# Ruby Franke

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{{Short description|American vlogger and convicted child abuser (born 1982)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name              = Ruby Franke
| image             =
| caption           = Franke's booking photo (2023)
| birth_name        = Ruby Griffiths
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1982|1|18}}
| birth_place       = [Logan, Utah](/source/Logan%2C_Utah), U.S.
| spouse            = {{Marriage|Kevin Franke|2000|2025|end=div.}}
| children          = 6
| victims           = 4
| known_for         = [YouTube](/source/YouTube), family [vlogging](/source/Vlog), [child abuse](/source/child_abuse)
| penalty           = 4 to 60 years <br>(30 year maximum to serve per Utah law)
| conviction        = [Aggravated](/source/Aggravation_(law)) [child abuse](/source/child_abuse) <br>
(4 counts)
| apprehended       = August 30, 2023
| conviction_status = Incarcerated
| imprisoned        = [Utah State Correctional Facility](/source/Utah_State_Correctional_Facility)
| country           = U.S.
| locations         = [Springville, Utah](/source/Springville%2C_Utah)
| years_active      = 2015–2022
| accomplices       = [Jodi Hildebrandt](/source/Jodi_Hildebrandt)
| criminal_charge   = [Aggravated](/source/Aggravation_(law)) [child abuse](/source/child_abuse) <br>
(6 counts)
}}

'''Ruby Franke''' ({{Nee|'''Griffiths'''}};<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Breen |first=Kerry |date=2024-02-20 |title=Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt sentenced to up to 30 years in prison in child abuse case |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ruby-franke-jodi-hildebrandt-sentenced-child-abuse-youtube-eight-passengers/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=[CBS News](/source/CBS_News) |language=en-US |quote=Franke's parents, Chad and Jennifer Griffiths, said in their statement to the court that for three years they only had "brief communications" with their daughter, where she "accused us of either things that never happen or she grossly exaggerated the events that did." |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220185037/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ruby-franke-jodi-hildebrandt-sentenced-child-abuse-youtube-eight-passengers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> born January 18, 1982)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Loesch |first1=Hannah|date=March 5, 2024 |title=Inside Ruby Franke's Child Abuse Case: '8 Passengers' Mom's Arrest, Court Updates and Sentencing {{!}} Who Is YouTuber Ruby Franke? |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/inside-youtuber-ruby-franke-case-175452340.html |website=yahoo.com |publisher=[Yahoo](/source/Yahoo)|quote=Ruby was born on January 18, 1982, in Utah,... |access-date=30 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250530034931/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/inside-youtuber-ruby-franke-case-175452340.html |archive-date= 30 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="ShariBook">{{cite book |last1=Franke |first1=Shari |title=The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom |date=2025 |publisher=Gallery Books |isbn=9781668065396}}</ref> is an American former family [vlog](/source/vlog)ger and convicted [child abuser](/source/child_abuse) who ran the now defunct [YouTube](/source/YouTube) channel ''8 Passengers''. On August 30, 2023, Franke and her business partner [Jodi Hildebrandt](/source/Jodi_Hildebrandt) were arrested in [Washington County, Utah](/source/Washington_County%2C_Utah), and charged with six counts of felony [aggravated](/source/aggravation_(law)) [child abuse](/source/child_abuse) of two of Franke's children. Franke ultimately pleaded guilty to four counts and on February 20, 2024, was sentenced to serve between four and thirty years in prison.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2024-02-20 |title=Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke sentenced to 4 consecutive terms in prison |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2024/2/20/24078325/ruby-franke-8-passengers-jodi-hildebrant-sentencing |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News) |language=en |archive-date=February 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223165011/https://www.deseret.com/utah/2024/2/20/24078325/ruby-franke-8-passengers-jodi-hildebrant-sentencing |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66651506 |title=Ruby Franke: '8 Passengers' parenting mum arrested on child abuse suspicion |publisher=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |date=September 1, 2023 |access-date=September 3, 2023 |archive-date=September 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903003136/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66651506 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYT>{{Cite news |last=Tumin |first=Remy |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Host of YouTube Parenting Channel Is Charged With Child Abuse |work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/us/ruby-franke-child-abuse-arrest.html |access-date=September 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902191719/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/us/ruby-franke-child-abuse-arrest.html |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Career==
In early 2015, Franke created a [YouTube](/source/YouTube) channel called ''8 Passengers'' in which she documented her family life in Utah with her husband Kevin and their six children.<ref name=KSL>{{cite news |first=Megan Marsden |last=Christensen |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/38122710 |title=Springville mother documents family life on popular YouTube channel |website=KSL.com |publisher=Deseret Digital Media |date=January 16, 2016 |access-date=September 3, 2023 |archive-date=September 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903012959/https://www.ksl.com/article/38122710 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=WaPo>{{Cite news |last1=Ables |first1=Kelsey |last2=Bellware |first2=Kim |date=September 1, 2023 |title=What to know about Ruby Franke, parenting YouTuber charged with child abuse |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/09/01/ruby-franke-youtube-8passengers-child-abuse/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |newspaper=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post) |archive-date=December 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219152723/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/09/01/ruby-franke-youtube-8passengers-child-abuse/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=AP>{{cite news |first=Amy Beth |last=Hanson |url=https://apnews.com/article/youtube-mom-parenting-advice-child-abuse-arrest-d011c50c6da8f3535d8dfda46654a50a |title=Parenting advice YouTuber Ruby Franke charged with aggravated child abuse of 2 of her 6 children |publisher=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) |date=September 1, 2023 |access-date=September 3, 2023 |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902214721/https://apnews.com/article/youtube-mom-parenting-advice-child-abuse-arrest-d011c50c6da8f3535d8dfda46654a50a |url-status=live}}</ref> 

