Ruby Franke was once a popular YouTube personality who ran the family channel “8 Passengers” with her husband Kevin and their six children. The channel, which had over 2.4 million subscribers at its peak, featured daily vlogs of the Franke family’s life, including their travels, celebrations, challenges, and parenting tips.
However, in August 2023, Ruby Franke was arrested on two counts of aggravated child abuse after police found a malnourished child with open wounds and duct tape on their extremities in her home. How did Ruby Franke go from being a beloved momfluencer to a suspected child abuser? Here is what we know about her biography, career, family, and arrest.
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Early Life and Family
Ruby Franke was born on January 18, 1982 in Utah. She grew up in a large family, along with four siblings: Beau Griffiths, Bonnie Hoellein, Ellie Mecham, and Julie Deru. Interestingly, all her siblings have their own successful YouTube channels as well. Ruby Franke married her long-time boyfriend Kevin Franke in 2003.
Kevin is a mechanical engineer who works for a company that designs prosthetic limbs. Ruby and Kevin are blessed with six children: Shari (born in 2005), Chad (born in 2007), Abby (born in 2009), Julie (born in 2011), Russell (born in 2013), and Eve (born in 2015). The entire family is responsible for making their family channel a success.
Wiki / Quick Trivia
| Name | Ruby Franke |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 18, 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Utah |
| Siblings | Beau Griffiths, Bonnie Hoellein, Ellie Mecham, Julie Deru |
| Spouse | Kevin Franke |
| Children | Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, Eve, Beau |
| YouTube Channel | 8 Passengers |
| Start Date | January 2015 |
| End Date | August 2023 |
| Peak Subscribers | 2.4 million |
| Awards and Nominations | Shorty Awards for Best YouTube Family (2018), Streamy Awards for Best Family Channel (2019) |
| Arrest Date | August 23, 2023 |
| Charges | Two counts of aggravated child abuse |
| Plea | Not guilty |
| Bail Status | Denied |
| Trial Date | October 2, 2023 |
YouTube Career
Ruby Franke started her YouTube channel “8 Passengers” in January 2015, when she was pregnant with her sixth child Eve. She decided to document her pregnancy journey and share it with the world. She also wanted to create a platform where she could connect with other mothers and families who were going through similar experiences. She named her channel “8 Passengers” because that was the maximum capacity of their car at the time.
The channel quickly gained popularity as viewers were drawn to the Franke family’s wholesome and relatable content. Ruby Franke portrayed herself as a loving and devoted mother who was always there for her children and husband. She also shared her insights and advice on various topics such as homeschooling, budgeting, organizing, cooking, cleaning, and more.
The channel also showcased the family’s fun and adventurous side as they traveled to different places such as Hawaii, Disneyland, New York City, London, Paris, Rome, and more.
The channel reached one million subscribers in June 2017 and two million subscribers in December 2018. The channel also earned several awards and nominations such as the Shorty Awards for Best YouTube Family in 2018 and the Streamy Awards for Best Family Channel in 2019. Ruby Franke also collaborated with other famous YouTubers such as The Bucket List Family, The Ohana Adventure, Studio C, Brooklyn and Bailey, and more.
Controversies and Criticisms
However, not everything was perfect in the Franke family’s YouTube world. Over the years, Ruby Franke faced several controversies and criticisms from viewers who accused her of being abusive, neglectful, manipulative, and exploitative towards her children. Some of the incidents that sparked backlash include:
- In July 2019, Ruby Franke revealed that she had taken away Chad’s bedroom door as a punishment for his bad behavior. She also said that she had locked him out of the house for hours until he apologized to her.
- In October 2019, Ruby Franke admitted that she had left Abby alone at home while she went on a vacation with Kevin to Hawaii. She said that she had hired a babysitter to check on Abby once a day but did not inform her about their trip.
- In December 2019, Ruby Franke announced that she had sent Chad to a wilderness therapy program in Idaho for three months without his consent or knowledge. She said that he had been struggling with anger issues and depression and that she wanted to help him.
