Utah parenting bloggers Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt have been arrested and charged with child abuse after police rescued two of Franke’s six children from Hildebrandt’s home. The children were found malnourished and neglected. Franke’s oldest daughter, Shari Franke, has spoken out for the first time since her mother’s apprehension, expressing her struggle to cope with the situation. The case, which has been sealed from the public, is currently ongoing.
The arrest of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt has shocked the local community, as the pair ran a popular parenting and lifestyle YouTube channel called 8Passengers. Concerns about their content arose when they started another vlog called “Moms of Truth”/ConneXions on Facebook. While most neighbors were aware of Franke’s YouTube channel, a few became worried about the content of the new vlog.
Shari Franke, in her Instagram post, revealed that she has been trying to live her life to the fullest despite the turmoil caused by her mother’s arrest. She expressed gratitude for the support she has received and requested prayers for her family. The post also mentioned an upcoming court hearing, indicating that the legal battle is far from over.
The incident unfolded when police received a dispatch call from a juvenile asking for help. After rescuing two of Franke’s children from Hildebrandt’s home, authorities began searching for the remaining four kids. When they arrived at Franke’s address, they had to force the front door open with a search warrant. The situation became more complicated when Ruby’s husband, Kevin Franke, reported a burglary and named his oldest daughter, Shari, as a suspect. However, it was later determined that Shari was not responsible for the damage, and the allegations against her were dropped.
Shari returned the allegedly stolen electronics, including tablets, cellphones, and cameras, to the police. The responding officer decided not to press charges against her, as her intent was not to deprive her father of any items and she had previously been allowed in the home.
The case has attracted attention due to Ruby Franke’s popularity as a mommy blogger. She had run the 8Passengers YouTube channel for years before facing backlash for some of her controversial videos. In one video, she discussed withholding Christmas presents from her two youngest children as a form of punishment.
Ruby Franke has described herself as a “nurturing mother” in an Instagram post, expressing gratitude for her role despite accusations and labels from the world. The investigation into the child abuse allegations is ongoing, and the outcome of the case remains uncertain.
Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Digital and FOX Business.
