When a YouTube mom goes from posting wholesome family content to being sentenced for child abuse, you know we’re in for a true crime deep dive that’ll make your skin crawl. Ruby Franke’s transformation from “relatable momfluencer” to convicted child abuser is the kind of case that keeps me up at night, scrolling through old videos looking for the warning signs we all missed.
And trust me, there were warning signs.
The “8 Passengers” YouTube channel racked up millions of subscribers who tuned in to watch Ruby’s picture-perfect Mormon family of eight navigate daily life. But behind that carefully curated content lurked something much darker than quirky parenting methods.
The Red Flags Were Waving (We Just Weren’t Looking)
Long before her August 2023 arrest, Ruby’s controversial parenting techniques raised eyebrows among viewers. In one video, she proudly explained withholding food from her 6-year-old as punishment. In another, she forced her teenage son to sleep on a bean bag for seven months after he “pranked” his younger brother.
At the time, many viewers (myself included) just chalked it up to strict parenting. As if taking away a kid’s bedroom is in the same universe as taking away screen time! The disconnect between my criminology degree and my failure to recognize textbook abuse patterns still haunts me.
From YouTube Fame to Felony Charges
When police responded to a 911 call about an emaciated child with duct tape on his ankles and wrists who had escaped through a window of Jodi Hildebrandt’s home (Ruby’s business partner and “life coach”), the carefully constructed façade came crashing down.
What investigators discovered was straight out of a horror movie: children subjected to starvation, forced exercise, and physical abuse – all under the guise of “repentance” for imagined sins. The religious extremism angle makes this case particularly disturbing, as Ruby apparently believed she was doing God’s work by torturing her own children.
(If I ever claim God told me to starve and beat my kids, please call the authorities immediately. That’s not divine intervention – that’s a psychiatric emergency.)
The Sentencing That Shocked No One
In February 2024, Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt both received four consecutive sentences of 1-15 years in prison. That’s up to 60 years, though they’ll likely serve less.
During her sentencing, Ruby claimed she’d been “manipulated” by Hildebrandt. While psychological manipulation is absolutely real, at some point you have to question how a mother watches her children waste away and doesn’t snap out of whatever spell she’s under.
My husband Ryan says I’m being too harsh, but he also thinks Ted Bundy was “just misunderstood,” so his opinion on criminal psychology is about as valuable as a polygraph at a pathological liars convention.
The Aftermath: A Family Shattered
Ruby’s estranged husband Kevin filed for divorce and is seeking custody of their children. The family that once shared every moment online has been irreparably fractured, with the children now dealing with trauma that will likely follow them for life.
The most infuriating part? This all happened in plain sight. Millions watched these children’s lives unfold online, yet the abuse continued for years. It’s as if the camera lens created a barrier between reality and accountability.
The Silver Lining (If You Can Call It That)
If there’s any positive outcome from this nightmare, it’s that Utah passed legislation requiring online creators to set aside a portion of earnings from content featuring minors into trust funds. Other states like Illinois and Minnesota have followed suit.
These “Coogan laws” for the digital age might not prevent abuse, but at least they ensure that children whose childhoods are monetized will have something to show for it besides trauma.
The Lesson We Keep Refusing to Learn
Family vlogging channels thrive on the illusion of transparency while carefully controlling what viewers actually see. The Franke case proves once again that what happens on camera is often just a fraction of the reality – and sometimes, the darkest parts remain just out of frame.
So the next time you find yourself deep in a YouTube rabbit hole watching seemingly perfect families, remember Ruby Franke. Because sometimes the real monsters aren’t hiding under the bed – they’re the ones tucking the kids in at night, right after they hit “upload.”