In the docuseries Devil in the Family: The Ruby Franke Story, ‘momfluencer’ Ruby Franke‘s estranged husband Kevin Franke and their two oldest children, Shari Franke and Chad Franke, open up about the family’s turbulent past for the first time. They delve into the events leading to Ruby’s shocking crimes.
Ruby and family therapist Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested and later found guilty of child abuse in August 2023. Investigations revealed severe mental and physical abuse inflicted on two of Ruby’s children, including starvation and confinement, at Hildebrandt’s residence in Utah. Both women are now serving lengthy prison sentences.
Updates on the Children and Estranged Husband of Convicted ‘Momfluencer’ Ruby Franke
Shari expressed her thoughts about Ruby’s actions in an interview with Good Morning America, saying, ‘[Ruby] has done things that are so terrible that I don’t think her mind allows her to fully grasp the guilt of it all. So I think she probably truly believed everything she said.’
The Franke family, previously known from their YouTube channel 8 Passengers, came under scrutiny after Ruby, Kevin, and their six children made headlines nationally. Following Ruby’s arrest, curiosity arose about Kevin and the children’s current whereabouts and well-being.
Kevin Franke Calls for Child Protection Reform
In November 2023, Kevin initiated divorce proceedings against Ruby, just three months after her and Hildebrandt’s arrests. Although not implicated in the criminal activities, Kevin’s legal team asserted that he had been estranged from Ruby for over a year before her arrest and was unaware of the abuse.
The couple sought counseling from Hildebrandt in 2021 before separating. Kevin revealed that Hildebrandt later advised them to separate in efforts to salvage their marriage, also advising Kevin to cut ties with most individuals in his life.
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Kevin Franke has divorced his estranged wife, Ruby Franke, in 2022.
Kevin made a public statement regarding the abuse case in July 2024. Speaking at a Utah Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel meeting, he advocated for legislative changes to address deficiencies in child welfare laws that had prevented intervention despite concerns raised by neighbors and Shari about the Franke children. He also emphasized the need for oversight of individuals like Hildebrandt, whom he described as targeting vulnerable individuals seeking assistance.
When questioned about assigning blame for the abuse to Ruby, Hildebrandt, or the authorities, Franke evaded direct attribution, likening the situation to ‘a colossal train wreck’.
‘When you’re approaching a train wreck, you can’t compartmentalize and say: Well, this part of the mess was because the wheel came off the rails, and this part of the mess was because of this or that,’ he articulated. ‘In my eyes, it’s all one colossal mess. I leave that to you, the reporters, and the investigators, to delve into and decipher.’
Improvement in Ruby Franke’s Children’s Condition
Ruby Franke and Kevin share six children – Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve, born between March 2003 and September 2013. As reported by People, four of the Franke children were placed under child protection following Ruby’s arrest.
In March 2024, Eric Clarke, the lead prosecutor, updated on the well-being of the two youngest abused children from Hildebrandt’s residence. Clarke stated to NewsNation, ‘People should know that the children are now in a much better place. They are engaged, content, and healthy. It’s not perfect, but it’s a significant improvement. Thank goodness.’
As of September 2024, the legal status of the four underage Franke children is part of an ongoing legal process in juvenile court in Provo, Utah. While closed to the public, reports indicate that Kevin is pursuing custody. In February 2024, Page Six revealed that he had applied for guardianship of his then sixteen-year-old daughter Abby.
‘[Kevin] is focused on rebuilding and fostering these relationships rather than resorting to hostility and blame,’ explained his lawyer Randy Kester to Today in September 2023.
Shari Franke Writes About Ruby in Her New Book
Shari, now 21 and recently engaged, published a best-selling book in January titled