She originally posted five days a week at 6:00&nbsp;a.m.<ref name=KSL/> {{As of|2020|06}}, the channel had around 2.5&nbsp;million subscribers<ref name=Biz>{{cite news |first=Lindsay |last=Dodgson |url=https://www.insider.com/8-passengers-youtube-drama-what-happened-franke-family-2020-6 |title=These YouTuber parents are speaking out after drama channels and TikTokers accused them of being abusive to their children and had child protective services visit their house |newspaper=[Business Insider](/source/Business_Insider) |date=June 25, 2020 |access-date=September 3, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603130016/https://www.businessinsider.com/8-passengers-youtube-drama-what-happened-franke-family-2020-6 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Walrath-Holdridge |first=Mary |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Who is Ruby Franke? 8 Passengers family vlogger arrested on child abuse charges |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/31/ruby-franke-8-passengers-vlogger-arrested-child-abuse-charges-daughter-shari-speaks/70730970007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901195055/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/31/ruby-franke-8-passengers-vlogger-arrested-child-abuse-charges-daughter-shari-speaks/70730970007/ |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |access-date=September 2, 2023 |newspaper=[USA Today](/source/USA_Today) |quote="Amongst some of the most infamous incidents were one in which Franke refused to bring food to school for her 6-year-old daughter, who had forgotten to pack her own lunch, and another in which one of their sons said he was being forced to sleep on a beanbag after playing pranks on his brothers."}}</ref> and amassed 1&nbsp;billion views.<ref name = report>{{cite web |url=https://www.speakrj.com/audit/report/8passengers/youtube |title=8 Passengers YouTube Channel statistics |date=July 31, 2023 |access-date=September 8, 2023 |archive-date=September 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908154743/https://www.speakrj.com/audit/report/8passengers/youtube |url-status=live}}</ref>

