Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke

Express Tribune

28-02-2025

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In late August 2023, a distressing event unfolded in Ivins, Utah. A 12-year-old boy, visibly malnourished, approached a neighbor's house. Desperate for help, he rang the doorbell. At first, no one responded, but as he was about to leave, someone on the Ring doorbell camera called out to him. 'Can you do two favors for me?' the boy asked. 'Take me to the nearest police station?'
The woman who answered the door gave him some water, while her husband contacted the authorities, reporting a child who was 'emaciated' with 'tape around his legs' and 'hungry and thirsty.' When police arrived, they discovered the boy was the youngest son of Ruby Franke, a local YouTuber. He had escaped from the home of Franke's business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, where he and his 10-year-old sister were being held captive. The children had been starved, isolated, and physically abused. Ruby Franke, the mother behind the popular family vlog 8 Passengers, had become convinced her children were possessed by 'evil spirits.'
In the wake of the escape, both Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested on multiple charges of child abuse. The two women are now serving consecutive prison terms, ranging from 4 to 30 years, after pleading guilty.
Hulu's new three-part docuseries Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, which premieres on February 27, delves into the chilling events leading to their arrests. Directed by Olly Lambert (known for Ukraine: The People's Fight and Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake), the series offers exclusive insights from Ruby's estranged children, Shari and Chad, as they share their stories for the first time on camera. The docuseries also features interviews with law enforcement, neighbors, and Ruby's ex-husband, Kevin Franke. This is the real story behind the fall of Ruby Franke, the once-popular family vlogger turned convicted child abuser.
Who is Ruby Franke?
Ruby Franke, 43, a Mormon mother of six from Springville, Utah, first gained fame in 2015 with her YouTube channel 8 Passengers. The channel documented the everyday lives of her family and quickly grew to 2.5 million subscribers by June 2020. However, as her popularity rose, so did concerns about her parenting methods. In one infamous video, Ruby's 15-year-old son Chad revealed he had been sleeping on a beanbag in the basement for months as punishment. Other videos showed Ruby threatening to withhold meals or even cutting off the head of a child's teddy bear. She also made headlines when the family opened Christmas presents while the youngest children received nothing.
In the docuseries, Kevin Franke explains that Ruby's obsession with appearing as the "perfect mom" was a driving force behind her channel's success. But the growing criticism, particularly regarding her harsh disciplinary tactics, troubled her deeply. Despite this, Ruby continued to dismiss the concerns, claiming in 2021 that her approach simply showcased 'what a responsible mother looks like.'
Who is Jodi Hildebrandt?
Jodi Hildebrandt, a therapist who had her license revoked in 2012 after disclosing a patient's personal information to church leaders, was introduced to the Franke family through a family friend. Ruby and Kevin hired Hildebrandt to counsel their teenage son Chad, who had been acting out. However, as the docuseries reveals, Chad wasn't the only one who felt increasingly controlled by the family's public image. As the vlogging pressure mounted, Ruby turned to Hildebrandt's extreme discipline methods, believing they were the key to "saving" her children.
Hildebrandt's teachings focused heavily on the concept of 'demonic possession,' and soon, Ruby and Kevin became convinced that their entire family was being affected by evil forces. By August 2021, Hildebrandt moved into the Franke home, and the two women's relationship grew unnervingly close. According to Kevin, it became more than just a friendship—Ruby began sleeping in Hildebrandt's bedroom, and their bond appeared far more intimate than what he had initially expected.
Attempts at Intervention
As concerns about the Franke children's well-being mounted, neighbors and YouTube viewers started to take action. Shari Franke, still in touch with concerned neighbors, called the police to request a welfare check on the kids. However, the authorities were unable to enter the home without a warrant, which the judge declined to sign.
In 2020, a Change.org petition calling for a welfare check on the children garnered over 18,000 signatures. Yet, the authorities were unable to intervene because they found no physical evidence of abuse, and the children had been instructed not to answer the door. Meanwhile, Kevin Franke continued to hold onto hope that Ruby would let him return home and did not respond to the growing concerns of the outside world.
The Arrests and Aftermath
Ruby and Jodi's arrest was a turning point. After more than a year of no contact, Ruby called Kevin, asking him to pick up their two youngest children from the police station. She claimed the children were 'demonically possessed' and accused them of lying to the police.
Upon searching Hildebrandt's home, authorities found disturbing items such as ropes, handcuffs, and medical supplies. In a safe room, they also discovered a journal Ruby had kept, documenting her daily attempts to 'exorcise' her children. The police learned that only the two youngest children had been held at Hildebrandt's house, while the two middle daughters were later found at a neighbor's home.
Ruby's escaped son told authorities that he and his sister had been forced to endure grueling physical punishment, including being tied down and forced to jump on a trampoline all day. They were also driven into the desert and made to run for hours.
Ruby and Jodi pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. In an emotional public apology during sentencing, Ruby expressed deep regret for the pain she had caused her children, blaming Hildebrandt for manipulating her actions.
The Franke Family Today
Ruby's eldest daughter, Shari Franke, has since published a memoir titled The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom, which has become a New York Times bestseller. She now uses her platform to raise awareness about the dangers of family vlogging. Shari has also vowed never to speak to her mother again.
Chad Franke has transitioned into social media influencing and, in 2024, shared that he had started attending real estate school. Meanwhile, Ruby's younger children are in custody, receiving medical care and ongoing psychological treatment.
Kevin Franke filed for divorce from Ruby in February 2025, citing his regret for vlogging his children and calling for legal protection for children in the online world. "Vlogging my family, putting my children into public social media, was wrong, and I regret it every day," he said.
The true story of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt's fall is one of manipulation, abuse, and deception. The Devil in the Family docuseries brings this horrifying tale to light, shedding new details about the life of a family once idolized on YouTube.