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Escaped Child Vlogger’s Horror: Ruby Franke’s Fall

BBG News

On a late August day in 2023, a noticeably skinny 12-year-old boy stood at a house in Ivins, Utah. He pushed the doorbell and waited for someone to answer. Initially, it seemed no one was home, causing him to consider leaving. However, a voice came over the Ring doorbell camera, asking if they could help. “I was wondering if you could do me two favors?” the boy inquired. “Could you possibly take me to the closest police station?

One rephrased version of your text could be:

A woman stepped outside and handed water to a boy, as a man at the door phoned the police about a malnourished child with bandages on his legs who seemed famished and dehydrated. Upon their arrival, officers discovered that the boy, the youngest son of local YouTube personality Ruby Franke, had escaped from a house owned by Franke’s business partner Jodi Hildebrandt. He, along with his 10-year-old sister, had allegedly been confined in this opulent residence, subjected to starvation, isolation, and physical torture. Their mother, who previously operated the widely popular YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” believed that the children were under the influence of evil spirits.

Following the daring escape of my child, I found myself in handcuffs, facing numerous charges of child abuse. My partner in our parenting advice YouTube channel and counseling service, “ConneXions Classroom”, Hildebrandt, was also detained under similar allegations. Currently, we are both serving consecutive prison sentences ranging from 4 to 30 years, having pleaded guilty to the charges against us.

Beginning February 27th, a gripping three-part Hulu docuseries titled “Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke” will be released. This series, directed by Olly Lambert (known for his work on “Ukraine: The People’s Fight” and “Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake“) is a chilling account of the events that led to both Ruby Franke’s arrest. In a first, Ruby’s eldest children, Shari and Chad, share their experiences in extensive on-camera interviews as part of this three-part series. The docuseries also features interviews with Ruby’s estranged husband Kevin, law enforcement personnel, and former neighbors of the Franke family.

This narrative unfolds the actual events leading to Ruby Franke’s downfall – a former popular family vlogger who was subsequently found guilty as a child abuser.

Let me share with you the genuine account of Ruby Franke’s demise, a once-popular family vlogger who became a convicted child abuser.

Who is Ruby Franke?

43-year-old Ruby Franke, a mother of six, hails from Springville, Utah and is a member of the Mormon faith. In 2015, she launched a family vlog on YouTube called “8 Passengers,” which chronicled the everyday lives of her children, husband Kevin Franke, and themselves. By June 2020, this channel had amassed an impressive following of approximately 2.5 million subscribers.

In the show, Kevin Franke mentions that Ruby’s main goal was to be regarded as an ideal mother. This was a constant topic of conversation for her, and it was her primary focus. However, she felt she wasn’t receiving enough recognition or attention for it. Consequently, she decided to establish a YouTube channel. Once she makes up her mind about something, nothing short of cosmic forces could deter her.

Long before my world turned upside down in 2023 with Franke’s arrest, the movie we all lived in – our family life – had already been under the spotlight due to Franke’s unique parenting style. Back in June 2020, a video surfaced of my 15-year-old brother, Chad, revealing that he’d been relegated to sleep on a beanbag chair in our basement for an extended period as a form of discipline. Other clips showcased Franke making threats about taking away meals or even threatening to sever the head of one sibling’s beloved teddy bear. Yet another video captured some of us unwrapping Christmas presents, while my youngest siblings were left empty-handed that year.

According to reports in the docuseries, it’s claimed that people close to Ruby felt she was secretly troubled by viewer criticism. On the other hand, she openly dismissed critics, stating to The Wrap in 2021 that her public portrayal was simply showcasing “what an exemplary mother might appear as.

Who is Jodi Hildenbrandt?

In 2012, Jodi Hildebrandt, a therapist, faced license suspension due to allegations that she disclosed a patient’s struggle with porn addiction to Mormon church leaders. The Frankes, who were recommended to Hildebrandt by a family friend who had attended her ConneXions program, hired her to counsel their troubled teenager, Chad Franke, who was experiencing behavioral issues at home and school.

In the documentary, the series sheds light on what was perceived as negative behavior by Chad. As he grew up, he started to resist being filmed for 8 Passengers, expressing that the proposed brand deals made him feel restricted. It wasn’t just him who felt this way; others, such as Kevin, shared similar sentiments. They would often claim to be bored and not want to film, which led the filmmakers to believe they were growing disinterested. Ruby, concerned about the children losing their spirit and vitality, became more rigid in her adherence to Hildebrandt’s strict family discipline teachings. It is reported in the documentary that Hildebrandt was divorced and had a strained relationship with her own children.

As the Frankes initiated weekly counseling with Hildebrandt, Ruby embarked on a coaching training program at ConneXions. Simultaneously, she and Hildebrandt maintained an Instagram account titled “Moms of Truth.” At the same time, Shari delved into Hildebrandt’s online history and discovered that the counselor had once lost her therapy license and faced multiple allegations from previous clients. However, Ruby chose to disregard these issues, attributing Hildebrandt’s presence with their family to some higher purpose.