Beginning in 2020, when one of the Franke children, a 15-year-old boy, said that he had been banned from his bedroom and made to sleep on a [bean bag](/source/Bean_bag_chair) for seven months, viewers became concerned about his mother's disciplinary methods.<ref name=NBC /> On another occasion, her youngest daughter was sent to school without a packed lunch because Ruby believed her 6-year-old daughter was old enough to prepare, and be responsible for, her lunch.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Cahill |first=Sebastian |title=Ruby Franke of 8 Passengers said on her vlog that she would withhold food from her children as a form of discipline. This type of punishment 'is a recipe for disaster,' a social work professor says. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ruby-franke-utah-8-passengers-arrest-abuse-connexions-eating-disorders-2023-8 |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=[Business Insider](/source/Business_Insider) |language=en-US |quote="Franke saying she will not bring lunch to her then-6-year-old daughter Eve at school, because Eve is responsible for packing her own lunch."}}</ref> When the school contacted her with concern over this, she refused to bring a lunch for her daughter.<ref name=WaPo/><ref name=":0" /> Some of the severe punishments Franke imposed on her children include sending a child to a [wilderness camp for troubled teens](/source/wilderness_therapy), threatening to behead a [stuffed toy](/source/stuffed_toy), and telling two of her children that [Santa Claus](/source/Santa_Claus) would not be bringing them anything for [Christmas](/source/Christmas) that year because they were too "numb" to respond to other punishments.<ref name=AP/> A [Change.org](/source/Change.org) [petition](/source/petition) was launched reporting perceived child abuse and neglect.<ref name=WaPo/><ref name=AP/><ref name=":0" /><ref name=NBC>{{cite news |first1=Daysia |last1=Tolentino |first2=Kalhan |last2=Rosenblatt |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/ruby-franke-mom-8-passengers-youtube-channel-arrested-abuse-charges-rcna102852 |title=Who is Ruby Franke, the mom of the '8 Passengers' YouTube channel arrested on abuse charges? |publisher=NBC News Pop Culture |date=August 31, 2023 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906003517/https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/ruby-franke-mom-8-passengers-youtube-channel-arrested-abuse-charges-rcna102852 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Franke parents posted in defense of the discipline, saying the incidents had been taken out of context.<ref name=Biz/> The ''8 Passengers'' YouTube channel declined in popularity in 2021.<ref name=WaPo/>

In 2022, the Frankes separated, and Kevin moved out of the house. After her YouTube channel was suspended that year,<ref name=Trib>{{cite news |first=Jordan |last=Miller |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/10/04/ruby-franke-case-timeline-events/ |title=Ruby Franke case: A timeline of events |newspaper=[The Salt Lake Tribune](/source/The_Salt_Lake_Tribune) |date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-date=October 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005125529/https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/10/04/ruby-franke-case-timeline-events/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Ruby began working as a mental health coach at ConneXions, a company run by [Jodi Hildebrandt](/source/Jodi_Hildebrandt), a counselor.<ref name=NYT/><ref name=AP/><ref name=NBC/> They launched a new video channel together called ConneXions in 2022,<ref name=BBC2>{{Cite news |first=Mattea |last=Bubalo |date=September 9, 2023 |title=Ruby Franke and 8 passengers: The rise and fall of a parenting influencer |publisher=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66719859 |access-date=September 10, 2023 |archive-date=September 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909235414/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66719859 |url-status=live }}</ref> and created a joint [Instagram](/source/Instagram) account called Moms of Truth,<ref name=BBC2/> offering parenting classes.<ref name=WaPo/> Neighbors and the Frankes' oldest daughter, Shari, a college student, called authorities to check on the latter's siblings after observing that their mother often left the children alone at home.<ref name=Trib/> In 2023, both the ''8 Passengers'' and ConneXions accounts were terminated and Ruby was unable to create any new accounts.<ref>{{cite web | title=YouTube removed Ruby Franke's ConneXions channel and says she can't make accounts anymore | website=[Business Insider](/source/Business_Insider) | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-removed-accounts-ruby-franke-8-passengers-connexions-jodi-hildebrandt-2023-9#:~:text=Ruby%20Franke%20and%20Jodi%20Hildebrandt,Bell%20wrote%20in%20a%20statement }}</ref>

