Home Certifiedscandal47

The 7 Shocking Truths About Ruby Franke's Downfall: Sentencing, Jail Time, And The End Of '8 Passengers'

• minute read
Contents

The dramatic fall of "momfluencer" Ruby Franke has captivated and horrified the world, transforming a seemingly perfect family vlogging narrative into a chilling true-crime story. As of the current date, December 19, 2025, the former matriarch of the now-defunct "8 Passengers" YouTube channel is serving a significant prison sentence, marking the definitive end of her public life and the closure of a disturbing legal chapter.

The latest and most crucial development centers on her formal sentencing, a moment that delivered justice for the unspeakable abuse inflicted upon her two youngest children. This article dives deep into the timeline, the shocking details revealed in court, and the current status of the Franke family, providing the most up-to-date and authoritative information on one of the biggest social media scandals in history.

Ruby Franke: A Biographical Profile and Timeline of a Scandal

Ruby Franke was once a prominent figure in the "momfluencer" community, documenting the life of her large Mormon family in Utah. Her ascent to YouTube stardom was rapid, but her fall was even faster and far more devastating.

  • Full Name: Ruby Franke (née Griffiths)
  • Date of Birth: January 18, 1982
  • Place of Birth: Utah, United States
  • Former Occupation: Family Vlogger, YouTuber, Parenting Counselor (via ConneXions)
  • YouTube Channel: 8 Passengers (Now defunct, amassed over 2.5 million subscribers)
  • Husband/Ex-Husband: Kevin Franke
  • Children: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve Franke (six children total)
  • Business Partner & Co-Defendant: Jodi Hildebrandt (Owner of ConneXions)
  • Date of Arrest: August 30, 2023, in Ivins, Utah
  • Conviction: Four counts of Second-Degree Felony Aggravated Child Abuse
  • Sentencing Date: February 20, 2024

The "8 Passengers" channel, which launched in 2015, chronicled the daily life of the Franke family, often showcasing their strict parenting style, which drew early criticism from viewers. This criticism escalated significantly in 2020 and 2021, culminating in the channel's eventual deactivation as public scrutiny intensified over allegations of emotional and physical neglect.

1. The Shocking Details of the Aggravated Child Abuse Charges

The entire world was rocked on August 30, 2023, when Ruby Franke was arrested at the home of her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, in Ivins, Utah. The arrest was triggered by a harrowing escape: her 12-year-old son, Russell Franke, fled the home through a window and ran to a neighbor's house, begging for food and water.

The child was found to be severely emaciated, covered in wounds and duct tape, and showed signs of being tied up. The neighbor immediately called the police, leading to the discovery of Franke's 10-year-old daughter, Eve Franke, in a similar state of malnutrition and injury at Hildebrandt’s residence.

Franke and Hildebrandt were both charged with six counts of second-degree felony aggravated child abuse, a charge that indicates the abuse involved a dangerous weapon or resulted in serious bodily injury. In December 2023, Franke pleaded guilty to four of those counts, admitting to the horrific abuse of two of her children.

2. The Definitive Prison Sentence and Its Legal Ramifications

The most recent and definitive update on the case is the sentencing, which took place on February 20, 2024, in St. George, Utah. Both Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt received the same sentence: four consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison.

Under Utah law, the consecutive nature of the sentences means Franke could potentially serve up to 30 years behind bars. However, the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will ultimately determine her actual release date, meaning she must serve a minimum of four years before being eligible for parole.

During the sentencing, Franke delivered a tearful statement, expressing "sorrow and deep regret" and acknowledging that she was "led to believe that this world was a dark place." This statement, however, did not diminish the severity of the crimes, which the prosecutor described as involving "horrific" acts of physical and emotional torture.

3. The Role of ConneXions and Jodi Hildebrandt

The influence of Jodi Hildebrandt and her "life coaching" business, ConneXions, is central to the narrative of Franke's radical transformation and subsequent criminal behavior. Franke had partnered with Hildebrandt for ConneXions, a service that offered controversial parenting and relationship advice.

