers” channel when she discussed it in her videos.

Viewers became upset as the Frankes denied him the use of a bed to sleep on. This led to a decrease in subscribers and plummeting view count, causing about 90% of their earnings to vanish. In an attempt to prevent complete termination, they sought legal counsel. The lawyer suggested Ruby issue an apology, but she refused, stating, “No, I want to demonstrate authentic parenting to the world,” as reported by Kevin.

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Hildebrandt moved into the Franke household to escape a “Satanic presence”

Following a decrease in her mainstream audience, Franke began creating content with a stronger religious emphasis. During this period, she and her husband found themselves deeply immersed in Hildebrandt’s life-coaching service, Connexions. This organization was portrayed by neighbors and former members as a “church within a church,” with Jodi serving as the prophet. They also noted that it skillfully capitalized on Mormon unease. Rapidly advancing within the group, Ruby and Kevin soon became prominent figures in the therapy community.

During the pandemic, the Frankes believed the world was nearing its end and felt they were on the right side of this catastrophe, as shared by Kevin. When Hildebrandt revealed her home had a satanic influence, they opened their doors to her. According to Kevin, Hildebrandt experienced a possession, speaking in different voices and even harming herself. They struggled unsuccessfully to drive out the spirits.

Ruby kicked Chad and Kevin out of their home and disowned Shari

Prior to any police involvement, Ruby secluded herself along with her four youngest kids and Hildebrandt. She forced out Chad, who was 17 at the time, from their household, accusing him of causing Hildebrandt’s supposed demonic possession since he had confessed to viewing porn and kissing girls. Eventually, she expelled her spouse, justifying it by mentioning marital issues. She instructed him to break off ties with the children and focus on self-improvement, as Kevin stated. When questioned about his departure, he replied, “I was going to back Ruby over all my children, full stop.” Ruby also cut ties with her daughter Shari, who was studying at college.

During this period, the online content produced by Ruby and Hildebrandt grew increasingly intense. In one video, Franke declared, “I value principles over my child, and I’m telling you that honestly.” According to nearby residents, Ruby frequently journeyed to St. George for filming purposes, where Hildebrandt resided. They claimed she would often leave her children unattended for extended periods, with the neighbors occasionally catching glimpses of the kids peeking from the windows. Shari reported her siblings to the police for a wellness check, and local residents contacted Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services. However, they couldn’t intervene because there was no tangible proof of neglect or mistreatment at that time.

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Ruby believed her two youngest were possessed and kept a journal detailing how she treated them

During the raid at Ruby’s residence, officers discovered a journal on her bedside table, containing accounts of how she treated her children. In her writings, Ruby expressed her conviction that her two younger kids were tormented by evil spirits, and through maltreating them, she thought she would draw nearer to God.

Beyond merely depriving them of food, she isolated the children in different areas of the house. She cut off her young daughter’s hair, restrained the children by tying their limbs to weights, and applied a blend of cayenne pepper and honey to their injuries. She also had them bounce on trampolines and stay outdoors under the sun throughout the day.

Kevin, who had been absent from the family for more than a year, confesses, “I was their final safeguard, yet I left without looking back.

Kevin has filed for divorce but admits to still loving Ruby

Shari, long advocating against family vlogging, has declared she will never communicate with her mother again. Meanwhile, Chad, embarking on his own influencer journey, admits to missing a maternal presence, yet believes what his mother is experiencing is warranted. On the other hand, Kevin, embroiled in divorce proceedings with Ruby, affirms his love for her despite the criticism he’s received for abandoning their children during her arrest and alleged neglect of their well-being. He asserts that he chose to prioritize self-improvement over contacting the kids during the estrangement, aiming to rebuild the family once he is ready.

Kevin admits that what she did was awful, but there’s a part of him that yearns for her; he finds himself missing her. He acknowledges that many might find it easy to despise her, yet he struggles to suppress the recollections of their past.

He is also actively lobbying for laws in Utah to better protect child influencers and actors.

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2025-03-05 14:31

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