==Arrest and charges==
On August 30, 2023, Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested in [Ivins, Utah](/source/Ivins%2C_Utah), and two days later, both were charged with six counts of [aggravated](/source/aggravated) child abuse, a [felony](/source/felony).<ref name=BBC/><ref name=NYT/><ref name=WaPo/><ref name=AP/><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Sole |first=Elise |date=September 1, 2023 |title=YouTuber mom Ruby Franke arrested and charged in child abuse investigation |url=https://www.today.com/parents/moms/ruby-franke-arrested-child-abuse-rcna102754 |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=Today.com |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902023938/https://www.today.com/parents/moms/ruby-franke-arrested-child-abuse-rcna102754 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=NPR_2023-09-06 >{{cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/2023/09/06/1197833521/ruby-franke-charges-youtube-child-abuse | title=YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke formally charged with 6 felony counts of child abuse | last=Olson | first=Emily | publisher=NPR | date=September 6, 2023 | access-date=September 6, 2023 | archive-date=September 6, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906235900/https://www.npr.org/2023/09/06/1197833521/ruby-franke-charges-youtube-child-abuse | url-status=live }}</ref> According to a statement from the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department, the arrests were triggered after Franke's twelve-year-old son, who appeared [emaciated](/source/Emaciation) and had "open wounds and duct tape around the extremities", had escaped through a window of Hildebrandt's house and asked at a neighboring house for food and water.<ref name=BBC/><ref name=NYT/><ref name=WaPo/><ref name=":1" /> Emergency services found Franke's ten-year-old daughter in the house, also [malnourished](/source/malnourishment); both children were taken to a hospital, where the boy was treated for severe malnourishment and "deep lacerations from being tied up with rope".<ref name=BBC/><ref name=AP/> A search of the house found evidence "consistent with the markings" on the twelve-year-old, and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services took the boy and girl and two more of Franke's children into care.<ref name=BBC/><ref name=NYT/> Police later reported that according to the boy, [cayenne pepper](/source/cayenne_pepper) and honey had been used to dress his wounds.<ref name=Trib/><ref name=":9">{{Cite news |first=Amy Beth |last=Hanson |url=https://apnews.com/article/youtube-mom-parenting-child-abuse-search-warrant-59d0a699456267229fa7eb4cde440fcc |title=Son of Utah woman who gave online parenting advice says therapist tied him up with ropes |publisher=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) |date=September 20, 2023 |access-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007145340/https://apnews.com/article/youtube-mom-parenting-child-abuse-search-warrant-59d0a699456267229fa7eb4cde440fcc |url-status=live }}</ref>

