In a recent development, famous YouTuber Ruby and Kevin Franke have come under the police’s radar after being charged with two felony charges.
The duo, known for sharing parenting skills and raising their six children in Utah, received some degree of criticism about what has happened in the last couple of days has put them in huge trouble!
Ruby Franke, the former operator of the “8 Passengers” family YouTube channel, was arrested on Wednesday on two charges related to child abuse. Authorities made the arrest after finding a malnourished minor with visible injuries and duct tape on their limbs, apparently trying to escape the house. The incident was made more disturbing when another malnourished child was also discovered at the same place. Since then, Franke and her YouTube channel have been under the radar of police.
Who Is Ruby Franke?
Ruby Franke is a popular social media influencer, YouTuber, and family vlogger. She is best known for running the YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” which primarily focuses on family and parenting content.
Ruby, along with her husband, Kevin Franke, documents their life as parents raising six children, sharing insights into their daily routines, family adventures, and parenting experiences.
For the unversed, Ruby and Kevin Franke started their family YouTube channel back in early 2015. The channel served as a platform to document the lives of the Franke family, comprising the parents and their six children: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve. Impressively, 8 Passengers managed to accumulate nearly 2.3 million subscribers.
Much like other family-oriented channels on YouTube, 8 Passengers predominantly focused on showcasing Ruby and Kevin Franke’s parenting style and their approach to raising their children as they grew up in Utah.
Why Is Ruby from 8 Passengers in Jail?
In a disturbing turn of events, Ruby Franke has been arrested on two counts of aggravated child abuse. This arrest stems from a deeply concerning incident where police discovered a malnourished child with open wounds and duct tape, which led to the discovery of the abuse. The incident was reported at 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
Jodi Hildebrandt, who is both Franke’s business partner and collaborator, was also arrested in connection with this case. For the unversed, Hildebrandt is the founder of the controversial life counseling organization ConneXions.
Furthermore, arrest documents reveal that the authorities were alerted when the child escaped from the Ivins residence and sought help from a neighbor at approximately 10:50 a.m. The child asked for food and water, but what raised immediate alarm was the presence of duct tape on the child’s ankles and wrists. Thereafter, the neighbor promptly contacted the police.
“The calling party stated the juvenile appeared to be emaciated and malnourished, with open wounds and duct tape around the extremities,” the police authority stated.
Franke and Hildebrandt are known for creating advice videos, which critics argue promote a harsh parenting style. Ruby Franke, in particular, has faced prior scrutiny for her now-deleted parenting vlogs, with viewers accusing her and her husband, Kevin, of abusive behavior over the years. This arrest has intensified concerns surrounding their content and parenting practices.
Why Is Ruby Franke’s Parenting Criticized?
The Frankes’ parenting approach, known for its strictness, had garnered significant attention and even led to reports being made to authorities. This level of scrutiny and criticism on social media platforms made the YouTuber parents famous for all the infamous reasons!
One notable incident involved a video in which Franke’s declined to provide lunch for her then-six-year-old child who had forgotten to pack their own food. Many found these actions harsh, leading to concerns about the well-being of the child.
Another instance of the criticism stemmed from the threat to discard her children’s belongings in order to teach them a lesson. The kids were also denied their personal space, according to the viewers of the channel, and found out that the family had been tormenting and abusing their kids in the name of content. Some even noticed one of their sons sleeping on a bean bag for almost seven months.
However, Ruby had always refuted the claims and stated that whatever her kids did had always been their choice and that the parents had no say in it.
Ruby is reportedly still “under custody,” and if convicted, the accused can spend up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
What is your take on the grueling details surrounding the Franke family? Do you think the matter is indeed serious and needs more intervention?
Let us know below!
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