{"id":54443,"date":"2025-09-30T12:46:05","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T09:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/findmykids.org\/blog\/?p=54443"},"modified":"2026-02-17T17:36:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:36:23","slug":"who-is-ruby-franke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/findmykids.org\/blog\/en\/who-is-ruby-franke","title":{"rendered":"The Story of Ruby Franke, Who Went to Prison for Abusing Her Own Children"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>From parenting advice to actual abuse\u2014the tragic story of a mother-blogger with many children.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In August 2023, Utah police arrested Ruby Franke, a mother of six and well-known YouTuber who had gained fame by sharing her family life on her channel. However, behind the seemingly perfect family image, a horrifying reality unfolded\u2014details of which later became public. Today, we\u2019re answering the questions: who is Ruby Franke, and what she did to her family.<\/p>\n<h2><em>8 Passengers<\/em><\/h2>\n<p>On the screen appears a sweet-looking woman with blonde hair. Judging by the background, she is in her bedroom: a made bed, flowers, a floor lamp, and small statues on the nightstands are visible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo every time I plan a day off, I always ask myself, is it worth it, my plans?\u201d she says\u2014until a faint noise interrupts her. \u201cHey, I\u2019m still recording!\u201d the woman shouts in annoyance. \u201cWhy are you still making noise?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The woman in the video is Ruby Franke, a Utah homemaker, mother of six children\u2014two boys and four girls\u2014and a popular American YouTuber. She ran the channel <em>8 Passengers<\/em>, where she shared her family life. The channel was deleted in 2022, but clips from her vlogs can still be found online.<\/p>\n<p>In February 2025, Hulu <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hulu.com\/series\/devil-in-the-family-the-fall-of-ruby-franke-302e037b-92b9-4c45-8acd-a0db60d5a159\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">released<\/a> a three-hour documentary about the Franke family, <em>The Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke<\/em>, which includes archival and previously unreleased footage, as well as interviews with Ruby\u2019s husband, Kevin Franke, and their two oldest children.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"post_header_video\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/M8zVHv8IvPI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen> width=\"750\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/div><\/p>\n<p>Ruby created the YouTube channel in 2015 to share everyday family life, funny moments with her children, and parenting advice. \u201cWe are here to show that happy families are real,\u201d she stated in one archival video.<\/p>\n<p>Like many Utah residents, Ruby and her family are Mormons, followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight_PastelGreen\">Mormons identify as Christians but do not belong to any traditional branch of Christianity, maintaining their own interpretation of the Bible. Followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (as they call themselves) uphold ultra-conservative values, honor large families, and believe that a woman\u2019s primary role is to serve her husband and family.<\/p>\n<p>If Ruby Franke had appeared on social media in recent years, she would have been called a classic \u201ctradwife\u201d (traditional wife), like Hannah Nilman or Naru Smith (also Mormons), yet she somewhat anticipated the trend, foreshadowing the wave of this \u201ctraditional\u201d content online.<\/p>\n<p>The family\u2019s religion played a significant role throughout this story\u2014from beginning to end. \u201cOur church and faith convinced us that the highest goal you can achieve in life is to become a parent,\u201d Kevin Franke, Ruby\u2019s husband, said. \u201cAnd Ruby\u2019s sole aim was to make everyone see her as the perfect mother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The concept of \u201cperfection\u201d and \u201cflawlessness\u201d <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/katiecouric.com\/news\/opinion\/mormonism-tradwives-perfection\/\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">is central<\/a> to Mormon ideology. For Ruby, it was important not only to show the daily life of a mother of six but also to make it appear ideal and worthy of emulation. And it seemed she succeeded\u2014from the channel\u2019s launch in 2015, <em>8 Passengers<\/em> steadily grew, attracting new subscribers and generating significant income for the Franke family as family vloggers.<\/p>\n<p>By June 2020, the channel <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ruby_Franke\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">had reached<\/a> its peak, with 2.5 million subscribers following Ruby and the other \u201cpassengers,\u201d and it had amassed over a billion views. According to Kevin Franke, the first earnings from the channel were around $85, and at its peak, income exceeded $100,000 per month. The Mormon family vloggers were recognized in public, brands sought collaborations, and subscribers adored Ruby\u2019s children while admiring her parenting style.