Ruby Franke’s Estranged Husband and Son Break Their Silence on Child Abuse Scandal, Daughter Speaks Out in Memoir
In a revealing interview, Kevin Franke and his son Chad have spoken out for the first time about the harrowing child abuse scandal involving their wife and mother, Ruby Franke, and her business associate, Jodi Hildebrandt. The Franke family, once celebrated for their popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, has been thrust into the spotlight following Ruby’s arrest and conviction for aggravated child abuse.
The Rise and Fall of 8 Passengers
Launched in early 2015, 8 Passengers offered viewers a glimpse into the daily lives of the Franke family in Utah. The channel quickly gained traction, amassing approximately 2.5 million subscribers and over a billion views at its peak. Ruby and Kevin Franke portrayed a disciplined family life, emphasizing traditional values and strict parenting.
However, by 2020, concerns began to surface among viewers regarding Ruby’s parenting methods. Incidents such as withholding food, sending a child to a wilderness camp for troubled teens, and threatening to decapitate a child’s stuffed toy raised red flags. Despite these concerns, the channel continued until its decline in 2021 and eventual deletion in 2022.
The Influence of Jodi Hildebrandt
Following the channel’s closure, Ruby partnered with Jodi Hildebrandt, a licensed therapist, to create ConneXions, a platform offering mental health coaching and parenting advice. This collaboration marked a turning point, as Hildebrandt’s extreme accountability-driven philosophy intensified Ruby’s authoritarian parenting style. Kevin Franke, reflecting on this period, expressed regret over not recognizing the detrimental impact of Hildebrandt’s influence sooner.
The Unraveling of Abuse
The situation reached a critical point in August 2023 when Ruby and Hildebrandt were arrested after Ruby’s 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s home, appearing emaciated and with visible injuries. Authorities discovered that Ruby’s 10-year-old daughter was also malnourished. Both women were charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse.
In December 2023, Ruby pleaded guilty to four counts, leading to a sentence of four to 60 years in prison. Hildebrandt also pleaded guilty to similar charges. Kevin Franke, who had been separated from Ruby since 2022 and filed for divorce in November 2023, revealed that much of the abuse was concealed from him, especially during the period when Ruby insisted he live apart from the family.
Shari Franke Speaks Out in New Memoir
Ruby Franke’s 21-year-old daughter, Shari Franke, is also breaking her silence on the years of abuse she endured under her mother’s extreme parenting. In her newly released memoir, The House of My Mother, Shari recounts the traumatic childhood she experienced, detailing the emotional, physical, and psychological mistreatment she suffered.
Shari claims that Ruby used religious justifications to inflict severe punishments, isolating her from her siblings and making her feel unworthy of love. She describes instances where she was denied basic necessities, manipulated into believing she was inherently “bad,” and forced to comply with her mother’s rigid and abusive ideology.
Speaking in a recent interview, Shari says, “My mother’s parenting was based on fear and control. Every action was dictated by punishment, and she made sure we knew that disobedience meant rejection.” She hopes her memoir will serve as a warning to others about the dangers of extremist parenting philosophies and unregulated family vlogging.
Shari, who severed ties with her mother before Ruby’s arrest, has since taken on the role of a guardian for her younger siblings, working to help them heal from their traumatic upbringing. She remains an outspoken advocate against child exploitation in social media and urges stricter regulations for family vloggers.
Moving Forward
Chad Franke, now 20, has also distanced himself from his mother and has no current contact with her. He expressed hope that Ruby would seek genuine change, stating, “I really hope [my mom] becomes a better person and truly tries to change.” Both Kevin and Chad are now focusing on rebuilding their lives and advocating for awareness about the potential dangers of social media exposure and the exploitation that can occur under the guise of family vlogging.
Kevin Franke admits that he ignored early warnings and failed to take action when concerned fans questioned Ruby’s behavior. “I regret not stepping in sooner,” he says. He now urges parents to be more vigilant about the content their children consume and participate in online.
As the Franke family continues to heal, Shari, Chad, and Kevin are sharing their story to shed light on the long-term consequences of abuse and the importance of recognizing red flags before it is too late.
