The story of Ruby Franke, once a well-known YouTube mommy blogger, continues to unravel in shocking ways.
Already serving a prison sentence for child abuse, new home videos reveal the extent of her disturbing behavior behind the camera.
These clips, now being shared by her estranged family, paint a chilling picture of life inside the Franke household.
Screaming and Berating Caught on Camera
In a teaser for Hulu’s upcoming documentary Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, previously unseen footage shows Franke shouting at her children in a manner that’s difficult to watch.
In one clip, she can be heard yelling, “Sit her down right here! Sit her down on the flipping couch!”—her tone forceful and aggressive.
Another video captures her angrily stating, “I’m still recording!” while gripping markers and glaring at the camera.
In yet another clip, she demands that her son act excited about explaining the origins of his name, even if he has to fake it.
The child, visibly uncomfortable, avoids eye contact, prompting Franke to insist, “Fake being happy.”
A Family Torn Apart
Ruby’s estranged husband, Kevin Franke, and their eldest son, Chad, recently shared these videos with Good Morning America, shedding light on the toxic environment within their household.
Chad, once filled with happy childhood memories, described how things spiraled when YouTube sponsorships started rolling in.
“It was chaotic,” he recalled.
“Lots of yelling, lots of snapping, and lots of time-outs in the corner.”
The family dynamic worsened when Jodi Hildebrandt entered their lives.
A mental health counselor who later became Franke’s close associate, Hildebrandt played a key role in shaping the abusive environment.
Both women are now serving lengthy prison sentences for their crimes.
The Influence of Jodi Hildebrandt
Kevin Franke claims that Hildebrandt was a driving force behind the family’s downfall.
She convinced Ruby that Kevin had an ‘addiction to selfishness’ and needed to move out.
Trusting both his wife and a licensed mental health counselor, Kevin followed their guidance, only to later realize the devastating consequences.
Hildebrandt had a history of using extreme religious interpretations to manipulate people.
As the director of LifeStar Utah County, she allegedly weaponized Mormon teachings to isolate couples, convincing them that even normal aspects of relationships were sinful.
Kevin Franke Speaks Out Against Family Vlogging
Since his wife’s arrest, Kevin has distanced himself from the world of online family vlogging.
Earlier this month, he addressed the Utah legislature, warning about the dangers of exploiting children for social media content.
“Vlogging my family, putting my children into public social media, was wrong, and I regret it every day,” he stated.
“Children cannot give informed consent to be filmed on social media, period.”
His testimony supported HB322, a proposed bill that would require content creators earning over $150,000 a year to set aside 15% of their income for their children—a move aimed at protecting young influencers.
The Unraveling of an Online Empire
Ruby Franke’s once-thriving YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, amassed over two million subscribers before concerns about her parenting methods began to surface.
By 2020, a petition was launched urging Child Protective Services to investigate her.
In January 2023, her channel disappeared from the internet altogether.
As her vlogging career faded, Franke partnered with Hildebrandt on the ConneXions podcast, where they offered extreme parenting advice under the guise of life coaching.
But behind closed doors, prosecutors say the duo was inflicting severe abuse on Franke’s children.
The Escape That Changed Everything
The horrors of Franke’s household came to light in August 2023 when her 12-year-old son, Russell, managed to escape from Hildebrandt’s fortified mansion.
Starving and injured, he ran to a neighbor’s house with open wounds and tape wrapped around his ankles.
Police later discovered his 9-year-old sister slumped in a closet inside the home.
This led to Franke and Hildebrandt’s swift arrests, followed by Kevin filing for divorce.
Now, as new footage surfaces and the Hulu documentary prepares to air, the public is getting an even deeper look into the shocking reality that unfolded behind the camera.
What’s Next?
With Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt both facing long prison sentences, the focus now shifts to the future of family vlogging laws and the broader conversation about child exploitation on social media.
Kevin Franke continues to advocate for stricter regulations, hoping to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy.
As the Hulu documentary brings this case into the spotlight, one question remains: How many other families are hiding similar dark secrets behind the curated perfection of their online personas?