Many critics and former clients described ConneXions as a cult-like organization that promoted extreme, isolationist, and psychologically damaging principles. Prosecutors suggested that Hildebrandt, an unlicensed counselor, used her position to manipulate Franke, escalating her already strict parenting methods into outright abuse.

The partnership, which began publicly in 2022, seemed to coincide with Franke's increasing isolation from her family and the adoption of the extreme ideologies that led directly to the abuse. The sentencing of both women on the same day underscored the court's view of their shared responsibility in the crimes.

4. The Fate of Kevin Franke and the Divorce Proceedings

Ruby Franke's husband, Kevin Franke, was living separately from his wife and children at the time of the arrest. Following the scandal, Kevin Franke's attorney confirmed that he had filed for divorce from Ruby Franke. The divorce proceedings were initiated to formally dissolve the marriage and to help secure the future and well-being of their six children.

Kevin’s legal team stated that his primary focus was on the safety and reunification of his family. The children were placed in the care of the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) immediately following the arrest. Kevin Franke has since been working to regain custody and provide a stable environment for his children, a process complicated by the ongoing legal and custody battles.

5. Where Are the Franke Children Now?

The six Franke children—Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve—are the true victims of this tragedy. The two youngest children who were directly abused, Russell and Eve, were hospitalized and then placed into state custody.

The older children have also been significantly impacted. Shari Franke, the oldest daughter, who had been estranged from her mother for some time, was instrumental in speaking out against the abuse and advocating for her younger siblings. She publicly celebrated her mother’s arrest and has used her social media platform to provide updates on the children's welfare, confirming that they are safe and receiving the necessary care.

The children remain a priority for the Utah legal system, with ongoing efforts to ensure their psychological and physical recovery. The goal is to keep the siblings together and establish a permanent, safe placement, likely with their father, Kevin Franke, once the custody arrangements are finalized.

6. The Permanent Deactivation of '8 Passengers'

The "8 Passengers" YouTube channel, which once served as a lucrative platform for the Franke family, is now permanently defunct. The channel, which had accumulated millions of views and subscribers, was a primary source of income and public identity for Ruby Franke.

The public nature of the family's life on YouTube has led to a wider discussion about the ethics of family vlogging and the exploitation of children for profit. The deactivation of the channel by YouTube was a decisive step in erasing the Franke family’s digital footprint, signaling the end of their "momfluencer" career and the closure of a content era that was ultimately built on a foundation of abuse and deception.

7. The Broader Impact on the 'Momfluencer' Community

The Ruby Franke scandal has had a profound and lasting impact on the entire "momfluencer" and family vlogging industry. It exposed the dark underbelly of a genre that often prioritizes online persona and profit over the privacy and well-being of children.

The case has fueled calls for stricter regulation and greater scrutiny of parents who monetize their children's lives online. It serves as a stark warning to content creators that the line between "strict parenting" and criminal child abuse is real, and that the constant documentation of private life can, in the end, be used as evidence against them. The legacy of "8 Passengers" is now irrevocably tied to the criminal justice system, permanently changing how the public views and consumes family-based content.

ruby frankie
ruby frankie

Detail Author:

  • Name : Amir Gulgowski MD
  • Username : zvolkman
  • Email : andreane.heidenreich@gmail.com
  • Birthdate : 1974-07-10
  • Address : 342 Schultz Plains Aliyaville, WY 09255
  • Phone : 651.869.6645
  • Company : Larson Ltd
  • Job : Budget Analyst
  • Bio : Dicta sequi laboriosam amet odio ab. Optio iure eos qui eum assumenda itaque occaecati. Autem deleniti esse dolorum mollitia voluptas. Quae sunt fuga expedita reiciendis.

Socials

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/michelemcdermott
  • username : michelemcdermott
  • bio : Nemo est totam enim porro. Veritatis rerum dolor ex et blanditiis explicabo. Est ut rerum qui quidem.
  • followers : 5263
  • following : 2736

linkedin:

facebook:

Random Posts