YouTube Star’s Hidden Child Abuse Horror

Laptop displaying YouTube, with coffee and stationery nearby.

A once-celebrated Mormon family vlogger starved and tormented her own children behind the camera, exposing the twisted dangers of unchecked online fame and radical extremism that threaten traditional family values.

Story Highlights

Ruby Franke built a 2.5 million-subscriber YouTube empire with strict parenting vlogs, earning over $100K monthly before her 2023 arrest for child abuse.
Franke and partner Jodi Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to starving and confining children, receiving 4-30 year sentences in 2024.
Family fractured: Divorce finalized in 2025; daughter Shari exposes abuse in memoir and Hulu docuseries.
Case highlights exploitation in family vlogging, pressuring platforms for child welfare reforms.

From Vlogging Fame to Family Horror

Ruby Franke launched the “8 Passengers” YouTube channel in early 2015 from Springville, Utah. She posted daily vlogs showcasing strict, faith-based parenting of her six children. The channel hit 2.5 million subscribers and 1 billion views by June 2020, generating over $100,000 monthly income. Her image as a disciplined Mormon mother drew millions, but controversies like denying son Chad a bedroom sparked early backlash. Constant filming turned their home into a monetized set, prioritizing online perfection over real family life.

Escalation Through Extremism and Abuse

Post-2020, Ruby partnered with Jodi Hildebrandt, a discredited therapist whose license was revoked due to complaints. They launched “Moms of Truth” on Instagram via Hildebrandt’s ConneXions company. Ruby isolated herself, disowning children Shari and Chad, separating from husband Kevin in 2022. Abuse targeted younger children Russell and Eve with starvation, physical torment, and confinement. On August 30, 2023, Ruby’s emaciated son escaped to a neighbor with duct tape on his wrists and ankles, prompting arrests.

Arrest, Conviction, and Family Reckoning

Police arrested Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt on August 30, 2023. Formal charges followed on December 18, 2023. Both pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse on February 20, 2024, receiving consecutive 1-15 year terms, totaling 4-30 years. Kevin Franke filed for divorce in November 2023, finalizing it on March 20, 2025, and sued Hildebrandt. Ruby viewed herself as God’s instrument, driven by fame and perfectionism. Platforms suspended the channel, ending the vlogging income.

Eldest daughter Shari Franke emerged as whistleblower, researching Hildebrandt’s history and alerting authorities. She released memoir *The House of My Mother* in 2025, critiquing vlogging’s harms. Hulu’s *Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke* docuseries aired that year, featuring Shari, Chad, Kevin, and unseen footage of threats. Sons Chad and victims Russell and Eve detailed off-camera beatings contrasting public discipline.

Impacts on Families and Vlogging Culture

The case shattered the Franke family, leaving children with physical and mental scars. Springville’s Mormon “Happy Valley” community faced scrutiny over strict LDS practices. Ruby’s vlogger sisters distanced themselves publicly. Economically, the family lost massive income streams. Broader effects include social backlash against exploitative family vlogs, sparking calls for child welfare reforms and platform accountability. Kevin admitted initially prioritizing Ruby over kids, highlighting enabling dynamics in abusive homes.

Short-term, arrests banned channels and fractured the family. Long-term, Ruby serves up to 30 years; 2025 media aids healing but underscores vlogging’s dark side. This story warns conservative families about online pressures eroding parental authority and child protection, urging vigilance against extremism masked as faith or discipline. Platforms must prioritize real welfare over profits, aligning with values of strong, private family units.