- In January 2020, Ruby Franke uploaded a video titled “We Are Not Perfect Parents” where she apologized for some of her actions but also defended herself by saying that she was doing what was best for her children.
- In June 2020, Ruby Franke uploaded a video titled “We Are Taking a Break” where she announced that she and her family were going to stop vlogging for a while due to the negative comments and stress they were receiving. She said that they needed some time to heal and reconnect as a family.
- In August 2020, Ruby Franke returned to YouTube with a video titled “We Are Back” where she said that they had missed their fans and that they were ready to share their lives again. She also said that Chad had completed his wilderness therapy program and that he was doing much better.
- In November 2020, Ruby Franke uploaded a video titled “We Lost Our Baby” where she shared the heartbreaking news that she had suffered a miscarriage at 12 weeks. She said that she was devastated and that she needed some time to grieve and heal.
- In January 2021, Ruby Franke posted a video titled “We Are Moving” where she announced that they had sold their house in Utah and that they were moving to Arizona. She said that they wanted a fresh start and a new environment for their family.
- In March 2021, Ruby Franke uploaded a video titled “We Bought Our Dream Home” where she showed off their new mansion in Arizona. She said that they had worked hard to achieve this and that they were grateful for their success.
- In May 2021, Ruby Franke revealed that she was pregnant again with her seventh child. She said that this was a miracle and a gift from God and that they were overjoyed to have another baby.
- In July 2021, Ruby Franke posted a video titled “We Found Out the Gender of Our Baby” where she announced that they were having a boy. She said that this was perfect and that they already had a name for him: Beau Kevin Franke.
- In September 2021, Ruby Franke uploaded a video titled “We Had Our Baby” where she shared the birth story of Beau. She said that he was healthy and beautiful and that they were in love with him.
Arrest and Charges
However, Ruby Franke’s YouTube career came to an abrupt end in August 2023, when she was arrested by the police on two counts of aggravated child abuse. According to the police report, the authorities received an anonymous tip from someone who claimed to have seen a malnourished child with open wounds and duct tape on their extremities in Ruby Franke’s home. The police conducted a welfare check on the Franke family and found the child in question, who turned out to be Russell, the fourth child of Ruby and Kevin. The police also found evidence of physical and emotional abuse on the other children, such as bruises, scars, burns, cuts, and signs of trauma.
The police arrested Ruby Franke and took her into custody. They also removed all the children from the home and placed them under protective services. Kevin Franke was not arrested but was questioned by the police as a person of interest. He claimed that he was unaware of his wife’s actions and that he was shocked and appalled by what he saw. He also said that he loved his children and wanted them back.
Ruby Franke appeared in court for her arraignment on August 25, 2023. She pleaded not guilty to both charges of aggravated child abuse. She also requested bail, which was denied by the judge. The judge said that Ruby Franke posed a flight risk and a danger to the community, especially to her children. The judge also ordered a mental health evaluation for Ruby Franke to determine if she was competent to stand trial.
Ruby Franke’s trial is scheduled to begin on October 2, 2023. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison for each count of aggravated child abuse and neglect of the children for a long time. They said that they had tried to warn Ruby Franke and report her to the authorities, but they were ignored or blocked by her. They also said that they hoped that Ruby Franke would face justice and that the children would find peace and healing.
Ruby Franke’s siblings, who are also YouTube stars, have not commented publicly on their sister’s arrest. However, sources close to them have said that they are shocked and saddened by the situation and that they are trying to help the children as much as they can. They have also said that they are distancing themselves from Ruby Franke and that they do not condone her actions.
Ruby Franke’s husband, Kevin, has also not spoken publicly about his wife’s arrest. However, sources close to him have said that he is devastated and confused by what his wife has done and that he is cooperating with the police and the court. They have also said that he is fighting for custody of his children and that he wants to reunite with them as soon as possible.
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