- A concerned neighbor witnessed Ruby Franke’s children working outside in extreme heat, pulling weeds.
- Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were residing in Ivins, Utah at the time.
- Despite temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the children continued to work.
A concerned neighbor has come forward with information regarding the YouTuber mom, Ruby Franke, who was arrested and charged with child abuse. The neighbor recalls observing Franke’s children laboring in the scorching heat of Utah while they pulled weeds.
Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested at Hildebrandt’s residence last week. Franke’s children, one of whom was described as emaciated and injured by authorities, sought help from a neighbor after escaping through a window.
Franke gained popularity as the mother featured in the family vlogging channel 8 Passengers, which reached a peak of 2.5 million subscribers. The channel documented the lives of Franke, her husband Kevin Franke, and their six children: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve.
However, due to controversies and allegations of mistreatment, 8 Passengers ultimately shut down earlier this year, leading Franke to become more involved in Hildebrandt’s family counseling business and YouTube channel ConneXions. However, ConneXions also faced accusations of authoritarianism and being labeled as a “cult.”
Franke and Hildebrandt are currently listed as “in custody” on the Washington County Sheriff’s Office’s website. They were arrested on August 30 and have each been charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse.
A concerned neighbor, who spoke to MailOnline, expressed their worries about the children. They witnessed the kids working outside in the summer heat around 6 to 8 weeks ago. Despite the temperature exceeding 100 degrees, the children persevered while pulling weeds.
According to other reports, neighbors had been attempting to alert authorities for some time. Rolling Stone reported that one neighbor called the police multiple times, but no action was taken. The neighbor described how things took a dark turn when Ruby stopped her YouTube activities, sealed the windows with paper, and disappeared for weeks, leaving the young children unattended.
Furthermore, two neighbors from Franke’s home in Springville spoke to NBC News, stating that they had previously reported Franke and Hildebrandt to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. The neighbors expressed relief that the situation was addressed before any harm occurred. However, they voiced frustration that their previous attempts to seek help had not resulted in intervention.
Another neighbor informed NBC News that Franke had ejected her husband, Kevin, from their home in the past year. Kevin, a former professor at Brigham Young University, has mostly remained out of the public eye since the closure of 8 Passengers. He attended a hearing to determine the children’s placement on September 1, and his attorney emphasized his commitment to caring for his children.
In conclusion, concerned neighbors witnessed Franke’s children working in extreme heat, raising questions about their well-being. The arrests of Franke and Hildebrandt shed light on the alleged mistreatment of the children, leading to a deeper examination of their controversial online presence and the subsequent intervention by authorities.
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