Franke and Hildebrandt were held [without bail](/source/Bail_in_the_United_States).<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |first=Kelly |last=Rissman |date=September 10, 2023 |title=Ruby Franke virtual court hearing on child abuse charges is derailed by tech issues |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/ruby-franke-court-appearance-utah-b2408092.html |access-date=September 10, 2023 |website=[The Independent](/source/The_Independent) |archive-date=September 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909155744/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/ruby-franke-court-appearance-utah-b2408092.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |first=Amy Beth |last=Hanson |date=September 8, 2023 |title=Parenting advice YouTuber Ruby Franke and business partner to remain jailed on child abuse charges |url=https://apnews.com/article/youtube-mom-parenting-advice-child-abuse-charges-d659de95728e8945dd6886d336fd9c6d |access-date=September 8, 2023 |publisher=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) |archive-date=September 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909024230/https://apnews.com/article/youtube-mom-parenting-advice-child-abuse-charges-d659de95728e8945dd6886d336fd9c6d |url-status=live }}</ref> Hildebrandt surrendered her license as a counselor pending resolution of the court case and a disciplinary investigation.<ref name=Trib/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/youtube-mom-ruby-franke-plead-guilty-child-abuse/story?id=105716212|title=YouTube mom Ruby Franke to plead guilty in child abuse case, attorney says |publisher=[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States)) |access-date=December 18, 2023 |archive-date=December 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218040806/https://abcnews.go.com/US/youtube-mom-ruby-franke-plead-guilty-child-abuse/story?id=105716212 |url-status=live}}</ref> After her arrest, YouTube suspended Franke from the platform, also suspending two channels that were linked to her.<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |first=Sean |last=Neumann |title=YouTube Bans Ruby Franke, Deletes Her Channels Following Arrest and Child Abuse Charges |url=https://people.com/ruby-franke-youtube-bans-deletes-channels-following-arrest-child-abuse-charges-7966134 |date=September 6, 2023 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |magazine=[People](/source/People_(magazine)) |archive-date=September 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912230947/https://people.com/ruby-franke-youtube-bans-deletes-channels-following-arrest-child-abuse-charges-7966134 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 18, 2023, Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. She later pleaded not guilty to two other counts.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fadulu |first=Lola |date=2023-12-18 |title=Former YouTube Parenting Channel Host Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse |language=en-US |work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/us/ruby-franke-child-abuse-plea-agreement.html |access-date=2023-12-19 |issn=0362-4331 |oclc=990059982 |archive-date=December 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219000801/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/us/ruby-franke-child-abuse-plea-agreement.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The [factual basis](/source/factual_basis) mentioned an incident of Franke forcing her son to work outdoors over several weeks with inadequate protection, resulting in severe sunburns, and claims that the children were possessed. Franke agreed to serve a prison sentence and to serve her respective sentences consecutively rather than concurrently. Franke was expected to testify against Hildebrandt in Hildebrandt's upcoming trial, but Hildebrandt separately pleaded guilty to four counts of felony aggravated child abuse on December 27, with two charges dropped as part of another plea deal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-18 |title=YouTube mom who gave parenting advice, Ruby Franke, pleads guilty in child abuse case |url=https://apnews.com/article/youtube-mom-parenting-child-abuse-plea-e948e133d6df87f6cef484156b07c41a |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=[AP News](/source/AP_News) |language=en |archive-date=December 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219000801/https://apnews.com/article/youtube-mom-parenting-child-abuse-plea-e948e133d6df87f6cef484156b07c41a |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/momfluencer-ruby-franke-blames-biz-partner-while-copping-to-child-abuse |title=Momfluencer Ruby Franke Admits to Sick Abuse in Guilty Plea |work=[The Daily Beast](/source/The_Daily_Beast) |date=December 18, 2023 |last1=Melendez |first1=Pilar |access-date=December 19, 2023 |archive-date=December 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219035651/https://www.thedailybeast.com/momfluencer-ruby-franke-blames-biz-partner-while-copping-to-child-abuse |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=CT |date=2023-12-27 |title=Mommy Vlogger Ruby Franke Pleaded Guilty To Child Abuse — Now Her Business Partner Has, Too |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/jodi-hildebrandt-ruby-franke-mommy-vlogger-guilty-1234937065/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216161253/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/jodi-hildebrandt-ruby-franke-mommy-vlogger-guilty-1234937065/ |archive-date=2024-02-16 |access-date=2024-02-16 |magazine=[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone) |publisher= rollingstone.com}}</ref> On February 20, 2024, Franke received four consecutive sentences of between one and fifteen years' imprisonment, meaning she must serve a minimum term of four years. Although the maximum term that could be imposed for all sentences would be 60 years, the [Utah Code](/source/Utah_State_Legislature) dictates that the time served by a defendant upon whom consecutive sentences are imposed must not exceed 30 years, except in circumstances of life imprisonment or the death penalty. Under Utah's indeterminate sentencing scheme, her exact term will be determined by the [Utah Board of Pardons and Parole](/source/Utah_Board_of_Pardons_and_Parole).<ref name=":6"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ruby-franke-jodi-hildebrandt-sentenced-child-abuse-youtube-eight-passengers/ |work=[CBS News](/source/CBS_News) |title=Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt sentenced to at least 4 years in prison in child abuse case |date=20 February 2024 |first=Kerry |last=Breen |access-date=February 20, 2024 |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220185037/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ruby-franke-jodi-hildebrandt-sentenced-child-abuse-youtube-eight-passengers/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Utah Code Section 76-3-401 |url=https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter3/76-3-S401.html |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=le.utah.gov |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220201903/https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter3/76-3-S401.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
On January 22, 2025, former Connexions Classroom client's husband Michael Tilleman filed a lawsuit in federal court against Hildebrandt and Franke for [business fraud](/source/business_fraud) and promoting a "methodology that encouraged child abuse among their clients". Examples of the claims made by Tilleman included the two women "engag[ing] in a racketeering enterprise by advertising and selling fraudulent services and encouraging others to perpetuate illegal and harmful acts — specifically child abuse, child torture, and psychological abuse" and that the concepts taught in the classes "ultimately led children to 'extreme danger'".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ashcraft |first1=Emily |last2=Jan. 29 |first2=KSL com {{!}} Posted- |last3=P.m |first3=2025 at 1:00 |title=Ex-client sues Ruby Franke, Jodi Hildebrandt alleging business fraud, encouragement of abuse |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/51239329/ex-client-sues-ruby-franke-jodi-hildebrandt-alleging-business-fraud-encouragement-of-abuse |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=ksl.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Jones |first=C. T. |date=2025-01-29 |title=Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt Sued for Fraud, Racketeering |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/jodi-hildebrandt-ruby-franke-lawsuit-fraud-1235250682/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==

