A Mormon YouTuber’s husband is “trying to keep his kids together” while the mother of six is arrested on child abuse charges after two children were found starving with open wounds and duct tape on their extremities.
Ruby Franke, 41, is known for her YouTube channel 8 Passengers. Earlier this week, she was taken into custody along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt on suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse.
Franke has six children with her husband Kevin Franke – Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell and Eve.
Mr. Franke’s attorney, Randy S.Kester, told Page Six that his client’s “urgent focus is simply to keep his children together under his fatherly care.”
Following the police investigation, four minor children were taken into the care of Children and Family Services. It is not confirmed whether the children were related to either woman.
Kevin Franke (right) said his “urgent main focus” is keeping his six children, whom he shares with former YouTuber Ruby Franke (left), under his care
Mormon YouTuber Ruby Franke (pictured with her daughters) was taken into custody earlier this week on suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse
According to an arrest report, a child escaped through a window of Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins and went to a neighbor, who then called police.
The Santa Clara-Ivins Utah Department of Public Safety arrested the two women after a report of a juvenile in distress at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday.
Authorities said the child was described as “emaciated and malnourished, with open wounds and tape on his extremities” and had asked for food and water.
In a statement, they said, “The juvenile’s condition was so serious that he was evaluated by Santa Clara-Irvin EMS and transported to a local hospital.”
“Police have received information that there may be other youths in a similar condition in a nearby house.”
“Officers arrived at the home, searched the apartment and found another youth who was in a similar physical condition of malnutrition.
“They were also transported by emergency medical services for hospital treatment.” Police said “evidence consistent with the markings found on the youth” was found in the apartment.
Both Franke and Hildebrandt remain in custody at the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
Franke (seen with her husband) is known on the channel for her strict parenting style, which is why she stopped uploading footage in January 2022. Uploading stopped earlier this year
Ruby, her husband and their six children rose to fame in 2015 after she began sharing videos on YouTube that gave a glimpse into her life as a Mormon mother of six
Frake’s estranged eldest daughter Shari, 20, announced in April that she had no longer had contact with her mother.
She posted on Instagram about her mother’s arrest and shared a picture of police officers outside the house with the caption, “Finally.”
Shari added: “Today was a big day. My family and I are so happy that justice is being served.
“We have been trying to inform the police and CPS about this for years and are so pleased they have finally decided to intervene.”
“Children are safe, but they still have a long way to go. Please keep them in your prayers and also respect their privacy.”
Franke’s eldest daughter Shari, 20, posted on Instagram about her mother’s arrest, sharing a picture of police officers outside the house with the caption, “Finally.”
Franke came under fire in July for revealing that her then six-year-old daughter Eve was left “starving” because the little girl neglected to prepare her own lunch before school
Franke’s two sisters said the arrests “had to happen” and said they had done everything they could over the past three years to ensure the children’s safety.
Franke is known for her strict parenting style on the channel, where she will stop uploading footage in January 2022. The channel was removed earlier this year.
When asked why she left YouTube behind on ConneXions months later, she said she decided to stop uploading videos because she wanted to “save her children.”
Franke has gained more than 2.2 million subscribers by documenting her daily activities on social media alongside her husband Kevin.
The mother-of-six came under fire in July after footage resurfaced showing her starving her six-year-old daughter Eve because she forgot to make her own lunch.
Franke’s oldest child, Shari (seen in May), announced in April that she had no longer had contact with her mother
In a video posted to YouTube in February 2020, Ruby explained that she received a text message from her daughter’s teacher informing her that the child had nothing to eat for lunch.
She said all of her children were responsible for making their own lunches in the morning, so she wouldn’t bring Eve food over because she wanted to teach her a lesson.
Franke said: “My hope.” [is that] She will be hungry and come home and say, “It was really painful being hungry all day. I’ll make sure I always have lunch.”
“The natural result is that she just has to starve.”