Ruby Franke, popular parenting YouTuber, arrested for alleged child abuse.
YouTube Star Arrested on Child Abuse Charges
Utah mother and YouTube star Ruby Franke, known for her family-focused channel ”8 Passengers,” has been arrested on child abuse charges, according to officials.
The 41-year-old from Springville, Utah, was arrested and booked into jail on two second-degree felony aggravated child abuse charges on Aug. 30, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
She remains in custody.
Jodi Hildebrandt, 54, of Ivins, who is reportedly Ms. Franke’s business partner and runs a counseling business, ConneXions Classroom, was also arrested on the same charges and also remains in custody, officials said.
In a press release, the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department said its emergency dispatch received a report that a juvenile, reportedly Ms. Franke’s 12-year-old son, was asking for help at around 10:50 a.m. on Aug. 30.
“The calling party stated the juvenile appeared to be emaciated and malnourished, with open wounds and duct tape around the extremities,” officials said. The child was asking for food and water, according to officials.
“The condition of the juvenile was so severe that they were seen by Santa Clara-Ivins EMS and transported to a local area hospital,” the department said.
Police proceeded to obtain information that other juveniles in a similar situation condition may be in a nearby home, and subsequently conducted a search of that residence, officials said.
YouTube Channel Gave Parenting Advice
Upon searching the home, they found another juvenile in a ”similar physical condition of malnourishment.”
The unidentified juvenile, reportedly Ms. Franke’s 10-year-old daughter, was taken to a local hospital for treatment, the press release said.
Meanwhile, police searching the home found evidence “consistent with the marking found on the juvenile” and subsequently called the Department of Child and Family Services, and four minor children were taken into their custody.
Salt Lake City news affiliate Fox 13 reported it was Ms. Hildebrandt’s home from which the child ran and that Ms. Franke had appeared in a YouTube video shot in Ms. Hildebrandt’s home just days prior to her arrest, and would therefore likely have been aware of the abuse happening inside.
It is not clear if Ms. Franke has legal representation.
The Epoch Times has contacted Ms. Hildebrandt’s counseling business, ConneXions Classroom, for comment.
Ms. Franke launched the YouTube channel with her husband in early 2015, NBC News reported. The channel followed the lives of the parents and their six children.
The channel, in which Ms. Franke would also offer up parenting advice, found mass popularity racking up nearly 2.3 million subscribers before it was ultimately shut down earlier this year.
‘My Kids Are So Strong’
It is not clear why the channel was removed from the platform although some of her videos have reportedly sparked backlash among some viewers who claimed she had a strict parenting style after she allegedly refused to bring her 6-year-old daughter lunch at school when she forgot to pack one, according to NBC News.
Responding to the criticism, Ms. Franke told Business Insider in June 2020: “What people aren’t understanding is that we give our children choice in everything. We are teaching our children to be self-governing.”
“My kids are so strong,” she said. “They are amazing. And they have come together and have even prayed for our enemies. These people who are hating on us, they pray that they will feel the love that they are searching for.”
Ms. Franke’s eldest child, Shari Franke, 20, reportedly posted on
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