7 Shocking Realities Revealed In 'Devil In The Family: The Fall Of Ruby Franke'

The dark reality behind one of YouTube's most beloved "momfluencers" is the subject of one of the most talked-about true crime docuseries of the year. The Hulu three-part series, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, premiered on February 27, 2025, bringing the horrific details of the Franke family's abuse case into the spotlight with exclusive access and unseen footage. This deep dive into the story of Ruby Franke, the former star of the *8 Passengers* YouTube channel, and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, exposes a disturbing descent from internet fame to a devastating conviction for aggravated child abuse.

The docuseries serves as a chilling chronicle of how a seemingly perfect, highly-visible family life devolved into a state of severe neglect and torture, ultimately leading to a maximum 30-year prison sentence for both women. It is a must-watch for anyone trying to understand the full scope of the tragedy that unfolded in Santa Clara, Utah, and the dangerous dynamics of online "parenting advice."

Ruby Franke: A Biography of the Former '8 Passengers' Vlogger

Ruby Franke, once a prominent figure in the family vlogging community, built a massive following by documenting her life as a mother of six. Her online persona was meticulously curated to project an image of traditional, strict, but loving parenthood. The reality, as revealed by the subsequent criminal investigation, was tragically different.

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• Full Name: Ruby Griffiths Franke
• Husband (Estranged): Kevin Franke
• Children: Six (Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve)
• Primary Career: YouTube Personality / 'Momfluencer'
• YouTube Channel: 8 Passengers (now defunct)
• Arrest Date: August 30, 2023
• Conviction: Four counts of Second-Degree Felony Aggravated Child Abuse
• Sentence Date: February 20, 2024
• Current Status: Serving a sentence of up to 30 years in Utah State Prison

The *8 Passengers* channel, which launched in 2015, quickly amassed millions of subscribers who tuned in for daily vlogs of the Franke family’s life. However, over the years, viewers began to express concern over Ruby’s increasingly harsh parenting methods, which often included public shaming and questionable disciplinary actions filmed for the world to see. These early signs of distress were a precursor to the horrific events that would eventually lead to her arrest.

The Chilling Details of the Aggravated Child Abuse Conviction

The core of the *Devil in the Family* docuseries is the shocking true crime case that brought down the Franke empire. The severity of the abuse inflicted by Ruby Franke and her partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, was far beyond simple neglect, leading to their plea of guilty to four counts of second-degree felony aggravated child abuse.

The case came to light in August 2023 when Ruby’s 12-year-old son, Russell, escaped from Hildebrandt’s home in Santa Clara, Utah. The boy was severely malnourished, dehydrated, and covered in open wounds and duct tape marks, prompting him to run to a neighbor’s house to beg for food and water. This heroic act of escape immediately triggered a police investigation.

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Key findings from the investigation and subsequent court proceedings detailed a pattern of systemic, calculated abuse and torture:

• Severe Malnourishment: Both Russell and his 10-year-old sister, Eve, were found to be severely underweight and emaciated, indicating prolonged starvation.
• Physical Restraint: The children were routinely tied up with ropes, leading to deep lacerations and permanent scarring.
• Emotional and Physical Isolation: The children were often isolated in the home, denied basic comforts, and forced to perform manual labor outdoors without adequate protection.
• The 'Showering' Torture: Court documents revealed that the children were forced to stand under a running shower for hours as a form of punishment.

In a back-to-back sentencing hearing on February 20, 2024, both Franke and Hildebrandt received the same sentence: four consecutive prison terms of 1 to 15 years, capped at a maximum of 30 years under Utah law. The judge noted the gravity of the crimes, stating that the children had been "terrorized" and that the women had "perverted" their roles as caregivers.

The Cult-Like Influence of ConneXions Classroom and Jodi Hildebrandt

The true crime documentary dedicates significant time to exploring the controversial influence of Jodi Hildebrandt and her "life coaching" business, ConneXions Classroom. This entity is central to understanding Ruby Franke’s radical shift in behavior and the eventual abuse.

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Jodi Hildebrandt, a former licensed clinical mental health counselor, founded ConneXions with a philosophy that critics and former clients described as extreme and cult-like. The program promoted a rigid ideology of "principles of truth" and "shunning," encouraging clients to cut off family members deemed "toxic" or "out of sync" with their teachings.

Ruby Franke became deeply involved with Hildebrandt and ConneXions in 2022, eventually dissolving her partnership with her husband, Kevin Franke, and distancing herself from her oldest children, Shari and Chad, who had publicly voiced concerns about her involvement. The documentary suggests that Ruby's descent into abuse was directly tied to the increasingly warped and isolating teachings of ConneXions. The final acts of abuse took place in Hildebrandt’s home, with both women participating equally in the mistreatment of the two youngest Franke children.

The docuseries features interviews with Kevin Franke and the oldest daughter, Shari Franke, who provide chilling testimony about the escalating control and manipulation exerted by Hildebrandt over their mother. Their accounts underscore how a self-help program became a destructive vehicle for child torture and family separation.

The Aftermath: Family Reactions and The Future of Franke's Children

One of the most compelling and fresh aspects of the Hulu docuseries is the inclusion of the surviving family members. The documentary provides the first public statements from Kevin Franke, Ruby’s estranged husband, and their adult children, Shari and Chad Franke, since the arrest and sentencing.

The docuseries reveals the immense pain and confusion experienced by the family as they watched their mother fall under Hildebrandt’s influence. Shari Franke, who had been vocal on social media about the abuse before the arrest, is seen fighting to protect her younger siblings. The documentary highlights the ongoing legal battle between Kevin and Ruby Franke, as Kevin seeks full custody of the four minor children who were taken into the care of Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS).

The story of the Franke children—Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve—is a tragic testament to the dangers lurking beneath the surface of the "perfect" family vlog. The docuseries ensures that the focus remains on the victims and the long road to recovery ahead for Russell and Eve, the two children who suffered the most severe abuse.

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke is more than just a true crime story; it is a profound cautionary tale about the dark side of internet fame, the power of manipulative "self-help" programs, and the devastating consequences of a mother who prioritized a twisted ideology over the welfare of her own children. The detailed, exclusive look at the evidence and the family's testimony makes this Hulu series a definitive account of the case that shocked the world.