pantsonfire
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Post by pantsonfire on Sept 1, 2023 7:21:26 GMT
Updated this thread title and also this is about when they were arrested and now current information. TW . . . . . www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/ruby-franke-mom-8-passengers-youtube-channel-arrested-abuse-charges-rcna102852Ruby Franke, the mother behind the defunct family YouTube channel 8 Passengers, was arrested on two counts of aggravated child abuse Wednesday after police found a malnourished child with open wounds and duct tape on their extremities. Franke was arrested alongside her business partner and collaborator, Jodi Hildebrandt, who is the founder of the controversial life counseling organization ConneXions. The two women create advice videos that critics say promote a harsh style of parenting. Franke and her husband launched their family YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, in early 2015. The channel chronicled the lives of the parents and their six children: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell and Eve. The channel had nearly 2.3 million subscribers. As many family channels on YouTube do, 8 Passengers focused on Ruby and Kevin Franke’s parenting style, the children’s upbringing and discipline as the kids grew up in Utah. The parents, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also shared their children’s home schooling. As of Thursday, the channel was not available on YouTube. YouTube did not immediately respond to a request for comment asking when and why the channel had been removed. Forbes reported the channel had been taken down earlier this year. Kevin Franke referred NBC News to his attorney, Randy Kester, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NBC News also reached out to Ruby and Kevin Franke’s adult children, Shari Frankie and Chad Franke. Shari Franke did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment. Chad Franke could not immediately be reached for comment. Although the Frankes grew a sizable following, the family became the subject of harsh criticisms in recent years, including allegations of child abuse. Local child protective services were reportedly called in June 2020 after a Change.org petition called on the family to be investigated. The petition cited an example from a now-deleted video that showed then-15-year-old Chad sharing that he’d slept on a bean bag for seven months as a punishment for behavioral issues. Insider reported at the time that Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services visited the Franke household but closed the case due to unsupported claims. A spokesperson for the division told NBC News in an email Thursday that it could not share information about a case “both past and present, or confirm involvement with a child or family,” citing confidentiality and privacy reasons. The Frankes have also been criticized for refusing to bring their then-6-year-old daughter lunch at school after she forgot to pack one, threatening to throw away their prized possessions and denying her children personal space. ConneXions, Jodi Hildebrandt’s life coaching service that focuses on parenting and relationships, is also known for its strict teachings on parenting. Some critics have found the lessons to be extreme, including one video in which Ruby Franke and Hildebrandt say a child who refuses to abide by their “principles of truth” does not love unconditionally and may be cut off from their families. Franke frequently makes videos with Hildebrandt for ConneXions. She is listed as a part of the business team for ConneXions. The ConneXions website describes Franke as a “certified mental fitness trainer” for the organization. Franke was arrested Wednesday in Utah on aggravated child abuse charges after a malnourished child with open wounds and duct tape on their extremities was found, officials announced. Hildebrandt was arrested on the same charges. In Utah, aggravated child abuse is defined as an act that “inflicts upon a child serious physical injury” or “causes or permits another to inflict serious physical injury upon a child.” The Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department said in a statement Thursday that evidence led them to a nearby home where a second child was found in similar condition. Both children were taken to a hospital. Four minors were also taken into the care of the Division of Child and Family Services. Shari Franke, the eldest Franke child, posted an Instagram Story on Wednesday evening saying that it had been a “big day.” “Me and my family are so glad justice is being served,” the story said. “We’ve been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this, and so glad they finally decided to step up.” Shari Franke previously shared that she was no longer in contact with her immediate family and did not support the “extreme” beliefs of ConneXions, according to Insider. Elle Mechem, Julie Griffiths Deru and Bonnie Hoellein, three women who say they are Ruby Franke’s sisters and who are also family influencers, shared a joint Instagram post saying her arrest “needed to happen.” “For the past 3 years, we have kept quiet on the subject of our sister Ruby Franke for the sake of her children,” the post read. “Behind the public scene we have done everything we could to try and make sure the kids were safe.” |
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pantsonfire
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Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
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Post by pantsonfire on Sept 1, 2023 7:24:19 GMT
I hope Ruby's sisters are arrested as well as her husband for not getting the kids help. They stayed quiet. Jesus.
