Ruby Franke — From Family Vlogger to Convicted Felon

In early 2024, Hulu released a chilling documentary titled Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, exposing the dark reality behind one of YouTube’s most famous family vloggers. The documentary featured never-before-seen footage, interviews with former family friends, and an in-depth look at the disturbing parenting practices that led to Franke’s conviction. As viewers watched in shock, the story of Ruby Franke — once a seemingly devoted mother and content creator — unraveled into one of the most disturbing cases of child abuse in recent memory.

The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke

Ruby Franke was once a beloved figure in the world of family vlogging. With her YouTube channel, “8 Passengers,” she built a massive following, giving viewers an intimate look at her life as a mother of six. Her content was often filled with parenting advice, family routines, and glimpses into her children’s upbringing. However, behind the picture-perfect facade lay a dark reality. In August 2023, Ruby Franke was arrested on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse, leading to a shocking downfall that stunned her followers and the public alike.

Early Life and the Beginnings of “8 Passengers”

Born Ruby Griffiths in January 1982, she grew up in a devout Mormon family in Utah. She later married Kevin Franke, an engineer and professor at Brigham Young University. Together, they had six children: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve. In 2015, Ruby launched “8 Passengers” on YouTube, aiming to document their family’s daily life.

In early 2024, Hulu released a chilling documentary titled Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, exposing the dark reality behind one of YouTube’s most famous family vloggers. The documentary featured never-before-seen footage, interviews with former family friends, and an in-depth look at the disturbing parenting practices that led to Franke’s conviction. As viewers watched in shock, the story of Ruby Franke — once a seemingly devoted mother and content creator — unraveled into one of the most disturbing cases of child abuse in recent memory.

The channel quickly gained popularity due to its wholesome and relatable content. Fans admired Ruby’s seemingly strict yet loving parenting style. By 2020, “8 Passengers” had amassed over 2.5 million subscribers. At its peak, the channel was a lucrative business, generating significant revenue through YouTube ads, sponsorships, and brand deals.

Controversies Surrounding Ruby Franke’s Parenting

As “8 Passengers” grew, so did concerns over Ruby’s parenting methods. Viewers began noticing questionable disciplinary practices that sparked outrage. Some of the most criticized incidents included:

- Food Deprivation: Ruby openly admitted to withholding meals as a form of punishment. In one video, she mentioned that her then-six-year-old daughter, Eve, had gone without lunch because she forgot to pack it herself.

- Extreme Punishments: Her eldest son, Chad, was sent to a “wilderness camp” for behavioral correction, a decision that many believed was excessively harsh. Ruby claimed he needed to “learn gratitude” after reportedly playing pranks on his siblings.

- Public Shaming: Ruby frequently used the platform to discipline her children publicly. She would discuss their mistakes and punishments in videos, leading to concerns about emotional abuse and humiliation.

Despite the criticism, Ruby remained steadfast in her beliefs, defending her strict parenting style as necessary for raising disciplined and responsible children.

The Influence of Jodi Hildebrandt and the Rise of ConneXions

In 2022, Ruby partnered with Jodi Hildebrandt, a licensed therapist and founder of ConneXions, a controversial life coaching and counseling program. Hildebrandt’s approach was rooted in extreme religious ideology, emphasizing strict discipline, absolute obedience, and the idea that children must be held accountable for their own suffering.

As Ruby became more involved with ConneXions, her parenting methods grew even more severe. She distanced herself from friends and family, including her eldest daughter, Shari, who had started to voice concerns about her mother’s beliefs. Under Hildebrandt’s influence, Ruby began promoting ConneXions teachings in her videos, urging parents to adopt similar disciplinary methods.

The Arrest and Investigation

On August 30, 2023, police responded to a distress call in Ivins, Utah. A 12-year-old boy, later identified as Ruby Franke’s son, had escaped from Hildebrandt’s home and sought help from a neighbor. The boy appeared severely malnourished and had visible wounds, including deep lacerations from being tied up with rope.

Authorities quickly conducted a search of the home and discovered another child, a 10-year-old girl, in similar condition. The children were immediately taken to a hospital for emergency medical treatment. Both were found to be emaciated and showed signs of prolonged abuse.

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested the same day and charged with six counts of felony aggravated child abuse. Court documents revealed harrowing details, including:

- The children had been denied food and water for extended periods.

- They were physically restrained using duct tape and rope.

- They had been subjected to psychological abuse and extreme punishments.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

The trial for Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt garnered nationwide attention. In December 2023, both pleaded guilty to four counts of felony child abuse. The court sentenced them to serve between four and thirty years in prison, with the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole determining the final duration of their sentences.

During the trial, prosecutors presented damning evidence, including journal entries and text messages in which Ruby described her children as “possessed by demons” and justified her harsh punishments as necessary for their “spiritual cleansing.”

The Fallout: What Happened to the Franke Family?

Following Ruby’s arrest, her children were placed under the care of Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services. Kevin Franke, who had been estranged from Ruby for months leading up to the arrest, sought custody of his children. However, reports suggest he had little involvement in their lives while Ruby was enforcing these extreme punishments.

Ruby’s eldest daughter, Shari, played a pivotal role in exposing her mother’s actions. She had long been vocal about her concerns and even shared an Instagram post celebrating her mother’s arrest, stating that justice was finally being served.

Meanwhile, the “8 Passengers” YouTube channel was permanently deleted, and ConneXions was shut down following Hildebrandt’s conviction.

Lessons from the Ruby Franke Case

Ruby Franke’s case is a stark reminder of the dangers of extreme parenting ideologies and the consequences of unchecked authority. It also highlights the risks associated with family vlogging, where personal boundaries between parents and children are often blurred for the sake of content.

The case also raises important questions:

- How can social media platforms better protect children from exploitative content?

- What role should child protective services play in monitoring influencers who use their children for content?

- How can we ensure that harmful ideologies, such as those promoted by ConneXions, do not gain traction?

The rise and fall of Ruby Franke is a chilling tale of how a seemingly perfect online persona can hide a dark reality. What began as an innocent family vlogging channel ended in one of the most disturbing child abuse cases in recent memory.

As the Franke children work to rebuild their lives, the world watches, hoping they will find healing and a future free from the trauma inflicted upon them. Meanwhile, the case serves as a sobering lesson on the responsibilities that come with parenting, social media influence, and the need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable children.

While Ruby Franke sits behind bars, her story continues to serve as a cautionary tale — a reminder that behind the curated content of social media, reality can be far more sinister than it seems.

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