<\/p>\n<p>Naturally, fame and financial gain changed the Franke family. According to Kevin and their older children, Ruby never let the camera out of her hands, striving to capture every moment of their lives. She also demanded strict adherence to the scenarios she devised\u2014children were often required to reenact spontaneous dialogues and events or display happiness and excitement even when they didn\u2019t feel it. \u201cAll the kids were employees,\u201d recalls the Frankes\u2019 eldest daughter, Sherri Franke. \u201cThat\u2019s what we were called: employees, and Ruby was the company director.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What initially seemed exciting and unusual\u2014virtual fan crowds, enthusiastic comments, family trips, and expensive gifts\u2014quickly turned into routine and hard labor. The most challenging \u201cpassenger\u201d was Ruby and Kevin\u2019s oldest son, Chad. As an active and expressive child, Chad quickly charmed his mother\u2019s YouTube audience. But as he grew and entered adolescence, he became increasingly reluctant to smile for the camera and started breaking the family\u2019s rules, often resulting in severe punishments.<\/p>\n<h2>The Fatal Beanbag<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_54448\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54448\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-54448\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke1-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"ruby franke\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke1-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke1-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke1-150x84.webp 150w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke1-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke1-808x455.webp 808w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke1-392x221.webp 392w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke1-1232x693.webp 1232w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke1.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-54448\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Franke family. Photo: Ruby Franke&#8217;s social media<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Chad\u2019s adolescent rebellion and his attempts to break free from his mother\u2019s all-seeing eye led Ruby to completely lose control over her son\u2014a process that, in a normal adolescent context, is completely natural, but which clearly conflicted with the image of the \u201cperfect Franke family.\u201d In her attempts to \u201chelp\u201d her wayward son, Ruby turned to friends and neighbors, who recommended she consult Jodi Hildebrandt, a therapist widely known in the state.<\/p>\n<p>Jodi was very popular among the Mormon community. She spoke their language, appeared convincing and authoritative, and, in addition to personal consultations, ran her own social media channels and hosted both in-person and virtual group sessions. In her \u201cteachings,\u201d Jodi used her own terminology, which her followers actively adopted.<\/p>\n<p>Central to Hildebrandt\u2019s approach were the concepts of Truth and Distortion. According to Jodi, everything deemed good fell under Truth, while anything deemed bad was labeled as Distortion. She promised to help parents guide their children from the path of Distortion toward infallible Truth. \u201cRuby was thrilled by everything she saw and heard,\u201d Kevin recalls.<\/p>\n<p>After this, Chad\u2019s \u201cfate\u201d was set\u2014Ruby enrolled him in therapy with Jodi, with the goal of correcting his behavior.<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight_PastelGreen\">The methods recommended by Jodi turned out to be even harsher than Ruby\u2019s own. \u201cTo make me obey, they had to take everything away from me,\u201d Chad recalls. \u201cAll my devices, my phone, my console, no sports, they even sent me to a boot camp for troubled teens\u201d \u2014 a type of program usually held outdoors where teens learn survival skills, self-care, and undergo intense physical activity.<\/p>\n<p>According to Chad, at one point, his mother threatened to send him to a military-style camp, which scared him so much that he stopped resisting and eventually became the obedient, polite, God-fearing child that Ruby and Jodi had been trying to mold him into. Meetings with the therapist, however, didn\u2019t end there\u2014they intensified, and Jodi gradually became almost a full-fledged member of the Franke household, capable of making decisions regarding the children\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n<p>In May 2020, the <em>8 Passengers<\/em> channel <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/abc7.com\/post\/abc-2020-momfluencer-ruby-franke-jodi-hildebrand-child-abuse\/14554910\/\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">posted<\/a> a video in which Ruby shared her parenting methods with viewers. She described a common family punishment: taking away an item important to the child\u2014for example, a phone\u2014until they corrected their problematic behavior. \u201cYou took my bedroom away for seven months and only gave it back a couple of weeks ago,\u201d Chad said, looking toward Ruby. She just laughed: \u201cI\u2019m not sure our viewers realize this.\u201d Amid his mother\u2019s laughter, Chad continued: \u201cI slept on a beanbag since October, and only a couple of weeks ago did I return to my room.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the video, Ruby appeared relaxed, as if nothing had happened\u2014just a cheerful family sharing memories with their audience. But viewers had a very different opinion.