I fell down the mommy Mormon vlogger rabbit hole a few years ago, pre covid, when I noticed some things with Kimmy from She's in her Apron and stuff she did, didn't do and said. And when she sent her son to this horrific camp to fix him.
These moms/parents are gross. Exploiting their kids for money.
Reddit and Gossip Bakery have some good stuff about these vlogger moms.
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wellway
Prolific Pea
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Sept 1, 2023 13:46:55 GMT
I don't know these people but my heart goes out to the children involved. I hope they get all the support they need.
I refuse to click on videos that feature children as the main reason for the video e.g. See child A start at their new school, or open toys etc. Just doesn't sit well with me.
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Rhondito
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MississipPea
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Post by Rhondito on Sept 1, 2023 14:36:33 GMT
It seems like I read something about her a while back and I wondered why she had so many children because she didn't seem to like them and didn't seem very motherly, even the very small ones.
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Post by Lurkingpea on Sept 1, 2023 14:43:59 GMT
I don't know these people but my heart goes out to the children involved. I hope they get all the support they need. I refuse to click on videos that feature children as the main reason for the video e.g. See child A start at their new school, or open toys etc. Just doesn't sit well with me. I completely agree. I also think there need to be harsher punishment for parents who abuse and neglect their children. |
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Post by refugeepea on Sept 1, 2023 14:56:30 GMT
I hope Ruby's sisters are arrested as well as her husband for not getting the kids help. They stayed quiet. Jesus. I fell down the mommy Mormon vlogger rabbit hole a few years ago, pre covid, when I noticed some things with Kimmy from She's in her Apron and stuff she did, didn't do and said. And when she sent her son to this horrific camp to fix him. These moms/parents are gross. Exploiting their kids for money. Reddit and Gossip Bakery have some good stuff about these vlogger moms. Her sisters released a statement they've been trying for three years to stop the abuse. They said Ruby belongs in jail. Jodi belongs in jail. The oldest daughter Shari is in contact with them and not her parents. |
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
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Post by valincal on Sept 1, 2023 18:39:27 GMT
So sad. Those poor kids. 😔
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Post by littlemama on Sept 1, 2023 20:11:46 GMT
This is a perfect example of someone who likely homeschooled her kids in order to control them and so that the abuse wouldnt be discovered. I am in no way saying that all homeschoolers do this, but Im certain there are more than just this woman who do it for those reasons.
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Post by mom on Sept 1, 2023 20:18:35 GMT
I hope Ruby's sisters are arrested as well as her husband for not getting the kids help. They stayed quiet. Jesus.
I fell down the mommy Mormon vlogger rabbit hole a few years ago, pre covid, when I noticed some things with Kimmy from She's in her Apron and stuff she did, didn't do and said. And when she sent her son to this horrific camp to fix him. These moms/parents are gross. Exploiting their kids for money. Reddit and Gossip Bakery have some good stuff about these vlogger moms. It seems they were in contact with police and CPS. So not exactly staying quiet. www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66651506 |
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Post by stormycat on Sept 1, 2023 23:53:08 GMT
I don't know these people but my heart goes out to the children involved. I hope they get all the support they need. I refuse to click on videos that feature children as the main reason for the video e.g. See child A start at their new school, or open toys etc. Just doesn't sit well with me. I completely agree. I also think there need to be harsher punishment for parents who abuse and neglect their children. My sons birth parents caused a severe TBI with 2 skull fractures when he was only 5 weeks old. He was malnourished and had a diaper rash so bad that he had to have wound care multiple times a day. The legal term for what happened my son was a near fatality case, a freaking near fatality. They were both sentenced to 80 days and it was work release. She had her sentence even deterred as she was pregnant again. It’s absolutely disgusting. The only reason they took the next baby was that the criminal case was still open. Her case closed and I adopted both boys. The 3 older children went to grandparents. She went on to have 2 more and got nothing but a slap on the wrist. She had 7 kids and 5 were permanently removed from her care. Thankfully I got 2 of the very best boys, and I consider myself the luckiest mom on the whole world. |
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pancakes
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Post by pancakes on Sept 2, 2023 12:32:33 GMT
I wonder why the dad wasn’t arrested.
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Sept 2, 2023 16:00:15 GMT
Apparently Ruby and Kevin have been separated for a while and living in different cities. I don't know if/how often he spoke out about the abuse like other family members did.
