Momfluencer Ruby Franke’s husband, Kevin Franke, is making sure their six kids are his No. 1 priority in the wake of his wife’s child abuse arrest.
Kevin’s attorney, Randy S. Kester, told Pvnew Thursday that his client’s “urgent focus is simply to keep his children together under his fatherly care.”
The Frankes share Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell and Eve.
Ruby — a Utah mom known for her YouTube channel, “8 Passengers” — was taken into custody Wednesday under suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse.
Her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, was also arrested that day under the same suspicions.
According to the arrest record obtained by Pvnew, a child fled through a window of Hildebrandt’s house in Ivins and asked a neighbor for food and water.
When the Good Samaritan — who said the child “appeared to be emaciated and malnourished” — noticed duct tape around their ankles and wrists, they called the police.
Responding officers observed the child’s condition to be so “severe” that they transported the victim to Saint George Regional Hospital.
According to cops, the child was placed on a medical hold “due to deep lacerations from being tied up with rope.”
Another allegedly malnourished child was discovered shortly thereafter and was also taken to the hospital.
The police report stated that Ruby, 41, had filmed a video in Hildebrandt’s home just days before the incident, indicating that the former had “knowledge of the abuse, malnourishment and neglect.”
Ruby Franke arrest: What you need to know
Ruby Franke was a “momfluencer” who had one of YouTube’s biggest channels, “8 Passengers,” which documented her and her husband, Kevin, and their six kids.
Franke was arrested on Aug. 30, 2023, on two counts of aggravated child abuse and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Franke’s arrest came after an emaciated child with duct tape around their extremities escaped and ran to a neighbor’s house for help.
Franke’s sisters released a joint statement saying they did everything they could to protect their nieces and nephews “behind the public scene” and that the arrest “needed to happen.”
Through a lawyer, Franke’s husband denied having any part in the abuse.
Franke in court accused one of her own children of sexually abusing a sibling for years.
YouTube has deleted Franke’s account and banned her from the platform.
Ruby — who will be held in Washington County jail without bail — declined to speak to authorities and instead requested a lawyer.
Four Franke kids remain in the care of the Department of Child and Family Services.
In Utah, aggravated child abuse includes starvation, broken bones, head injuries from hitting or shaking and suffocation.
If intentionally inflicted, the perpetrator faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Following Ruby’s arrest, her estranged daughter, Shari, took to Instagram to say that she and her family “are so glad that justice is being served,” claiming they’ve “been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this.”
Ruby’s sisters shared similar sentiments in a joint statement that said the two arrests “needed to happen.”
“For the last 3 years we have kept quiet on the subject of our sister Ruby Franke for the sake of her children,” the statement continued.
“Behind the public scene we have done everything we could to try and make sure the kids were safe.”
According to the sisters, the Franke “kids are now safe, which is the number one priority.”
Ruby and Hildebrandt — a therapist whose license was suspended after she spoke about a patient’s “porn addiction” at her Mormon church — founded ConneXions in June 2022.
Their self-help program was immediately accused of being a “cult.”
