Ruby Franke Wiki, Age, Husband, Kids, Net Worth, Parents, Biography & More

Ruby Franke is a former YouTube personality who was best known for being the matriarch of the 8 Passengers family vlog channel. She and her husband Kevin Franke, along with their six children, used to share their daily lives with millions of viewers on the platform.

However, in 2023, Ruby Franke was arrested on suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse, along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, founder of the parent counseling service ConneXions. This shocking news followed years of criticism and controversy about Franke’s parenting style and the welfare of her children. In this article, we will explore the biography, career, net worth, and scandal of Ruby Franke, one of the most infamous figures in the YouTube community.

Early Life and Education

Ruby Franke was born on January 18, 1982, in Utah, United States. She is the daughter of Chad and Jennifer Griffiths and has four siblings: Beau Griffiths, Bonnie Hoellein, Ellie Mecham, and Julie Deru. All of her siblings are also YouTube stars who run their own family vlogging channels.

Ruby Franke grew up in a Mormon household and followed the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She attended Utah State University, where she met her future husband Kevin Franke, a businessman. They got married in 2003 and have six children together: Shari (born in 2004), Chad (born in 2006), Abby (born in 2007), Julie (born in 2009), Russell (born in 2011), and Eve (born in 2014).

YouTube Career and Net Worth

Ruby Franke launched her YouTube channel 8 Passengers in January 2015, with the help of her husband Kevin Franke, who also appeared on the videos. The channel name was derived from the fact that their family car had eight seats. The channel quickly gained popularity by posting videos that showcased the daily activities, challenges, and adventures of the Franke family.

Some of their most viral videos included “BABY climbs out of crib!!!”, “So Am I Sick?”, and “Kids First Kiss”. The channel also featured collaborations with other popular family vloggers, such as The Ohana Adventure, The Bucket List Family, and Studio C.

At its peak, the channel had about 2.5 million subscribers and over one billion views. According to Social Blade, the channel earned an estimated $14.9K – $238.7K per month and $178.8K – $2.9M per year from YouTube ad revenue alone. Ruby Franke also had other sources of income, such as sponsorships, merchandise sales, and book deals.

She published two books based on her family’s experiences: “8 Passengers: A Year of Living Together” in 2018 and “8 Passengers: A Year of Growing Together” in 2019. She also launched a podcast called “The Mom Voice” with her friend Lauren Jones in 2020.

According to various online sources, Ruby Franke’s net worth as of 2022 was estimated to be around $500,000. However, this figure may have changed significantly after her arrest and the deletion of her YouTube channel.

Family, Parents & Siblings

Ruby Franke is the daughter of Jennifer and Chad Griffiths, who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has four siblings, who are also YouTube stars with their own family vlogging channels. They are:

• Beau Griffiths, the youngest brother, who runs the channel Beau’s Life with his wife Emily, and their son Oliver.
• Bonnie Hoellein, the second oldest sister, who runs the channel Bonnie Hoellein with her husband Joel and their four children: Lincoln, Cody, Boston, and Olivia.

• Ellie Mecham, the third oldest sister, who runs the channel Ellie and Jared with her husband Jared and their four sons: Jackson, Calvin, Tommy, and Porter.
• Julie Deru, the fourth oldest sister, who runs the channel The Deru Crew Vlogs with her husband Landon and their four children: Emma, Cooper, Porter, and Lucy.

Ruby Franke and her siblings grew up in Utah and were close to each other. They often collaborated on their YouTube videos and supported each other’s endeavors. However, after Ruby Franke’s arrest on child abuse charges in August 2023, her siblings have distanced themselves from her and have not commented publicly on the matter. Only Bonnie Hoellein posted a vague message on Instagram saying “I love you” with a heart emoji.

Marriage, Husband & Kids

Ruby Franke is a former YouTuber who was married to Kevin Franke, a businessman and former associate professor at Brigham Young University. They have six children together: Shari Franke, Chad Franke, Abby Franke, Julie Franke, Russell Franke, and Eve Franke. They used to run a popular family vlogging channel called 8 Passengers, which had about 2.5 million subscribers and over one billion views.

However, in August 2023, Ruby Franke was arrested on suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse, along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, founder of the ConneXions parent counseling service. The arrest was triggered by a child who escaped from Hildebrandt’s house and asked for help from a neighbor. The child had duct tape on their ankles and wrists and appeared to be emaciated and malnourished.