=== Religion ===
The Frankes are members of [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints).<ref name="KSL" /><ref name="WaPo" /> Ruby and [Jodi Hildebrandt](/source/Jodi_Hildebrandt) both claimed to believe that the abuse they committed was justified because of their religious beliefs.<ref name=":8" /> Both had made claims that the abuse was to teach children the proper way to repent for their sins and to expel evil from their bodies.<ref name=":9" /> In a recorded phone call from Jodi Hildebrandt, she compares herself to a biblical [martyr](/source/martyr) and says that she is going to prison unjustly, aware of the power of her example.<ref name=":8" />

=== Family ===
Franke's three sisters are also family vloggers.<ref name="NYT"/><ref name="KSL"/><ref name="WaPo"/> They disassociated themselves from her actions in a joint statement<ref name="NYT"/><ref name="WaPo"/><ref name="BBC2"/> and later in individual videos.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yang |first=Angela |date=September 14, 2023 |title='We did not know what they were doing': Ruby Franke's sisters share new video statements |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ruby-franke-sisters-share-video-statements-rcna105163 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915023527/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ruby-franke-sisters-share-video-statements-rcna105163 |archive-date=September 15, 2023 |access-date=September 15, 2023 |publisher=[NBC News](/source/NBC_News)}}</ref>

In November 2023, after the couple had been separated for more than a year, Kevin Franke filed for divorce.<ref name=":10">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/ruby-franke-husband-kevin-franke-divorce-filing-rcna127392 |title=Ruby Franke's husband files for divorce |date=November 30, 2023 |publisher=[NBC News](/source/NBC_News) |access-date=December 2, 2023 |archive-date=December 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202062219/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/ruby-franke-husband-kevin-franke-divorce-filing-rcna127392 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ruby Franke's husband files for divorce after her child abuse arrest |date=December 2023 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ruby-franke-kevin-divorce-child-abuse-arrest-b2456860.html |work=[The Independent](/source/The_Independent) |issn=0951-9467 |oclc=1113389868 |access-date=December 2, 2023 |archive-date=December 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202062220/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ruby-franke-kevin-divorce-child-abuse-arrest-b2456860.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Kevin later sued Hildebrandt over the abuse of his children.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/ruby-frankes-husband-sues-business-partner-jodi-hildebrandt/story?id=109173970 |title=Ruby Franke's husband sues her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt over child abuse |website=[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States)) |first=Nadine |last=El-Bawab |date=April 12, 2024 |access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref> The divorce was finalized on March 20, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=KUTV |first=Michelle Poe |date=2025-03-24 |title=Kevin, Ruby Franke finalize divorce amid child abuse scandal, custody battle |url=https://kutv.com/news/8-passengers-case/ruby-kevin-franke-finalize-divorce-amid-child-abuse-scandal-custody-battle |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=KUTV |language=en}}</ref>

==Depiction in media==
{{void|main|Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story}}
Franke's case was depicted in the 2024 [Lifetime](/source/Lifetime_(TV_channel)) movie ''Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story''<ref>{{cite web |title=Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story |url=https://www.mylifetime.com/movies/mormon-mom-gone-wrong-the-ruby-franke-story |website=mylifetime.com |publisher=[Lifetime](/source/Lifetime_(TV_channel)) |access-date=15 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL6Y3NbXDT4 |title=Official Trailer &#124; Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story &#124; Lifetime |date=October 4, 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kemeny |first1=Madison|date=January 31, 2025|title=Where to watch 'Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story' |url=https://www.syracuse.com/tv/2025/01/where-to-watch-mormon-mom-gone-wrong-the-ruby-franke-story-for-free-on-lmn.html |website=syracuse.com |publisher=[Advance Local Media LLC](/source/List_of_Advance_subsidiaries) |access-date=15 July 2025}}</ref> as part of its "Ripped from the Headlines" feature films starring [Emilie Ullerup](/source/Emilie_Ullerup) as Ruby Franke and [Heather Locklear](/source/Heather_Locklear) as Jodi Hildebrandt.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/crime/a60319774/ruby-franke-story |title=The Story of Ruby Franke's Chilling Spiral from Popular "Momfluencer" to Convicted Felon |website=Biography |first=Tyler |last=Picotti |date=October 3, 2024 |access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref> The movie was negatively perceived upon announcement by her children, with Franke's eldest daughter Shari stating that they were not contacted about the movie, none of the proceeds from the movie would go to the younger siblings in question, and that releasing the film would only hurt the victims more than they already were hurt beforehand.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://people.com/ruby-franke-daughter-slams-lifetime-movie-based-on-family-trash-8723855 |title=Ruby Franke's Daughter Slams Lifetime Movie Based on Family as 'Trash': It 'Only Hurts My Siblings More' |website=[People.com](/source/People.com)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ruby-franke-story-getting-turned-144558588.html |title=Ruby Franke's Story Is Getting Turned Into A Lifetime Movie. Her Daughter Doesn't Want People to Watch |date=October 11, 2024 |website=[Yahoo Entertainment](/source/Yahoo_Entertainment)}}</ref>

