Ruby Franke and her husband, Kevin, had been separated for 13 months at the time of her arrest for aggravated child abuse.
Kevin’s attorney, Randy Kester, told Law & Crime this week that the former couple had split over “a difference of opinion about their family parenting.”
Kester also claimed that Kevin was unable to see his children during that time and wasn’t even aware that Ruby had moved their children to Ivans, Utah, which is about four hours away from Salt Lake City.
The attorney also claimed that Ruby, 41, had been controlling Kevin, 44, “emotionally.”
“Because she knew how much he valued their marriage and valued their family, and it was his desire to be able to get back with the family and preserve his marriage,” Kester shared.
“Kevin never had any reason to believe that his children were being abused.”
When Pvnew asked Kester weeks ago about the state of the Frankes’ marriage, he told us that he couldn’t comment on it as he wasn’t the disgraced “8 Passengers” host’s legal representation.
He did, however, confirm they were still legally married.
Kester didn’t return Pvnew’s request for an updated comment.
The Utah-based attorney also said his client shared that their marriage began to disintegrate when the former YouTube star began working with business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, who was arrested with her.
“[He says] she manipulated him in conjunction with Ruby, that she’s kind of the spearhead toward essentially destroying his life and destroying his family,” Kester shared.
Kevin is working to regain custody of his minor children, who remain in the custody of the state.
Ruby and Hildebrandt were arrested in Utah on Aug. 30 on two counts each of aggravated child abuse after one of the momfluencer’s “emaciated” children escaped and fled to a neighbor’s house for help.
While locked up behind bars, authorities slapped them with four additional counts.
In her first public court appearance last Friday, a disheveled-looking Ruby learned she and Hildebrandt would remain behind bars without bail.
