The Chilling Downfall of Ruby Franke: A Family Vlogger’s Dark Secret
Imagine being a child, trapped in a nightmare that no one sees. That was the reality for two young children in late August 2023 when a 12-year-old boy, frail and desperate, escaped from a luxurious mansion in Ivins, Utah. With tape around his legs and a haunting hunger in his eyes, he rang a neighbor’s doorbell and asked for two things: water and a ride to the police station. That moment unraveled one of the most disturbing scandals in social media history—the shocking fall of Ruby Franke.
For years, Ruby Franke was known as the face behind 8 Passengers , a wildly popular YouTube family vlog with over 2.5 million subscribers. Her carefully curated online persona depicted a devoted, disciplined mother raising six children under strict parenting values. But behind the scenes, her household was far from the picture-perfect family she portrayed. Franke, alongside her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, subjected her children to extreme punishment, isolation, and even physical abuse—all under the guise of "tough love" and spiritual discipline.
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As the shocking details emerged, it became clear that Ruby and Jodi's twisted beliefs had escalated to unimaginable cruelty. Ruby became convinced that her children were possessed by evil spirits, justifying their starvation, physical restraints, and relentless emotional torment. When authorities raided Hildebrandt’s home, they discovered evidence of calculated abuse—ropes, handcuffs, and a disturbing journal chronicling the so-called "exorcisms" of her own children.
Now, Hulu’s upcoming docuseries, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke , dives deep into this horrifying case. Featuring firsthand accounts from Ruby’s eldest children, Shari and Chad, as well as law enforcement officials and former neighbors, the series sheds light on how a seemingly wholesome family vlogger became one of the most infamous convicted child abusers in recent history.
Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt are currently serving prison sentences of 4 to 30 years after pleading guilty to multiple counts of aggravated child abuse. Meanwhile, Franke’s estranged husband, Kevin, has publicly expressed regret for his role in exposing their children to online scrutiny and has since advocated for laws protecting minors in social media. Their surviving children continue to receive medical and psychological care as they attempt to rebuild their lives away from the public eye.
This chilling case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked social media influence, the deceptive nature of online personas, and the tragic reality that sometimes, the most terrifying monsters hide in plain sight.
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