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leeny
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Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Sept 2, 2023 17:35:38 GMT
I had never heard of this person, but after reading the news articles I am worried about the children of her followers.
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pantsonfire
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Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
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Post by pantsonfire on Sept 2, 2023 18:30:32 GMT
I had never heard of this person, but after reading the news articles I am worried about the children of her followers. This is not only a Mormon issue but also a YouTube issue. Kids should not be used to make parents money. They csn not consent but yet are used to create a fictitious life, be pimped out, private things shared all for the sake of money. These parents quit their jobs and use YT income. They go from nice homes to huge ones, all these trips, buy all this stuff because their kids get views. It is gross. And someone needs to make YT shut all these family vloggers down. A lot of these Mormon mommy vloggers are sick in their heads. The church pushes this because they can stay home but earn an income while also pushing the religion. It is a very bad MLM scheme. I will never understand why there are parents out there, mainly moms, who take advice from these families. |
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Post by Zee on Sept 2, 2023 21:54:37 GMT
I don't understand the appeal of Mommy bloggers or vloggers. I can't imagine anything more dull, though people admit to watching people clean things so I guess there's someone for everyone.
After all I watch all the Housewives and I'm sure there are lots of people who don't get that either!
But honestly, what is appealing about YouTube mom videos? Zzzzzzz
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Post by refugeepea on Sept 10, 2023 22:38:33 GMT
This is so insane. Jessi Hildenbrandt was forced to live with her Aunt Jodi as a teen.
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zella
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,884
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Post by zella on Sept 13, 2023 1:54:52 GMT
Kevin was in many videos for years. He and Jodi split maybe 2 years ago. He absolutely knows everything. I am shocked he wasn't arrested. He got a lawyer immediately. I think there's a good chance he'll plead guilty to lesser charges in order to turn state's evidence. I presume one reason he hasn't been arrested yet is that there is so much evidence to go through. Everything at Jodi's house. Everything at the Franke house. And they had an escape room below the garage floor; the police had to get, I think it was Ruby, to unlock it. And then thousands of hours of videotaped evidence, again from both Jodi before Ruby joined up with her; the Franke household; and then ConneXions (Ruby and Jodi together). I don't envy anyone who has to do that.
I hope Ruby and Jodi rot in prison. Ideally Kevin too. They are all evil.
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Post by littlemama on Sept 13, 2023 11:34:10 GMT
I hope Ruby's sisters are arrested as well as her husband for not getting the kids help. They stayed quiet. Jesus. Are they mandated reporters? If not, there isnt a crime there as far as I know. (I am not saying that keeping quiet is right, but it isnt a crime to my knowledge. Also, it sounds like they had been reporting it for years before). |
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Post by Bridget in MD on Sept 13, 2023 12:05:47 GMT
I had never heard of this person, but after reading the news articles I am worried about the children of her followers.
Kids should not be used to make parents money. They csn not consent but yet are used to create a fictitious life, be pimped out, private things shared all for the sake of money.
These parents quit their jobs and use YT income. They go from nice homes to huge ones, all these trips, buy all this stuff because their kids get views.It is gross. And someone needs to make YT shut all these family vloggers down. A lot of these Mormon mommy vloggers are sick in their heads. The church pushes this because they can stay home but earn an income while also pushing the religion. It is a very bad MLM scheme. I will never understand why there are parents out there, mainly moms, who take advice from these families. It is creeping into TikTok too - there is this super blond family - the Beeston family or something - they lived in HI and have super blond hair, have a little boy and now a little girl, and I swear, they are totally pimping out thier kids. They just moved back to Utah and always go on vacation with all the money these kids are raking in for them! The Dad Challenge Podcast called them out on their crap, and then they post a "how we deal with hate" vlog, and all their brainwashed supporters just feed right into it! I definitnely think there needs to be laws to protect kids the parents are using to make money on social media. Kind of like child actors - I'm sure the laws will come too late. |
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stittsygirl
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Post by stittsygirl on Sept 13, 2023 14:57:36 GMT
Ruby is awful but Jodi Hildebrant is the bigger criminal here. So much has come out in the last few days about her unethical methods of “therapy”, and how many lives she has helped to destroy. Much of it implicates the Mormon church as well.