<\/p>\n<p>After the story about a teenager who couldn\u2019t sleep in his bed for over half a year, the internet erupted with criticism of the Ruby Franke family. Subscribers began to drop, once-loyal viewers called for Child Protective Services to intervene, and other content creators started posting expos\u00e9s on <em>8 Passengers<\/em>. In hindsight, red flags had appeared in Ruby\u2019s parenting practices before, but viewers had been so enchanted by the image of a happy, large family that they overlooked them.<\/p>\n<p>For example, in an early video, Ruby attempted to teach her daughter (around 4\u20135 years old) not to play with scissors by threatening to cut off the head of her stuffed toy.<\/p>\n<p>In another clip, Kevin, the father, confiscates Chad\u2019s phone and reads aloud the messages he received from a girl he likes, amid giggles at the dining table. \u201cChildren know that phones are always accessible to parents in our house, so we can ensure their safety,\u201d Kevin explains with a smirk.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_54449\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54449\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-54449\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke2.webp\" alt=\"ruby franke kids\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke2.webp 1000w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke2-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke2-150x113.webp 150w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke2-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke2-808x606.webp 808w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke2-392x294.webp 392w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-54449\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kevin and Ruby Franke. Screenshot: 8 Passengers \/ YouTube<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Another widely criticized video was filmed while Ruby was driving. She shared a story about her six-year-old daughter forgetting her school lunch (which she was supposed to pack herself each morning) and expressed hope that \u201cno one would share food with her,\u201d so the child could learn the natural consequences of her mistake.<\/p>\n<p>In general, the practice of depriving children of essential items, such as food, rest, and comfortable sleep\u2014as well as punishments involving physical exertion and manual labor\u2014was widespread in the Franke household. Viewers could easily observe this on the channel, but according to Ruby\u2019s older children, off-camera, these punishments sometimes included physical abuse, with children occasionally having to clean blood off the walls.<\/p>\n<p>The <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/8-passengers-youtube-drama-what-happened-franke-family-2020-6\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">backlash<\/a> against Ruby following the controversial beanbag video severely affected the parenting YouTuber. She had to remove several of the most contentious videos from the channel, but no public apology or expression of remorse followed. According to Kevin, they believed that everything happening to them was a targeted attack by the \u201cwoke\u201d culture, which sought to punish them as proponents of traditional values.<\/p>\n<h2>Mothers of Truth<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_54450\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54450\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-54450\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke3-1024x535.webp\" alt=\"ruby franke children\" width=\"750\" height=\"392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke3-1024x535.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke3-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke3-150x78.webp 150w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke3-768x401.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke3-808x422.webp 808w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke3-392x205.webp 392w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke3-1232x643.webp 1232w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke3.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-54450\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke. Photo: Moms of Truth social media<\/p><\/div>\n<p>During this period, Jodi Hildebrandt became increasingly integrated into the Franke family. She had a large following of people who religiously attended her Connexions therapy program, hoping to protect themselves from \u201cDistortion\u201d and draw closer to \u201cTruth.\u201d Ruby also attended these Connexions Classroom sessions, later involving Kevin, and eventually, both Ruby and Kevin became speakers in the program, publicly discussing their parenting and partnership experiences to a wide audience.<\/p>\n<p>Ruby immersed herself in Jodi\u2019s world so deeply that she renamed her YouTube channel <em>8 Passengers<\/em> to <em>Mothers of Truth<\/em>, where she uploaded joint livestreams with Jodi. According to a former colleague of Jodi\u2019s, she always strategically selected partners to grow her business, and Ruby\u2019s millions of views were clearly highly valuable to her.<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic struck the world. For the Franke family, this was more than just an emergency\u2014they were convinced that the world was on the brink of the Apocalypse and that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ was imminent. At the same time, the relationship between Ruby and Jodi grew ever closer\u2014Ruby believed that Jodi carried divine knowledge of Truth that needed to be preserved and spread to as many people as possible.