The Six Franke Children: Where Are Ruby Franke's Kids Now After Their Mother's Sentencing?

As of December 10, 2025, the six children of former '8 Passengers' YouTube star Ruby Franke are navigating a new reality following their mother's conviction and sentencing for aggravated child abuse. The world watched in horror as the details of the abuse—involving severe malnutrition and physical injuries—came to light, a stark contrast to the perfect family life Ruby Franke once curated for her millions of subscribers on the now-defunct family vlogging channel. The focus has now shifted entirely to the children's well-being and their journey toward healing.

The four minor children—Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve—are now in the full custody of their father, Kevin Franke, who has finalized his divorce from Ruby Franke. This comprehensive article provides the most current information on the status of all six Franke children, the legal aftermath of the sentencing, and the long-term impact of the highly publicized case on the family and the family vlogging industry.

The Franke Family: A List of Children and Their Biographical Profiles

Ruby Franke, along with her estranged husband Kevin Franke, has six children. The family gained immense popularity through their YouTube channel, '8 Passengers,' which documented their daily lives in Utah. The channel was active from 2015 until its abrupt end following Ruby Franke's arrest in August 2023. The children's lives, once broadcast to the world, are now fiercely protected as they begin the process of recovery.

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• Mother: Ruby Franke (Convicted child abuser, former family vlogger)
• Father: Kevin Franke (Estranged husband, awarded full custody of minor children)
• Eldest Child: Shari Franke (Born c. 2003, now an adult, publicly critical of her mother and the vlogging industry)
• Second Child: Chad Franke (Born c. 2005, now an adult, has broken his silence on the abuse)
• Third Child: Abby Franke (Minor, one of the two abused children)
• Fourth Child: Julie Franke (Minor)
• Fifth Child: Russell Franke (Minor, the 12-year-old son who escaped and sought help from a neighbor)
• Youngest Child: Eve Franke (Minor, the youngest of the six, also one of the two abused children)

The Franke children were central to the '8 Passengers' brand, which often faced criticism for Ruby Franke's controversial parenting methods long before the criminal charges. These methods, which included withholding food and punishing children by forcing them to sleep on beanbags, were often defended by Ruby as "tough love" and "consequences."

The Shocking Details of the Abuse, Escape, and Ruby Franke's Conviction

The full extent of the abuse was only revealed after a harrowing escape in August 2023. Russell Franke, then 12, fled the Ivins, Utah, home of Ruby Franke’s business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, and ran to a neighbor's house. The neighbor immediately called the police after observing the child’s severely malnourished state and visible wounds, which included deep lacerations from being bound with rope.

The subsequent police investigation led to the discovery of Eve Franke, then 10, in a similar state of malnutrition and injury at the same residence. Both children were immediately hospitalized due to severe malnourishment.

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Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt, who ran the "self-improvement" program called ConneXions Classroom, were arrested and charged with six counts of felony child abuse. In December 2023, both women pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse.

During the sentencing hearing in February 2024, prosecutors detailed the horrific abuse, which included forcing the children to perform strenuous physical tasks for hours, withholding food and water, and using pepper spray on the wounds. Ruby Franke was ultimately sentenced to four consecutive terms of 1 to 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of 30 years, though the actual time served will be determined by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.

Where Are Ruby Franke's Children Now? Custody and Healing

The most pressing question for those who followed the case is the current status of the six Franke children. The legal and emotional process of recovery is ongoing, but the children are now in a safe environment and beginning to heal.

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Custody Update for the Minor Children

Following the arrests, the four minor children—Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve—were placed into the custody of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS). In a significant legal development, their father, Kevin Franke, was awarded full custody of the minor children after his divorce from Ruby Franke was finalized in 2024. Kevin Franke has largely remained out of the public eye to focus on providing a stable and private life for his children, a stark departure from their highly publicized childhood.

The Voices of the Older Franke Children

The two eldest children, Shari and Chad Franke, both adults, have been the most public in their response to the scandal. Shari Franke, who had been estranged from her mother for some time, became an outspoken advocate for her younger siblings. She has used her social media platform to share her relief that the children are safe and has been highly critical of her mother's actions and the dangers of the family vlogging culture.

Chad Franke, who was also featured prominently on '8 Passengers,' has also broken his silence, expressing his support for his siblings. The older children's willingness to speak out has provided a powerful narrative of survival and a strong condemnation of the exploitation of children for online content.

The Emotional Toll and Recovery

The emotional damage inflicted by years of abuse and public scrutiny is immense. In court, one of the younger daughters, reportedly 11 years old, spoke out about her "ruined" childhood, highlighting the profound emotional toll the situation has taken. The children are currently receiving extensive therapy and support as they adjust to life away from the constant surveillance of the camera and the controlling environment imposed by their mother and Jodi Hildebrandt.

The 'Frankie Law' and the Future of Child Vlogging

A crucial and lasting consequence of the Ruby Franke case has been its impact on legislation. In 2024, the state of Utah passed a new law designed to protect the earnings and privacy of children featured in online content. This law, often referred to as the 'Frankie Law' by activists and the media, requires parents to set aside a percentage of the revenue generated from videos featuring their children into a trust fund that the child can access upon turning 18.

This legislative action was a direct response to the ethical and safety concerns raised by the '8 Passengers' scandal and the broader family vlogging industry. The law aims to prevent the financial exploitation of child influencers and ensure that children have some financial security, regardless of what happens to their parents.

The case has sparked a global conversation about the ethics of "sharenting" and the lack of protections for children whose entire lives are documented and monetized online. The Franke children, though victims of a horrific crime, have inadvertently become the catalysts for significant legal reform, forcing lawmakers to address the dark side of the digital parenting landscape.

The journey for Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve Franke is far from over, but their current safety and the legal protections now in place offer a beacon of hope. Their story serves as a permanent, tragic reminder of the need for vigilance and accountability in the world of online content creation.