Ruby Franke, a prominent family vlogger known for her YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” has been arrested under suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse. The shocking incident unfolded in Ivins, Utah, leading to the arrest of Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodie Hildebrandt.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests occurred at 9:33 p.m. at a residence owned by Jodie Hildebrandt. It all began when a child, reportedly living in the same residence, managed to escape by climbing out of a window and sought help from a neighbor.
The Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department informed Insider that the child had escaped and arrived at a neighbor’s house in dire straits, requesting food and water. It was then that the concerned neighbor noticed that the child had duct tape on their ankles and wrists, immediately prompting a call to the police.
The child was promptly taken to a hospital for medical attention, where they were treated for severe wounds and malnourishment. Authorities later discovered a second child in the same residence, who was also malnourished and was subsequently transported to the hospital.
Ruby Franke had allegedly filmed a YouTube video from the same residence just days before her arrest, leading law enforcement to suspect that she had knowledge of the abuse, malnourishment, and neglect occurring within the home.
Ruby Franke rose to fame through her YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” which documented the lives of her husband Kevin Franke and their six children: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve. Earlier this year, the channel was taken down for undisclosed reasons. Subsequently, Ruby Franke and Jodie Hildebrandt launched the channel “ConneXions,” described as a mom’s “support group” aimed at helping individuals dealing with addiction, fear, sadness, and self-destructive behaviors.
The arrest of Ruby Franke has sent shockwaves through the online community as fans and followers await further developments in this disturbing case. The investigation is ongoing, and additional details surrounding the charges and the circumstances leading up to the arrests are expected to emerge in the coming days.
