Ruby Franke, the mother known for her YouTube channel 8 Passengers, has recently been arrested on suspicion of child abuse. Franke, along with another woman, is currently in custody. This news comes after years of public criticism regarding Franke’s parenting and rumors about a family in chaos.
Franke was a familiar face on the 8 Passengers channel, where she documented the lives of her, her husband Kevin Franke, and their six children. At its peak, the channel had around 2.5 million subscribers, but earlier this year, it was taken down for unknown reasons. The family has been involved in various allegations for some time, which ultimately led to the downfall of 8 Passengers. Franke then moved on to a different, controversial channel last year, while other family members disappeared from the public eye.
The Franke family has faced criticism for their parenting style over the years, with rumors of child abuse surfacing in the summer of 2020. These rumors gained traction when their son Chad revealed in a vlog that he had his bedroom taken away as a punishment and was sleeping on a beanbag. Investigative YouTube channels began scrutinizing the family’s past content and claimed to have found evidence of abuse. For instance, one video showed Franke refusing to bring lunch for her 6-year-old daughter because she forgot to pick it up, leading to allegations of starvation.
Experts in child psychology and parenting have stated that severe disciplinary measures, such as those allegedly employed by the Frankes, can have detrimental effects on a child’s self-worth and emotional well-being. It often leads to a strained parent-child relationship and the child repeating the behavior without fully understanding what they did wrong.
The Frankes denied the allegations and accused the internet of creating drama by taking their clips out of context. They claimed to give their children choices and teach them about the consequences of their actions. The Division of Child and Family Services in Utah closed the case due to lack of evidence.
Despite their denial, the Frankes could not escape the allegations. Their video uploads became sporadic until they eventually stopped altogether. The channel has now been deleted. In June 2022, Ruby Franke announced the launch of a new channel called ConneXions with therapist Jodi Nan Hildebrandt. This venture immediately drew concern, with critics labeling it a “cult.” ConneXions presents itself as a mom’s support group but has been criticized for its damaging and authoritarian teachings.
Videos from ConneXions showcased Franke and Hildebrandt promoting controversial beliefs such as not loving children unconditionally and ignoring their privacy. The channel also made homophobic, transphobic, racist, and ableist comments. Viewers who scrutinized this new project also discovered troubling videos from the Frankes’ past, showing harsh punishments and strict household rules.
Some speculate that Franke’s involvement with ConneXions led to her eldest daughter, Shari, cutting off contact with the family. In a September 2022 Instagram story, Shari addressed the rumors and distanced herself from ConneXions, expressing her disagreement with its extreme beliefs. She asked for privacy as she and her family navigate this difficult situation.
Now, both Franke and Hildebrandt have been arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse. The specifics of the arrest are currently unknown, but there are questions about the rest of the family’s whereabouts. Chad, the second oldest child, is believed to have moved out, and Kevin Franke has been out of the public eye for several months.
The arrest of Franke and Hildebrandt comes as a relief for Shari and her family, who claim to have been reporting their concerns to the police and CPS for years. The Springville Fire Department responded to an incident at Hildebrandt’s home on the same day as the arrests, but it is unclear if these incidents are connected.
More information about the arrest and the family’s situation is yet to be released. Insider has reached out to the authorities and the family’s former management for further details.
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