Mommy Vlogger Convicted of Child Abuse Featured in Docuseries: The Fall of Ruby Frank
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| Parenting advice YouTuber Ruby Franke (8 Passengers) pleads guilty to 4 counts of child abuse |
A new Hulu docuseries, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, delves into the events that led to the arrest of former mommy vlogger Ruby Franke and her business partner. The three-part series provides an in-depth look from the perspectives of those closest to Franke, including her ex-husband Kevin Franke and their two oldest children, Shari, 21, and Chad, 20.
The Franke family, who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gained national attention when viewers of their now-defunct YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, started speculating about the mistreatment of their six children. These concerns reached a peak in 2020. In September 2023, Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested and charged with six counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in Utah.
The docuseries features exclusive interviews with Kevin Franke and their older children, along with never-before-seen footage, shedding light on the family's turbulent story. The Frankes’ YouTube channel, which initially portrayed a wholesome family life, gained millions of subscribers but later became the focus of public scrutiny. As the family's struggles became apparent, they sought help from Jodi Hildebrandt, a counselor who co-founded ConneXions, a parenting advice channel. However, this guidance led them into what the family describes as a nightmare.
Ruby Franke, 43, and her partner Jodi Hildebrandt, were both convicted and sentenced to prison, with terms ranging from four to 60 years. The docuseries offers an exclusive exploration into the complexities of the Franke family's rise to fame, their controversial parenting methods, and the devastating consequences that followed.