Ruby Franke is in prison for abusing her children. Now they are speaking out.

Content warning: This story includes descriptions of child abuse that may be distressing to some readers.

For years, Ruby Franke opened up her home to millions of curious strangers via the Internet, posting vlog-style videos about her family life and children. Now, she's in prison and living a completely different life. 

In February 2024, Franke was sentenced to four to 60 years behind bars for child abuse. This comprises four sentences of one to 15 years, which will run consecutively.

This week marks one year since she was first arrested. Her children are now speaking out about what they endured at their mother's hands.

Watch: The case explained. Post continues below.

What did Ruby Franke do?

For years, Franke documented every detail of her family life via her now-defunct YouTube channel '8 Passengers' which referred to her six children, herself and her husband Kevin Franke. The family, who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah, had nearly 2.5 million subscribers at the channel's peak.  

Franke's parenting style shown on camera was strict, to say the least, with some critics suggesting she would chastise her children for doing very vague inappropriate behaviour.

There would be strange punishments and extreme reactions.

Franke spoke about threatening to cut the head off her daughter's stuffed toy to punish her for cutting things in the house. In another video, Franke and her husband told their two youngest children they would not be getting presents from Santa Claus because they weren't responding to punishment like being kept home from school and cleaning the floorboards.

When two of her boys were play fighting, she told them if they continued they would "lose the privilege to eat dinner".

One of her eldest later recounted the moment when Franke took away his bed for seven months as a form of punishment. He was made to sleep on a beanbag.

Even when the kids said they didn't wish to be filmed or have a private conversation be part of their mother's vlogs, she would continue to film.

As the years went on, some of her eldest children moved out of home and began to distance themselves.

Petitions were also made by concerned followers, calling for child protective services to get involved based on the content Franke was publishing.

The channel was removed from YouTube in early 2023. Her husband Kevin continued to post on a separate, less popular channel.

In 2020, Franke took things a step further. She co-founded a parenting advice and support program called 'ConneXions,' alongside Jodi Hilderbrandt, who is a life coach and author.

ConneXions faced a significant amount of backlash, some suggesting it exerted "cult-like" characteristics. The program also promoted an extreme and harsh parenting style.

As ConneXions grew, Franke's kids were seen less and less online. But that made followers extra concerned given all they had already seen.

In August 2023, Franke and her business partner Hildebrandt were arrested at Hilderbrandt's house. 

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt. Image: Instagram/ConneXions.

According to an affidavit filed by the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department, one of Franke's children had climbed out of a window of Hildebrandt's residence and ran to a neighbour's house. Once there, the child had asked for food and water. 

Page Six reports that the neighbours had called the police after seeing remnants of duct tape on the child's hands and ankles. Arrest documents also stated that when police arrived, the child "appeared to be emaciated and malnourished, with open wounds".

On September 1, 2023, both Franke and Hilderbrandt were charged with six felony counts of aggravated child abuse, after two of Franke's six children were found abused and malnourished, authorities said.

Franke and Hildebrandt had tortured Franke's 12-year-old son and injured her 10-year-old daughter.

Two of Franke's other children were placed in the custody of child protection services.

In December 2023, Franke plead guilty to four of the six counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse against her, with two others having been dismissed. Franke and her attorney worked with prosecutors on a plea agreement in which she agreed to serve a prison sentence and to testify against Hildebrandt.

Franke's husband, Kevin Franke, then filed for divorce in November 2023. His attorney Randy Kester stated that the couple had been separated for 13 months "at Ruby's directive".

In February 2024, Franke and Hilderbrandt received the same prison sentence — four to 60 years behind bars for child abuse. That means the women could serve up to 30 years in prison, since Utah state code prohibits consecutive penalties to exceed 30 years.

Ruby Franke's children speak out.

Back when Franke was first arrested in September 2023, the family's oldest daughter Shari Franke, now 21, went on social media to post a photo of police officers on the scene. She captioned the Instagram story: "Finally."

Shari continues to post on social media to her 610,000 followers.

Recently she said on Instagram: "There's not even words to describe how upside down my life has become. I’ve cried, had an infinite number of panic attacks, had way too much ice cream, and yet life goes on. 

"Therapy has literally saved me, but God has too. My life is somehow becoming more beautiful and fulfilling, despite all the terrible things going on."

Shari Franke's response following her mother's arrest. Image: Instagram.

19-year-old Chad is Franke and Kevin's eldest son.

On the one-year anniversary since Franke and Hildebrandt's arrests, Chad posted on Snapchat.

"Happy Prisonversary," he wrote in one Snapchat posted to his account, which included a photo of his mother before her arrest. 

Chad, who had already moved out of the family home before the arrests, also mentioned Hildebrandt in another post.

"A year ago today, I had just gotten off a phone call with Jodi and was going to work a Lifeguard shift," he wrote.

This isn't the first time, Chad has posted about Franke.

Months prior, the teenager posted a sarcastic video referencing Franke.

The video had text which read: "GOT A TATTOO OF MY MUM FOR THE SUMMER", then showed Chad wiping off the post-tattoo lotion to reveal nothing on his forearm. 

Many commenters said they believed Chad was referencing the idea that he doesn't consider Franke to be his mother or someone he wants in his life.

Chad was also asked by one follower if he would post photos of his younger siblings on social media, but he declined, citing their privacy.

"No, I'm sorry. They'll never be on social media again."

Chad Franke on Snapchat. Image: Snapchat.

Franke's sisters have also had to release public statements about their sister's actions. 

Julie Griffiths Deru and Bonnie Hoellein — who each have their own separate followings online — released a statement.

They said for the last three years they've kept quiet on the matter, but behind closed doors were trying to "make sure the kids were safe".

"Ruby was arrested which needed to happen. Jodi was arrested which needed to happen. The kids are now safe, which is the number one priority."

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

This article was originally published on September 12, 2023 and has been updated.

Feature Image: YouTube/Snapchat.