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_54451\" style=\"width: 412px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54451\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-54451\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke4-822x1024.webp\" alt=\"who is ruby franke\" width=\"402\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke4-822x1024.webp 822w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke4-241x300.webp 241w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke4-120x150.webp 120w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke4-768x956.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke4-649x808.webp 649w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke4-315x392.webp 315w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke4-989x1232.webp 989w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke4.webp 1028w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-54451\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ruby with her children in 2020. Photo: Moms of Truth social media<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In May 2021, Jodi told the Frankes that she was being hunted by demonic forces and could not resist them alone\u2014a few weeks later, she moved into the Franke home seeking protection and support. Household dynamics noticeably worsened: Ruby punished her younger children more harshly for disobedience and defiance, grew increasingly distant from her husband, and became convinced that her family, not living according to the Truth given to her by Jodi, was obstructing her sacred mission in the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight_PastelGreen\">Around a year later, in the summer of 2022, Ruby decisively severed ties with the older half of her family: she kicked out her husband and eldest son Chad (then 17), removed her eldest daughter Shari\u2014who had already left for college\u2014from the family health insurance, and prohibited any contact between them and her younger children. Complete isolation was imposed, and everyone complied without protest.<\/p>\n<p>Little is known about how the Frankes spent the following year: Ruby had long stopped sharing vlogs about family life, ceased all communication with her husband and older children, and remained unfriendly with neighbors. Neighbors noted that Ruby often left the house for several days, leaving the children alone behind locked doors. When they encountered the children outside, they avoided contact and appeared detached.<\/p>\n<p>Ruby\u2019s eldest daughter, Shari, and the nearest neighbors contacted police and social services to check on the children\u2019s living conditions, but after a few unsuccessful visits, authorities essentially shrugged\u2014there was too little evidence to prove that the children living with their mother were in need of help.<\/p>\n<p>On august 30, 2023, a boy around 11\u201312 years old <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/cbsaustin.com\/news\/nation-world\/911-call-details-condition-of-12-year-old-son-of-youtube-mom-8-passengers-ruby-franke-asking-neighbor-for-help-st-george-communications-center-jodi-hildebrandt-emaciated\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">knocked<\/a> on the door of a house in Ivins, Utah. The homeowner opened the door to find an emaciated, malnourished child, his body covered in bruises and wounds, with construction tape wrapped around his arms and legs. The boy asked for only one thing: to be taken to the nearest police station. The kind stranger offered him a glass of water and a banana before calling 911. When the man described the boy\u2019s condition to the dispatcher, he began to cry.<\/p>\n<p>The boy was Ruby Franke\u2019s youngest son, Russell, who had managed to escape from Jodi Hildebrandt\u2019s house, where he had been held for several months and regularly subjected to torture.<\/p>\n<p>Police arrived with paramedics, went to Jodi\u2019s house, and arrested both Jodi and Ruby. They also found Ruby\u2019s youngest daughter, Eve, sitting motionless in a locked closet, her head shaved. Later, officers discovered ropes and tape used to bind the children, as well as bloodied bandages and honey mixed with cayenne pepper, which the women had reportedly used to \u201ctreat\u201d Russell\u2019s wounds.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators also <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/10377530\/ruby-franke-journal-child-abuse\/\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">recovered<\/a> Ruby\u2019s diary, in which she meticulously described everything she did to her children: systematically depriving them of food and water, forcing them to work for hours under the scorching sun, walking barefoot in the desert, and tying them up and beating them. According to Ruby and Jodi, the children were \u201cpossessed by demons,\u201d and all of this was necessary to exorcise them. Any reaction from the children to the extreme abuse was interpreted as evidence of possession and proof that they needed to be \u201csaved.