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Ruby Franke is a well-known parenting influencer who gained fame through her YouTube channel called “8 Passengers.” She and her husband, Kevin Franke, documented their lives with their six children: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve. The family’s YouTube channel had a significant following, reaching nearly 2.5 million subscribers at its peak before being removed from the platform.
However, recent events have led to Ruby Franke’s arrest on charges of aggravated child abuse. The arrest occurred in Springville, Utah, and she was charged alongside her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, who co-founded the parent advice and counseling YouTube channel called “ConneXions.” Both Franke and Hildebrandt were charged with multiple counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse.
It’s worth noting that allegations of mistreatment and concerns about Franke’s parenting practices had been raised by viewers in recent years before her arrest. The Franke family is associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church.
The children’s names are Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve. Shari Franke is the eldest, and she has previously spoken out about no longer being in contact with her immediate family and not supporting the extreme beliefs of ConneXions.
Ruby Franke is best known for her YouTube channel, which featured her six children and occasionally offered viewers controversial parenting advice. Ironically, police arrested the YouTuber on suspicion of child abuse, which has many concerned about her kids’ wellbeing. Based on what we know so far, the situation isn’t looking great for the stars of the now-defunct YouTube channel 8 Passengers.
Here are the ages of her children at the time of these events:
Two of her children, Russell (12) and Eve (9), were found malnourished and injured at the home of Franke’s business partner Jodi Hildebrandt. They were taken to the hospital and placed under child protection services. The other two underage children, Julie (14) and Abby (16), were also taken into custody by CPS. Shari (20) and Chad (18) are adults and have expressed their relief that their siblings are safe.
Shari Franke, the eldest daughter of Ruby Franke, is a 20-year-old student at Brigham Young University. She’s also an active YouTuber with her own channel called Share Franke, where she shares insights into her life, faith, and various hobbies. Shari’s relationship with her mother has become strained due to recent events, particularly Ruby Franke’s arrest on child abuse suspicions.
Shari has openly expressed her feelings about her family’s involvement with a controversial group known as ConneXions, which left her spiritually drained. She has distanced herself from her family and claims that she and her siblings had been attempting to report their mother to the police and Child Protective Services for several years. Currently, Shari is actively seeking video evidence from the public that may shed light on concerning aspects of Ruby Franke’s behavior.
Shari’s decision to share her story has provided a unique perspective on the challenges within her family and given a voice to those who may have faced similar experiences. Her courage and authenticity have garnered support from individuals who admire her strength in standing up for her beliefs and seeking justice.
The YouTube channel known as 8 Passengers was managed by Ruby and Kevin Franke, a Mormon couple raising six children: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve. This channel was established in 2016 and primarily featured videos portraying the daily lives of the Franke family. At its peak, the channel amassed over 2 million subscribers. However, in 2024, it faced its demise when Ruby Franke was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.
Criticism of the channel’s content often centered around its perceived over-staging and the promotion of unhealthy parenting practices. For instance, one video depicted Ruby Franke pressuring her children to eat vegetables, even when they weren’t hungry. Another video captured her angrily reprimanding her kids for not complying with her instructions.
The Franke family’s legal troubles unfolded after a young child managed to escape from their home, seeking food and water from a neighbor. The child’s severe malnourishment and numerous open wounds raised alarm.
Ruby Franke faced six counts of aggravated child abuse and entered a plea of not guilty. She is presently awaiting trial. The 8 Passengers YouTube channel is no longer accessible. Nevertheless, some of its videos have been reuploaded to other channels.
Ruby Franke, a 41-year-old mother of six hailing from Utah, gained prominence as a YouTuber. Her family-oriented YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, showcased the daily lives of her and her husband, Kevin Franke, along with their children, namely Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve. Nevertheless, recent headlines have featured Ruby Franke following her arrest under suspicion of child abuse.
This arrest unfolded amidst ongoing debates and controversies surrounding her parenting methods and the content presented on her channel. Ruby Franke’s case has sparked considerable public interest, prompting discussions regarding her family’s dynamics and the ethical responsibilities of online influencers.
She initiated the channel in 2015 as a means to feel more “present” and cherish the moments with her children as they are. However, as time passed, viewers grew increasingly critical of her parenting approach, deeming it excessively authoritarian and occasionally harsh.
The pivotal moment came on August 30, 2024, when her son, Russell, managed to escape from the residence of her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, where he and his sister, Eve, had been residing. Russell arrived at a neighbor’s house appearing emaciated and bearing injuries, urgently seeking food and water.
Subsequent police investigations revealed that Eve was in a similarly malnourished state at Hildebrandt’s residence. Both Franke and Hildebrandt found themselves facing two counts of aggravated child abuse. Moreover, child protection services took custody of the other two underage children, Julie and Abby.
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