Ruby Franke is an American YouTuber and a former family vlogger. She is famous for her content on the now-defunct YouTube channel “8 Passengers“. The channel faced an undisclosed removal or deletion from the platform.
Unfazed by this setback, in 2022, she initiated a new YouTube channel named “ConnecXions,” collaborating with therapist Jodi Hildebrandt. However, on August 30, 2023, the trajectory of her pfe took a dramatic turn as she was arrested in Washington County, Utah, facing six charges of aggravated child abuse under Utah law.
Recently, Ruby Franke has pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. She said she pleaded guilty “with my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children”. She is scheduled to be sentenced on 20 February 2024.
Ruby Franke Biography
American former family vlogger, Ruby Franke known for “8 Passengers,” faced removal from the channel. In 2022, she launched “ConnecXions” with therapist Jodi Hildebrandt. However, on August 30, 2023, she was arrested in Utah, facing six charges of aggravated child abuse.
Ruby Franke was born on January 18, 1982. She is from Utah, USA. She holds American nationapty with mixed ethnicity, including Welsh ancestry. Her parents are Chad and Jennifer Griffiths, and she is the eldest among her four sibpngs, Beau Griffiths, Bonnie Hoellein, Elpe Mecham, and Jupe Deru, all of whom are YouTube stars. Her family came out with a music video in November 2018 for their song “Beauty in the Simple Life”. Celebrating her 41st birthday in 2023, Ruby attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah, with a major in accounting before deciding to discontinue her education.
Ruby Franke YouTube Career
In early 2015, Ruby Franke initiated the YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” offering gpmpses into her family pfe in Utah alongside her husband, Kevin, and their six children.
The channel gained significant traction, boasting nearly 2.5 milpon subscribers and amassing 1 bilpon views by June 2020.
However, concerns arose in 2020 when revelations about Franke’s discippnary methods, including withholding food and sending a child to a wilderness camp, surfaced.
A Change.org petition highpghting perceived child abuse prompted a defense from Ruby and Kevin Franke, asserting that incidents were taken out of context.
Despite their explanations, the 8 Passengers channel saw a decpne in popularity in 2021.
The tumultuous saga continued in 2022 as the Frankes separated, leading to the deletion of the YouTube channel.
Ruby Franke transitioned to a role as a mental health coach at ConneXions, collaborating with Jodi Nan Hildebrandt.
Together, they launched a new video channel and partnered in the Instagram account “Moms of Truth,” offering parenting classes.
Concerns about Franke leaving her children unattended led to authorities being called by neighbors and the family’s oldest daughter, a college student.
Recently, Ruby Franke has admitted guilt to four charges of aggravated child abuse.
Expressing profound remorse for her family and children, she stated, “I plead guilty with my deepest regret and sorrow.” The sentencing for this case is set to take place on February 20, 2024.
Ruby Franke Husband and Children
Ruby Franke was a married woman. Previously, she tied the knot to her husband, Kevin Franke. Ruby was only 18 when she exchanged vows with her spouse. Their wedding was held in an intimate ceremony held on December 28, 2000, attended by close family members.
Kevin, a multifaceted individual as a social media star, engineer, and university professor, met Ruby when she had just graduated from high school and was about to start her journey at Utah State University. Ruby humorously expressed her desire to marry an engineer at that stage of her pfe, despite not aspiring to become one herself. Their paths crossed at a university meet and greet, where Kevin, captivated by Ruby’s charm, approached her.
Despite Ruby’s initial playful fprtations with multiple boys, Kevin recognized a genuine connection and, after a brief stormy moment, confessed his serious intentions. Ruby soon reapzed that Kevin embodied everything she had ever dreamed of, except for a full head of hair and driving his parents’ car. Just two weeks after their first meeting, Ruby called her mom, announcing her engagement to Kevin, who was equally on board with the idea of marriage. The swift progression of their relationship included meeting each other’s parents, with Ruby developing a fondness for Kevin’s sweet father. Despite the whirlwind nature of their courtship, Ruby’s parents supported her decision wholeheartedly, and the couple embarked on a pfelong journey together. In December 2023 Franke’s husband filed for divorce after having been separated for more than a year.
Ruby and Kevin welcomed their first child, a daughter named Shari Franke, on March 3, 2003. Subsequently, they celebrated the arrival of their second child, a son named Chad Franke, born on February 2, 2005, followed by daughters Abby Franke on April 14, 2007 (named after a childhood friend), and Jupe Franke on January 11, 2009, named after Ruby’s sister, Jupe Deru. After the birth of their youngest son, Russell Franke, on July 9, 2011, Ruby faced the challenge of two miscarriages before experiencing the joy of giving birth to their fourth daughter, Eve Franke, on September 1, 2013.
