Ruby Franke, once celebrated as the matriarch of the popular YouTube family channel 8 Passengers, finds herself at the center of one of the most harrowing child abuse cases to emerge from the vlogging community. The newly released Hulu docuseries, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, exposes the secrets concealed behind the seemingly perfect family image portrayed online. Through chilling testimonies from her own children, viewers gain insight not just about the abuse but also about how child protective services failed to act, even when alarming signs were evident.
Franke’s downfall began to materialize when her 12-year-old son escaped from the home of her associate, Jodi Hildebrandt, malnourished and bearing visible wounds. This shocking incident occurred on August 30, 2023, when Russell Franke fled to alert neighbors, prompting authorities to investigate. He was found with duct tape around his extremities and seeking immediate help, leading police to discover the worrisome living conditions of the entire family. Unfortunately, abuse had long been swirling under the surface of Franke's vlogs, where she presented what appeared to be loving parenting.
Shari Franke, Ruby’s eldest daughter, courageously recounts her experiences during the docuseries. She reveals, "I did always feel bad when he got in trouble," indicating her deep-seated fear for her younger siblings' safety. She possesses vivid memories of helping her brother clean up blood off the walls after one of the brutal beatings he suffered. Shari’s words powerfully capture the brutal reality faced by the Franke children, often hidden from their millions of online viewers.
Chad Franke, another of Ruby's children, also speaks candidly about the severe physical punishment he endured, stating, "She would spank, whip, take the belt out and whip my butt. Pull down my pants, whip me." These accounts starkly contradict Ruby’s image as a strict but caring mother, painting her instead as someone whose methods crossed the lines of acceptable discipline and spiraled deeply toward abuse.
Despite public outcry and growing concerns from childhood advocates and viewers alike, Ruby Franke dismissed accusations of abuse. She aligned with Hildebrandt, promoting extreme disciplinary tactics through their parenting ideology, which tarnished their reputation even more. Audiences increasingly grew uncomfortable watching the vlogs, which seemed to show children being denied food and subjected to isolation for minor infractions.
Even before the horrific escape of her son, signs of distress had emerged. Kevin Franke, Ruby’s estranged husband, reflected on the impact of their vlogging lifestyle on the family dynamics. "All of a sudden, it wasn't enough to interact with her; I had to interact with the camera," he recalled. The pressure to showcase the ideal family life took its toll, catalyzing the unraveling of the Franke family. Their financial success expanded from meager beginnings of $85 for their first paycheck to up to $100,000 monthly, but at what cost?
The floodgates of discontent eventually burst open following Chad’s mention of his time sleeping on the floor as punishment, igniting online backlash against the Franke family. Kevin admitted he was initially blind to the extent of the horror occurring behind their camera-ready smiles, stating, "I had no idea this was going on in my family."
This ignorance, combined with the pressures of fame, created an environment ripe for neglect and abuse. Following the backlash, both Ruby and Jodi were arrested on August 31, 2023, after authorities verified the harrowing conditions of the Franke children.
On December 2023, both women pleaded guilty to multiple counts of aggravated child abuse. The legal consequences led to Ruby being sentenced to four consecutive terms of 1 to 15 years, emphasizing the pervasive nature of the abuse. Kevin Franke, on the other hand, emphasized the inadequacies of the protective services, noting how they failed to heed multiple warnings. Despite being separated from Ruby for over a year prior to the arrests, he expressed heartache over the abuse his children endured, stating, "One: Keep the children isolated from the world. Two: Ignore all the phone calls from DCFS caseworkers."
This systematic failure to protect children prompted Kevin's call for reforms within Utah's child welfare system, as he strives to keep his children together amid chaos.
Shari Franke has taken her trauma and transformed it through advocacy, recently writing a memoir titled The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, detailing her experiences and highlighting the urgent need for reform surrounding family vlogging regulations and child protection laws.
Where do the Franke children stand now? After the arrests, the Franke children were placed under various forms of custody, with Kevin working diligently to maintain their unity. The youngest four have been under the care of Utah's Division of Child and Family Services, reflecting the serious aftermath of this high-profile case. Meanwhile, Shari has vowed to be the voice for her siblings, tirelessly advocating for laws to protect children from harmful parenting practices, especially within online environments.
Ruby Franke's ascent to fame through 8 Passengers may have faltered, but the repercussions of her actions will echo throughout the community as families and advocates unite to protect children from the kind of abuse she inflicted. The docuseries Devil in the Family serves as both cautionary advice and unflinching truth about the danger of idealized parenting portrayed on social media, urging viewers to remain vigilant and recognize the underlying issues.