When police arrested Ruby Franke, her daughter Shari was convinced her siblings were dead.

Shari Franke never imagined she'd one day call the police on her mother, Ruby Franke.

As the eldest daughter of the YouTube-famous 8 Passengers family, Shari endured years of strict, often abusive parenting behind the polished façade of their wildly popular channel.

But behind the curated smiles and choreographed family moments, Shari described a very different reality.

"She'd always say that she wanted to be a good mum," Shari told PEOPLE magazine in a recent interview.

"That was what she always told us, and I think that she wanted to force her kids to also think that she was a good mum. She couldn't handle anybody disagreeing with her."

This need for control extended beyond the home. Everything from family outings to deeply personal milestones was meticulously curated for public consumption.

Shari Franke recounts the years of trauma and abuse she and her siblings endured under Ruby's rule. Image: Instagram.

Ruby's parenting took an even darker turn after she began working with Jodi Hildebrandt, a therapist who promoted extreme disciplinary measures. Together, they enforced punishments that left lasting scars on Shari and her siblings.

When Shari was disowned by her mother and moved out, her concern for her younger siblings only grew.

She frequently asked neighbours to check on them, but when she learnt they had been left unsupervised for five days, she knew she had to act.

Jodi Hildebrant and Ruby Franke. Image: Youtube

"My biggest priority was just making sure the kids were alive," Shari told PEOPLE. "As long as they were alive, obviously then I knew eventually things would be okay."

When the police arrived at Ruby's home, the confrontation unfolded as Shari had feared.

"My initial thought," Shari told PEOPLE of the moment police showed up to arrest her mother, "is that my siblings are dead."

Now 21, Shari is sharing her story with her memoir, The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom, set for release in Australia on January 15.

The book offers an unflinching account of the abuse she endured, her decision to speak out, and her journey toward healing — and details just one of the mother and daughter's many horrifying interactions.

In an extract published by PEOPLE, Shari writes that Ruby shouted at her: "I can't believe you called the police on me… After everything I've done for you, after all the sacrifices I've made. How could you betray me like that, Shari? How could you be so selfish?"

"I was worried about the kids. They were alone for five days, Mom. Five days!" she replied.

"This isn't about me. It's about the safety of my siblings. It's about doing what's right."

Watch: Shari Franke, Daughter Of Ruby Franke, Speaks To Utah Lawmakers About The Dangers Of Family Vlogs. Post continues below.

Shari continues:

Ruby's eyes flashed dangerously. "What's right? You have no idea what's right. You're just a child playing at being an adult. Your siblings are terrified of you now for calling the police on them."

Ruby's face hardened, her lips twisting into a sneer. "One day, Shari, you'll come crawling back to me. Begging for my forgiveness. And it'll be hard for me to give it to you, but I'll be gracious."

"I'm not going to apologise for telling the truth," I said, my voice quiet but firm.

Shari shared news of Ruby's arrest on social media. Image: Instagram

Shari's memoir also explores the role she and her siblings played as performers in 8 Passengers.

From an early age, their lives were documented for entertainment, leaving them little room for privacy or autonomy.

She recalled one incident at 18 when Ruby filmed her bra shopping with her sisters. "It was the first time that I was like, 'Oh, this is kind of weird and inappropriate, and I'm not okay with that.'

"Looking back, I could see how all of my embarrassing moments as a teenager, I was coerced to post those," she continues. "And that wasn't me actually understanding the full consequences that that would have."

Shari Franke's memoir is out January 7. Image: MANICPROJECT.

In February 2024, Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were sentenced to four consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison for aggravated 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.

Shari says she has no desire to reconnect with her mother.

"She's very selective in what she's remorseful about," Shari explained. "I don't think she'll ever fully recover until she can look at everything that's happened with her."

Shari has since focused on her own healing.

"I'm still angry about what she did, of course, and that's never going to go away, but I am living my life and I am not letting her take any more of that from me than she's already taken."

Shari has since focused on her own healing. Image: Instagram

For Shari, writing The House of My Mother was a way to reclaim her voice.

The memoir chronicles her journey through trauma and survival while offering hope to others who may be in a similar situation.

"Part of me feels guilty if I don't forgive," she shared. "But I've come to realise that forgiveness for me just means that I don't let her actions consume my thoughts."

"I've taken back my story, and I'm finally free," she said.

The House of My Mother, $34.99, Simon and Schuster, is available from January 15.

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.

Feature image: MANICPROJECT.