YouTube star Ruby Franke of ‘8 Passengers’ family vlog and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt have been arrested. Her biography is explored.
YouTuber Ruby Franke is well-known for her formerly famous family-oriented channel, 8 Passengers.
The vlogger stopped uploading videos onto the platform in early 2022 for reasons undisclosed.
On August, news broke that Ruby and cohort Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested for alleged child abuse, so curious fans want to know more about Ruby Franke; her career, family life, what she did and what happened to her.
Who is Ruby Franke?
Ruby Franke is a former YouTuber who rose to fame after creating the 8 Passengers series.
She was born on January 18, 1982, in Utah, United States.
Her parents are Chad and Jennifer Griffiths.
She grew up with siblings Beau Griffiths, Bonnie Hoellein, Ellie Mecham and Julie Deru in Utah. She is the oldest.
While growing up, Ruby’s mother made it a tradition for her to go shopping on her birthday.
Her family came out with a music video in November 2018 for their song “Beauty in the Simple Life” and it has received over 3 million views.
What happened to ‘8 Passengers’?
With nearly 2.5 million subscribers, the 8 Passengers YouTube page was a go-to spot for many to watch content that is intended to be family friendly. The channel was run by matriarch Ruby Franke, and it centers around her life as a wife to Kevin Franke, and how she’s raising six kids.
Ruby generally posted a minimum of six new vlogs each week, meaning that she’s sharing a lot about her personal life and her children. While oversharing is an understood prerequisite of being a successful vlogger, many of Ruby’s viewers have grown concerned over the things she chooses to divulge about her kids.
Several videos from the family channel have alerted viewers. From making her son sleep on a beanbag chair for seven months, to seemingly ignoring her kids’ desire to keep things off-camera, Ruby Franke has gotten into a bit of hot water with some online.
The Family channel was eventually taken down for an undisclosed reason. Since then, Ruby has stayed out of the spotlight, making additional details on her personal life unclear.
On August 2023, news broke that she has been arrested alongside her business partner Jodi on suspicion of aggravated child abuse.
Who is Ruby Franke married to?
Former YouTube star Ruby Franke is married to Kevin Franke. The couple rose to fame together on YouTube following the creation of their online series ‘8 Passengers.’
Kevin Franke, a prominent figure within the Franke family, is an assistant civil engineer at Brigham Young University.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He then got his master’s in the field from the University of Washington before earning his PhD from Brigham Young University.
He previously worked as a professional geotechnical/earthquake engineering consultant for close to 7 years.
Are Ruby Franke and Kevin Franke still together?
Ruby and Kevin have opted to keep a noticeable quiet despite the rampant reports about their divorce, leaving their relationship status up for debate. However, per Reality Snark Kevin has apparently moved out and separated from Ruby.
Amid their divorce, which has not been confirmed by the pair officially, Ruby was living with her business partner Jodi Hildrebrandt in the latter’s residence, same house she was upon her arrest.
Kevin typically shies away from the spotlight, but in 2020 he spoke out after he and his wife received backlash for letting their then-six-year-old daughter Eve go to school without lunch.
He told Insider that all of his children were taught to prepare their own lunch but on the day in question, Eve just simply forgot.
“She came home two hours later and had a wonderful, fulfilling snack,” Kevin explained.
“And you know what? She never forgot her lunch again. So it’s a way to teach our children how to live responsibly and to be masters of themselves rather than dependent upon somebody else to always take care of them.”
How many children does she have?
Ruby and Kevin, a Mormon couple, are the parents of Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve.
All six kids were often featured in the 8 Passengers series but since the page went dark, they have shied away from the spotlight.
Details on the Franke kids are unclear at this time, but according to their mother, “they are amazing.”
“My kids are so strong,” Ruby told Insider in 2020 amid the backlash.
“They are amazing. And they have come together and have even prayed for our enemies. These people who are hating on us, they pray that they will feel the love that they are searching for.”
The oldest Franke son, Chad, who is 17 has moved out, after likely being kicked out. The oldest Franke daughter, Shari, who is a student at BYU, has allegedly cut contact with her entire immediate family.
What happened to Ruby Franke?
The mother behind a formerly famous family YouTube channel has been arrested under suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse.
Franke is listed on the Washington County Sheriff’s Office’s website as “in custody” after being arrested at 9:33 p.m. on August 30 in Springville, Utah. Her business partner was also arrested at the same time.
According to arrest documents seen by Fox 13 in Salt Lake City, a child climbed out of a window at a residence in Ivins Utah to get help, which led to the discovery of the abuse Franke is being charged with. The residence belonged to Franke’s business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, who was also arrested in the case.
The child ran to a neighbor’s house to get help, Fox 13 reported, and asked for food and water. The neighbors noticed that the kid had duct tape on his ankles and wrists and decided to call the police.
Fox 13 reported that the child was taken to the hospital where they were treated for “severe” wounds, neglect, and malnourishment, according to the arrest documents.
After the first kid escaped the house, a second malnourished child was found in the same residence, according to Fox 13.
According to the documents, Franke filmed a YouTube video from the house just days before the arrest which “adds to Ms. Franke…being present in the home and having knowledge of the abuse, malnourishment and neglect,” the documents say, according to Fox 13.
Who is Jodi Hildebrandt?
Jodi Hildebrandt is the creator of the mental health company “Connexions Classroom.”
She is Ruby Franke’s business partner and often made appearance on the ‘8 Passengers’ YouTube channel.
Since later 2022, the Franke family commits themselves to Connexions full-time and no longer vlogs for the 8 Passengers YouTube channel for their own personal reasons.
On the ‘Connexions Classroom’ Ruby and Jodi often share their thoughts and advice mothers.