I’m sure Ruby was a ready and willing accomplice. I hope they both go to prison for a long time, as well as anyone who enabled them. I also hope the Mormon church is forced to shell out much of their multi-billion dollar hoard to compensate her victims.
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Post by Judie in Oz on Sept 13, 2023 19:53:42 GMT
I thought Bonnie's name sounded familiar. She is a good friend of Allie Glines, a makeup content creator on youtube. I've seen Bonnie on Allie's videos a couple of times. Bonnie has just posted this video "I am not my sister". From what I can gather, Ruby's three sisters have been cut off from her for several years, and were trying to get something done about her. I'm guessing that the children are going to need family to surround them. |
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pantsonfire
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Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
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Post by pantsonfire on Mar 25, 2024 16:19:43 GMT
Mormon Stories Podcast has had Adam and Jodi's nibbling (niece but is they/them so why I said nibbling) on to speak out against Jodi.
Adam's story had to be removed as the church went after him.
He is the one who went after the LDS church and Boy Scouts for abuse.
Jodi ruined his marriage and took him from his kids who he now has a relationship with.
Jodi is pure evil.
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Post by christine58 on Mar 25, 2024 16:52:15 GMT
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Post by beepdave on Mar 25, 2024 16:54:17 GMT
Mormon Stories Podcast has had Adam and Jodi's nibbling (niece but is they/them so why I said nibbling) on to speak out against Jodi. Adam's story had ti be removed as the church went after him. He is the one who went after the KDS church and Boy Scouts for abuse. Jodi ruined his marriage and took him from his kids who he now has a relationship with. Jodi is pure evil. 20/20 on Friday was about the case. All of the photos and videos of the abuse have been released. Adam and Jessi were featured again on that show. It is so sad. I hope R & E are on their way to healing now. |
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edie3
Drama Llama
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Post by edie3 on Mar 26, 2024 1:36:16 GMT
I knew just a little about this until I watched 20/20. How horrific this is. Those poor kids. Not just the physical scars, but the mental scars.
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Post by kimberlyr on Mar 26, 2024 14:42:42 GMT
I watched the 20/20 show and was shocked at the extreme abuse. How did Ruby and her husband get so brainwashed by the other lady? Is the dad trying to get custody of the kids?
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Rhondito
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Post by Rhondito on Mar 26, 2024 16:23:32 GMT
I watched the 20/20 show and was shocked at the extreme abuse. How did Ruby and her husband get so brainwashed by the other lady? Is the dad trying to get custody of the kids? I watched most of it last night. Cruel doesn't even begin to describe their treatment. The poor little girl couldn't even brush her teeth without being watched because they were afraid she would STEAL WATER.
If you haven't watched the full interview with their father, look it up online. His behavior is very odd, and I personally think he knew something was going on. I also think Ruby and Jodi were in a relationship and that's what lead him to be pushed out of the home.
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Post by disneypal on Mar 26, 2024 21:37:03 GMT
I also think Ruby and Jodi were in a relationship and that's what lead him to be pushed out of the home. I admit that I thought this too. |
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tracylynn
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Post by tracylynn on Mar 26, 2024 22:28:51 GMT
I watched the 20/20 show and was shocked at the extreme abuse. How did Ruby and her husband get so brainwashed by the other lady? Is the dad trying to get custody of the kids? I watched most of it last night. Cruel doesn't even begin to describe their treatment. The poor little girl couldn't even brush her teeth without being watched because they were afraid she would STEAL WATER.
If you haven't watched the full interview with their father, look it up online. His behavior is very odd, and I personally think he knew something was going on. I also think Ruby and Jodi were in a relationship and that's what lead him to be pushed out of the home.
I didn't get that at all. He hadn't been allowed to see them for like a year because Ruby and Jodi kept those kids from him. He defended her that first day when he was questioned but once he saw the kids in the hospital his tune changed and the next time he was interviewed he did not defend her at all. It appears he still doesn't have custody of at least the youngest kids. It seems like maybe that's in the works. |
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Post by kimberlyr on Mar 27, 2024 1:30:46 GMT
The 20/20 show made it sound like the dad didn’t have any contact with the two adult kids for that year also. He could have contacted them because they weren’t in the house with Ruby.
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