Ruby Franke, the previous star of the popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, has recently made headlines for the wrong reasons. In August, she was arrested on suspicion of aggravated child abuse, leaving her millions of followers shocked and concerned. This arrest comes after a tumultuous three years for the Franke family, marked by allegations and rumors. However, it is essential to understand the rise of 8 Passengers and the inevitable downfall that many viewers predicted.
Originally launched in January 2015, 8 Passengers documented the lives of Ruby and Kevin Franke and their six children. The Franke family, devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, created the channel as a way to showcase their daily lives and provide inspiration for other women in similar situations. Ruby Franke stated that she wanted women who were still nursing, sleep deprived, or struggling with their families to see the light at the end of the tunnel and find solace in their efforts.
The channel quickly garnered a huge following, reaching one million subscribers in August 2017. Viewers were drawn to the Franke’s parenting style, as they showcased their home-schooling efforts, meal preparations, and overall family dynamics. However, as their popularity grew, so did the scrutiny and criticism directed at the family. Some viewers began to question the Franke’s authoritarian parenting methods, alleging that they bordered on cruelty.
Controversy began to swirl around the family when Chad, one of the Franke children, revealed in a vlog that he had lost his bedroom privileges for playing pranks on his younger brother. Some viewers accused the Franke parents of child abuse for this disciplinary action. Investigative YouTube channels delved deeper into their past content, highlighting moments they found concerning. For instance, in one video, Ruby Franke stated that she wouldn’t bring a packed lunch to her six-year-old daughter because she had forgotten it, leading some viewers to accuse her of starving her child.
These allegations led to the creation of a Change.org petition calling for Child Protective Services (CPS) to intervene. While the petition gained over 17,000 signatures, no official action was taken, with CPS stating that the claims were unsupported. The Franke family, in their defense, argued that they provided their children with choices and taught them about the consequences of their actions.
Despite these controversies, the Franke family continued to upload videos on their channel, albeit sporadically. However, their online presence eventually came to a halt, and the channel was removed in mid-2023. Former manager Larry Shapiro expressed his sorrow over the family’s unraveling but refrained from commenting further on the matter.
Ruby Franke attempted to rekindle her YouTube career last year by joining a new channel called ConneXions alongside therapist Jodi Nan Hildebrandt. However, this venture was met with criticism from viewers due to Hildebrandt’s controversial statements and Franke’s comments on children’s privacy and unconditional love.
As the family faced mounting scrutiny, their unity began to crumble. The eldest child, Shari, publicly distanced herself from her relatives and disapproved of the extreme beliefs propagated on ConneXions. The whereabouts and status of the other family members, including Chad and Kevin Franke, remain unclear.
The arrest of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt on August 30, 2023, sent shockwaves through their online community. Reports suggest that the police responded to an incident at Hildebrandt’s home, where they discovered a child seeking help with duct tape on their ankles and wrists. The child’s condition was described as severe, and they were transported to the hospital. Another child was found at the residence, further exacerbating the gravity of the situation. Ruby Franke was also present in the house and was aware of the abuse, neglect, and maltreatment.
Shari, along with Franke’s sisters, expressed relief and gratitude that justice was finally being served. They emphasized that the children’s safety was the top priority. The arrest marks a turning point in this troubling saga, leaving viewers shocked and concerned about the well-being of the Franke family.
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