In May 2020, Hildebrandt started living with the Frankes; by then, Ruby and Kevin were convinced that Hildebrandt was under a demonic influence. As Jodi put it to filmmakers, “She would fall into these trances controlled by demons.” This led her to talk in various voices. Worried about this, Ruby even started sleeping in Hildebrandt’s room.

On one particular day, when Shari returned home from college, she discovered her former room (now shared by Hildebrandt and Ruby) filled with massage oils and candles scattered around. “It wasn’t just a friendship,” Kevin confided to the filmmakers. “It wasn’t merely a sisterhood. It was an intimacy that made us all uncomfortable.” Soon after this revelation, Ruby asked Kevin and Chad to vacate their shared home. Furthermore, Ruby severed her ties with Shari, who studied at Brigham Young University, upon learning that she had attempted to reach out to Kevin.

Did anyone try to intervene?

Following Kevin’s departure, there was growing unease among YouTube viewers and Springville residents about potential activities within the Frankes’ household. It seemed that Ruby was increasingly absent from their home and spending more time at Jodi’s residence in Ivins, leaving her young children—aged roughly between nine and fifteen—unattended. Shari, who maintained contact with neighbors, contacted the authorities to request a welfare check on the kids. Regrettably, the police were unable to access the Franke home without a warrant, which a judge refused to issue.

Neighbors often attempted to reach out to Kevin, but he rarely responded and sometimes blocked their calls. A petition on Change.org from May 2020, requesting the Utah Division of Child and Family Services to assess the welfare of the Franke children, gathered over 18,000 signatures. However, the Child Protection Center stated they couldn’t intervene as they didn’t observe any physical signs of abuse on the children; they were told not to respond if someone knocked on their door.

During that period, Kevin expressed to movie creators his optimism that Ruby might allow him to return to their residence. He vowed to abide by her no-contact terms until then and indeed, persisted in attending the weekly virtual men’s group conducted by Hildebrandt.

What happened after the police arrested Ruby and Jodi?

After a year of silence, Ruby contacted Kevin upon her arrest along with Jodi, pleading for his help in taking custody of their two youngest kids from the police station. She presented this as an opportunity for him to “make amends.” Additionally, Ruby told Kevin that their younger children were behaving strangely, suggesting they were “under some sort of demonic influence,” and that she feared their younger son might be deceiving the authorities about what had happened.

During a search of Hildebrandt’s residence, authorities discovered a stash of rope, handcuffs, medical bandages, and an unusual blend of cayenne pepper and honey in a secure area. Additionally, they found a personal journal penned by Ruby, documenting her efforts to “purge” her children over the course of various days. The police also ascertained that only the youngest children were being kept at the house, while the Frankes’ two older daughters, Abby and Julie, were later found safe at a neighbor’s home.

Simultaneously, Ruby’s son who managed to flee shared with authorities that he and his sister had been compelled to endure long hours under the scorching sun, restrained by weights, and made to bounce on a trampoline throughout the day. On occasions, they were also taken into the desert and instructed to run.

In this incident, both Ruby and Jodi admitted guilt for four charges of severe child abuse. During her court sentencing, Ruby issued a public apology to her children who weren’t in the courtroom. She expressed deep remorse, saying she would always cry over the pain she inflicted on their innocent hearts. Ruby claimed that Hildebrandt had skillfully manipulated her good intentions into something terrible, taking away from her children everything soft, secure, and virtuous. In essence, Ruby accused Hildebrandt for the events that transpired and agreed to testify against the counselor as part of a plea bargain.

In December 2023, Hildebrandt’s lawyer informed the court that his client would admit guilt rather than undergo a trial to spare the kids from having to testify. “She acknowledges her responsibility, and currently prioritizing that these children can recover, in terms of both their physical and emotional well-being.

Where is the Franke family today?

On the 7th of January, Shari Franke released her memoir titled “The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Pursuit for Freedom“. This book has climbed up the New York Times bestseller list. In a notable move, she utilizes her newfound prominence to advocate against family vlogging. She communicates to filmmakers that she has made a decision to never engage in conversation with her mother again.

In July 2024, Chad Franke, who is well-known on social media, shared on Instagram that he had enrolled in real estate classes.

Shari and Chad’s younger brothers and sisters were placed under guardianship by the Child and Family Services Division following Ruby’s detention. Reports from a court document state that they have received medical care, been evaluated psychologically, and are currently receiving ongoing mental health treatment.

In February 2025, Kevin Franke initiated divorce proceedings from Ruby. Earlier, he expressed remorse for sharing videos of his children on social media platforms and advocated for a Utah bill to safeguard children’s financial interests online. Kevin admitted that his actions of filming his family and making them public were misguided, and he regrets it deeply each day.

Neither Ruby Franke nor Jodi Hildebrandt have yet provided comments regarding the fresh accusations presented in the book titled “Devil in the Family“.

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2025-02-25 20:06

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