Ruby Franke, a former family vlog creator, was arrested and charged with 6 counts of child abuse on August 30th in Ivins, Utah. Franke was behind the familiar YouTube channel, 8 passengers, where she video-blogged the daily life of her family, including her six kids. Ruby’s business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, was also charged with 6 counts of child abuse. Franke and Hildebrandt were the face of ConneXions, which was an “online self-improvement program.” Many speculators find it very ironic how Franke and Hildebrandt give others parenting advice when they are not following the advice themselves.
On August 30th, Russel Franke (12), Franke’s son, escaped Hildebrandt’s home through a window and ran to a neighbor’s home pleading for food and water. The neighbor said he appeared malnourished and was restrained with duct tape by the ankles. As law enforcement arrived, they also found the youngest Franke child (10) in Hildebrandt’s home. Medical teams described the children as “abnormally thin and weak.” The two children are now in the care of the Department of Child and Family Services, along with their two older siblings (14 and 16). Four out of six children are safe, and the two oldest are living on their own.
Copious neighbors of the Franke’s have stated that the children were left alone for days on end, however Utah’s “free ranging parenting” law has prevented the authorities from looking into these claims. The eldest Franke child, Shari Franke (20), requested one of the two welfare checks in September of 2022 that led to Ruby Franke’s eventual arrest.
Numerous former fans speculate that Ruby meeting Jodi lit the flame of abuse, and Ruby was very influenced by her supposed friend. Susie Metz (9) agrees that “Ruby was a brutal parent from the start, but meeting Jodi just added to the level of abuse.” Franke may seem benign on camera, but what goes on behind the scenes begs to differ. Jodi Hildebrandt, founder of self-improvement program, ConneXions, may need to start taking her own advice.
Shari Franke has been expressing her relief of her estranged mother’s arrest through her social media platforms. “Today has been a big day. Me and my family are so glad justice is being served. We’ve been trying to tell police and CPS for years about this. And so glad they finally decided to step up,” Shari Franke wrote on an Instagram story.
The 8 Passengers YouTube channel has been very controversial due to Franke’s harsh parenting. For instance, Ruby’s eldest son claimed he was banned from his bedroom for 7 months and was sleeping on a beanbag. Another incident includes Ruby refusing to bring her 6-year-old daughter lunch after she forgot it. Ruby commonly took away food as a punishment, and even took the children’s homework, making them pay in order to have it returned. Numerous fans were worried for the welfare of the children. The level of concern led fans to begin a petition for an investigation by CPS, dated back in 2020. However, some believe this petition was an exercise in futility.
The children’s father, Kevin Franke, has not been arrested or charged because he was supposedly unaware of the abuse, as Ruby and Kevin were separated for a year. Ruby’s sister, Bonnie Hoellein, said “It was Kevin’s job to check in on things and he did not”. Kevin’s lawyer, Randy Kester, addressed this statement by saying, “[Kevin] is making an effort to rebuild and bridge these relationships rather than sling mud and point fingers. He is focused on doing what is best for his kids at this point, even if that means undergoing some introspection.” Kester also claims that Kevin is seeking custody of his children.
Although the date has been fluctuating, the current court date is set for October 5th, when the fate of Franke and Hildebrandt will be determined. Many followers of the case hope justice will be served to these children. Rachel Bobo (9) said, “I think its very sad how a mother can claim to love her children, but still treat them like this… I hope justice is served.”