Another child was found in the same condition in the house. Both children were taken to the hospital and four minors were taken into care by the Department of Child and Family Services. The police said that Ruby Franke had filmed a YouTube video from the house just days before the arrest, which showed her being present in the home and having knowledge of the abuse, malnourishment, and neglect. The video was later deleted from YouTube, along with the entire 8 Passengers channel.

Parenting Controversy and Child Abuse Allegations

Ruby Franke’s YouTube career was not without controversy. She faced backlash from viewers and critics for her parenting decisions and methods, which were often seen as harsh, abusive, or neglectful. Some of the incidents that sparked outrage included:

• Forcing her son Chad to sleep on a bean bag in the family room for seven months as a punishment for pulling a prank on his younger brother.
• She took away her daughter Abby’s bedroom door for privacy reasons.
• Leaving her son Russell behind at a park while taking the rest of the family to a movie.
• Making her daughter Eve cry by telling her that Santa Claus would not bring her any presents if she did not behave.
• Giving away her son Chad’s pet lizard without his consent.
• She sent her son Chad to a wilderness therapy camp for troubled teens without explaining why.

These incidents led to petitions from concerned viewers to report the channel to Child Protective Services (CPS) and YouTube for violating child safety policies. Some viewers also claimed that they had contacted CPS and received confirmation that an investigation was underway. However, Ruby Franke denied any wrongdoing and defended her parenting style as being based on love and discipline. She also accused her critics of being haters or trolls who did not understand her family’s situation.

In August 2023, Ruby Franke’s parenting controversy took a dark turn when she was arrested on suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse, along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, founder of the ConneXions parent counseling service. According to a statement from the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department, the arrest was triggered by a child who climbed out of a window at Hildebrandt’s residence in Ivins, Utah, to get help.

The child ran to a neighbor’s house and asked for food and water, and the neighbors noticed that the child had duct tape on their ankles and wrists. They decided to call the police, who found another malnourished child in the same residence with similar wounds. Both children were taken to the hospital for treatment, and four minors were taken into care by the Department of Child and Family Services. The statement also said that a search warrant led to the discovery of evidence consistent with the children’s injuries.

According to Fox 13, the children were Ruby Franke’s sons Chad and Russell, who had been staying at Hildebrandt’s house for several months as part of a parenting program. The report also said that Ruby Franke had filmed a YouTube video from the house just days before the arrest, which showed her being present in the home and having knowledge of the abuse, malnourishment, and neglect. The video was later deleted from YouTube, along with the entire 8 Passengers channel.

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were booked into the Washington County Jail and held without bail. They are facing charges of two counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine per count. They are also facing possible civil lawsuits from the victims and their families.

Current Status and Future Prospects

As of September 1, 2023, Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt are still in custody awaiting trial. Their court dates have not been announced yet. Ruby Franke’s husband Kevin Franke has not made any public statements about the case or his wife’s arrest. He is reportedly taking care of their four other children, who are not involved in the allegations. Ruby Franke’s siblings have also remained silent on the matter, except for her sister Bonnie Hoellein, who posted a cryptic message on Instagram saying “I love you” with a heart emoji.

Ruby Franke’s arrest has shocked and saddened many of her former fans and supporters, who had followed her family’s journey for years. Some have expressed sympathy and hope for her recovery, while others have condemned her actions and demanded justice for her children. Many have also questioned the role and responsibility of YouTube as a platform that enabled and profited from her family’s exploitation and abuse.

Ruby Franke’s future prospects are uncertain at this point. She faces serious criminal charges that could result in a long prison sentence and a permanent loss of custody of her children. She has also lost her main source of income and reputation as a YouTube star. She may have to pay hefty fines and damages to her victims and their families. She may also need to seek professional help for her mental health and parenting issues.

Ruby Franke was once a successful and influential figure in the YouTube community, but she fell from grace due to her controversial and abusive parenting style. Her story is a cautionary tale of how fame, money, and power can corrupt and destroy a person’s life.

Wiki/BIO

Facts/Trivia

• Ruby is one of five siblings who are all YouTube stars.
• Franke met her husband Kevin Franke at Utah State University.
• Ruby launched her YouTube channel 8 Passengers in January 2015.
• Franke published two books based on her family’s experiences: “8 Passengers: A Year of Living Together” in 2018 and “8 Passengers: A Year of Growing Together” in 2019.

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