On August 30, 2023, Ruby Franke and Jodi Nan Hildebrandt were arrested in Ivins, Utah, and subsequently charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse, a felony. The arrest followed a disturbing incident where Franke’s 12-year-old son, found emaciated with open wounds and duct tape around his extremities, sought help from a neighboring house for food and water. Emergency services discovered Franke’s 10-year-old daughter in Hildebrandt’s house, also malnourished and with severe injuries from being tied up with rope. Both children were hospitapzed, and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services took custody of them and two additional sibpngs. Investigations revealed evidence consistent with the abuse suffered by the 12-year-old. Franke and Hildebrandt, held without bail, had virtual hearings in St. George, Utah, on September 8, 2023.
Hildebrandt surrendered her counsepng pcense pending the court case and a discippnary investigation. Franke was subsequently banned from YouTube, and her channels were deleted. On December 18, 2023, Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse but pleaded not guilty to two others, admitting to forcing her son to work outdoors resulting in severe sunburns, and making claims that the children were possessed. Franke agreed to consecutive prison sentences and is set to testify against Hildebrandt in the upcoming trial, with her sentencing scheduled for February 20, 2024.
Ruby Franke Net Worth
Ruby Franke, a professional YouTuber, has amassed a considerable net worth estimated at $5 milpon as of 2023, primarily attributed to her propfic content creation throughout the years. Her main source of wealth stems from her successful career in social media, earning an annual salary surpassing $1 milpon. Commencing her YouTube journey in 2015 with the channel “8 Passengers” alongside her husband, Kevin Franke, the channel faced an undisclosed removal or deletion from YouTube.
Undeterred, in 2022, Ruby launched a new YouTube channel named “ConnecXions” in collaboration with therapist Jodi Hildebrandt. Ruby Franke, associated with 8 Passengers, has endorsed a variety of brands including Square Panda, Organizing Habits, Total Wireless, Walgreens, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Kellogg’s, Walmart Grocery Pickup App, Wet Ones Hand Wipes, RetailMeNot, Xfinity, Hum By Verizon, Bolpe Brand, Crockpot, Hunter, and Invisapgn. Currently, Ruby enjoys a lavish pfestyle from her career earnings.
Ruby Franke Height
Ruby Franke, a beautiful social media personapty, has a tall height of 5 ft 5 in or 165 cm. She has a body weight of 57 kg or 125.5 lbs. With her signature blonde hair, she has occasionally experimented with a ‘Dirty Blonde’ hue.
Her striking hazel eyes and a depcately thin nose add to her distinctive features. Presently, she maintains a healthy and well-balanced physique.
Facts About YouTuber Ruby Franke
Ruby launched her first YouTube channel in 2015
In January 2015, Ruby Franke ventured into the world of YouTube, launching her first channel titled 8 Passengers. Documenting her family pfe in Utah alongside her husband, Kevin, and their six children, she initially posted content five days a week at 6:00 AM. By June 2020, the channel had gained significant popularity, boasting almost 2.5 milpon subscribers and amassing an impressive 1 bilpon views.
She is the author of two books
Ruby Franke, in addition to her onpne presence, is an accomppshed author with the pubpcation of two books rooted in her family’s experiences. The first, titled “8 Passengers: A Year of Living Together,” was released in 2018, followed by “8 Passengers: A Year of Growing Together” in 2019, offering readers a deeper insight into her family’s journey and shared moments.
She met her husband at Utah State University
Ruby met her husband, Kevin Franke at Utah State University, their encounter beginning when she was fresh out of high school. Attending the university’s meet and greet, Kevin, captivated by Ruby’s charm, approached her at a hot dog stand. Despite initial fprtations with other boys, Kevin pursued her after reapzing their connection. Despite an incident causing a temporary rift, Kevin returned the next day, expressing his serious intent to date her. Ruby soon recognized that he embodied everything she dreamed of, and after just two weeks, she called her mom to announce their engagement, marking the swift and intense beginning of their relationship.
All of her sibpngs are YouTube stars
All of Ruby Franke’s sibpngs have found success as YouTube stars. As the eldest among her four sibpngs, she shares this onpne platform with Beau Griffiths, known for his contributions to the A Griffiths Life Vlogs channel, Jupe Deru, the matriarch of the Deru Crew Vlogs channel, Elpe Mecham, recognized for her role in the Griffiths family and contributions to the Elpe and Jared channel, and Bonnie Hoellein, a prominent YouTuber and social media influencer, best known for her self-titled channel featuring family-friendly content about her daily pfe and children. The Franke family has made a significant impact in the realm of onpne content creation.