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>What Happened Next<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_54452\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54452\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-54452\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke5-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"ruby franke and jodi hildebrandt\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke5-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke5-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke5-150x84.webp 150w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke5-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke5-808x455.webp 808w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke5-392x221.webp 392w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke5-1232x693.webp 1232w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke5.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-54452\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo from the Ruby Franke trial. Source: Associated Press<\/p><\/div>\n<p>after the arrest of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt, both were charged with aggravated child abuse and fully admitted their guilt. The court <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washco.utah.gov\/departments\/attorney\/case-highlights-media\/utah-vs-franke-hildebrandt\/\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">decided on sentencing<\/a> them to 4 to 30 years in prison, with the final length of incarceration to be determined by the Utah State Board of Pardons and Parole.<\/p>\n<p>In her final statement to the court, Ruby expressed remorse and noted that her actions had been influenced by external factors (likely referring to Jodi): &#8220;I was made to believe that the world is a terrible place, full of police who want to control everything, hospitals that want to harm, government agencies that brainwash, church leaders who only lie and indulge in lust, husbands who protect no one, and children who require violence. My choice to believe this paranoia and follow it led to criminal actions, for which I now stand before you, ready to take responsibility.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Kevin Franke <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/ruby-kevin-franke-finalize-divorce-11705393\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">filed<\/a> for divorce, with help from Utah family lawyer Randy Kester, from Ruby in 2023 \u2014 the process concluded in spring 2025, granting him full custody of the four minor children and ownership of the Franke family home in Springville, Utah.<\/p>\n<p>Ruby\u2019s eldest daughter, Shari, wrote and published a book titled <em>The House of My Mother<\/em>, recounting her childhood as a YouTube celebrity. She also <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teenvogue.com\/story\/utah-passed-a-law-to-protect-child-influencers\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">developed and lobbied<\/a> a law protecting child influencers: under the legislation, parent-bloggers must open a separate account in the child\u2019s name if the child is involved in monetized content or advertising integrations and regularly deposit a portion of the earnings there. The law came into effect in Utah in 2024 \u2014 experts note that the state has become a real \u201cincubator\u201d for mom-bloggers.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_54453\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54453\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-54453\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke6.webp\" alt=\"what did ruby franke do\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke6.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke6-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke6-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke6-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke6-392x261.webp 392w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-54453\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ruby Franke&#8217;s eldest daughter in 2021. Photo: Shari Franke&#8217;s social media<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;My work is only just beginning,&#8221; Shari said. &#8220;I will continue fighting to put an end to family vlogging.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight_PastelGreen\">The Franke children never received a dollar of the money earned while appearing on <em>8 Passengers<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Her eldest son, Chad Franke, continued his career as an influencer\u2014now independently. Chad runs a <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@chadwfranke\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">TikTok account<\/a> with over 700,000 followers, shares updates on other social media platforms (for example, he recently obtained a real estate license and got engaged), and posts humorous videos, some of which reflect on his childhood and his relationship with his mother.<\/p>\n<p>After Ruby\u2019s arrest, the four minor Franke children were placed in state custody, where they underwent psychological and physical rehabilitation after experiencing abuse. Although Kevin Franke gained full custody in 2025, it is not publicly known whether the children currently live together.<\/p>\n<p>The story of Ruby Franke is a blend of a harrowing psychological thriller and real-life horror, involving exorcism, with no supernatural forces at play.<\/p>\n<p>Although Ruby\u2019s YouTube channel was deactivated in 2022, her Instagram account still exists under the name <em>Moms of Truth<\/em>. Scrolling through the feed, beyond the \u201ceducational\u201d posts and videos she filmed with Jodi, one can still find the blog in its original form, as it was at the height of her career: joyful family photos, sponsored content, and short posts like \u201cIt\u2019s nice when everyone is home!