On January 7, 2025, Shari Franke published a memoir detailing her experience as Franke's oldest daughter, titled ''The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom''.<ref>{{cite news| last=Miller | first=Brittany | title=Ruby Franke's daughter published a memoir about her decades of abuse. Here's everything to know | newspaper=[The Independent](/source/The_Independent) | date=8 January 2025 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/ruby-franke-daughter-shari-memoir-house-of-my-mother-b2675547.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Hattenstone | first=Simon | title='The nice version of her was manufactured for YouTube': my mum, the family vlogger who became a child abuser |newspaper=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian) | date=25 January 2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jan/25/family-vlogger-who-became-child-abuser-ruby-franke-daughter-shari-interview}}</ref>

[Hulu](/source/Hulu) released a docuseries, entitled ''Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke'', which premiered on February 27, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2025-01-07 |title=Hulu Sets Docuseries On Mommy Vlogger & Convicted Child Abuser Ruby Franke |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/ruby-franke-docuseries-hulu-1236249136/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood) |language=en-US}}</ref> Franke's ex-husband and two eldest children participated in the production of the series.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nicholson |first=Rebecca |date=2025-03-12 |title='Truly jaw-dropping': astonishing true-crime show Devil in the Family is next-level TV |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/12/truly-jaw-dropping-astonishing-true-crime-show-devil-in-the-family-is-next-level-tv |access-date=2025-03-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [Investigation Discovery](/source/Investigation_Discovery) released ''[Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence](/source/Ruby_%26_Jodi%3A_A_Cult_of_Sin_and_Influence)'' on September 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/07/investigation-discovery-ruby-franke-case-docuseries-1236472215/|title=Investigation Discovery Is Latest To Explore Ruby Franke Case In Docuseries Form|website=[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)|first=Peter|last=White|date=July 28, 2025|access-date=September 5, 2025}}</ref>  In December 2025, [Netflix](/source/Netflix) released a documentary, entitled ''[Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story](/source/Evil_Influencer%3A_The_Jodi_Hildebrandt_Story)'', featuring Franke.<ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Peter |date=January 6, 2026 |work=Deadline |title='Evil Influencer' True-Crime Doc Tops Netflix Chart |url=https://deadline.com/2026/01/evil-influencer-true-crime-doc-netflix-chart-1236665740/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260110110453/https://deadline.com/2026/01/evil-influencer-true-crime-doc-netflix-chart-1236665740/ |archive-date=January 10, 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mangan |first=Lucy |date=December 30, 2025 |work=The Guardian |title=Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story review – shall we all vow not to watch true-crime this twisted in 2026? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/dec/30/evil-influencer-the-jodi-hildebrandt-story-review-netflix |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251230181404/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/dec/30/evil-influencer-the-jodi-hildebrandt-story-review-netflix |archive-date=December 30, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[DaddyOFive](/source/DaddyOFive)
*[Fantastic Adventures scandal](/source/Fantastic_Adventures_scandal)
*[Hart family murders](/source/Hart_family_murders)
*[Michael and Sharen Gravelle](/source/Michael_and_Sharen_Gravelle)
*[Turpin case](/source/Turpin_case)

==References==
<references/>

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Franke, Ruby}}
Category:1982 births
Category:2020s YouTube controversies
Category:2023 controversies in the United States
Category:American prisoners and detainees
Category:Child abuse in the United States
Category:Child abuse incidents and cases
Category:Criminals from Utah
Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah
Category:Living people
Category:Mormonism-related controversies
Category:Parenting in the United States
Category:People from Washington County, Utah
Category:Prisoners and detainees of Utah
Category:American social media influencers
Category:American women video bloggers
Category:American YouTube vloggers
Category:YouTubers from Utah
Category:Utah State University alumni

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ruby Franke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Franke) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Franke?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.