\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_54454\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54454\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-54454\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke7-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"ruby franke family\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke7-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke7-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke7-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke7-768x767.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke7-808x808.jpg 808w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke7-392x392.jpg 392w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/09\/Ruby-Franke7.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-54454\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ruby Franke with her children in 2018. Photo: Moms of Truth social media<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There are hundreds of thousands of such blogs online, and naturally, not all hide something as disturbing as the now-defunct <em>8 Passengers<\/em>. However, it\u2019s important to remember that the general public almost never knows what truly lies behind the cheerful family images and seemingly casual videos.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the Franke family\u2019s shocking story reopened the conversation about what parenting methods are considered acceptable\u2014and to what extent they should be publicly scrutinized. As online users noted after the beanbag incident, this was far from Ruby\u2019s first harsh punishment of her children; however, it had previously gone largely unnoticed.<\/p>\n<p>Some experts believe that Ruby\u2019s content was popular because many modern parents are constantly searching for effective parenting methods. The strict discipline, presented against the backdrop of mainstream gentle parenting, seems both acceptable and effective to many. \u201cExtreme disciplinary methods become appealing to parents who feel lost and desperate, especially in situations involving challenging behavior, and particularly if they see results,\u201d <a  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-66719859\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">explained<\/a> family psychologist Maryhan Baker.<\/p>\n<p>According to Shari, Ruby\u2019s eldest daughter, her mother\u2019s \u201cdisciplinary\u201d methods and what they ultimately became did not appear suddenly: &#8220;I wouldn\u2019t blame Jodi for how far Ruby went. She simply awakened in Ruby what was already in her heart.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>FAQs<\/h2>\n<h3>Where are Ruby Franke\u2019s 6 children now?<\/h3>\n<p>The two oldest Franke children, Shari and Chad, are living independently. Shari is working to pass legislation to protect the children of family vloggers, while Chad is a real estate agent and influencer. The four younger children, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve, were taken into state custody after Ruby\u2019s arrest. Kevin has been fighting for custody of the children since.<\/p>\n<h3>Which children was Ruby Franke convicted of abusing?<\/h3>\n<p>Ruby Franke was convicted of abusing two out of her six children, Russell and Eve.<\/p>\n<h3>How did Ruby Franke\u2019s children react to her arrest and conviction?<\/h3>\n<p>At first, they were in disbelief that their mother could do such horrible things to her children. Slowly, everything started to make sense, and the children remembered their own upbringing while being on camera and the abuse they had faced.<\/p>\n<h3>What did Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt do?<\/h3>\n<p>Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were both convicted of abusing two of Franke\u2019s young children. They physically abused them while also refusing to feed them.<\/p>\n<h3>When was Ruby Franke arrested?<\/h3>\n<p>Ruby Franke was arrested on August 30, 2023, along with her accomplice, Jodi Hildebrandt.<\/p>\n<h3>Is Ruby Franke in jail?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, Ruby Franke is in jail serving a minimum sentence of 4 years and a maximum sentence of 60 years.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cover image: <a style=\"color: #000000;\"  rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/GMA\/News\/ruby-frankes-husband-files-divorce-faces-charges-felony\/story\"\" rel=\"nofollow\">abcnews.go.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"wpulike wpulike-default \" ><div class=\"wp_ulike_general_class wp_ulike_is_not_liked\"><button type=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Like Button\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-ulike-id=\"54443\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-ulike-nonce=\"9e9810bada\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-ulike-type=\"likeThis\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-ulike-template=\"wpulike-default\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-ulike-display-likers=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-ulike-disable-pophover=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"wp_ulike_btn wp_ulike_put_image wp_likethis_54443\"><\/button><\/div><\/div>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From parenting advice to actual abuse\u2014the tragic story of a mother-blogger with many children. 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