'He's covered in wounds': Ruby Franke was arrested for child abuse after chilling 911 call by neighbor

Ruby Franke faces child abuse charges and was arrested on August 31
PUBLISHED SEP 9, 2023
'Momfluencer' Ruby Franke was arrested on two counts of aggravated child abuse (Instagram/@moms_of_truth)
'Momfluencer' Ruby Franke was arrested on two counts of aggravated child abuse (Instagram/@moms_of_truth)

IVINS, UTAH: In a shocking turn of events, a newly released dispatch audio unveiled details of the incident that resulted in the arrest of 'momfluencer' Ruby Franke, who is parent to six children.

The 911 call came after the Utah woman's 12-year-old child sought help from a neighbor, pleading for food and water, reported the Independent.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jodi & Ruby (@moms_of_truth)


 

The child abuse accusations against Franke who had 2.5 million subscribers on her now defunct YouTube channel led to her arrest on August 31.

What happened to Ruby Franke's 12-year-old child?

On August 30, Franke's 12-year-old child, who was reportedly under the care of her business partner and collaborator Jodi Hildebrandt, "climbed out of the window of an Ivins residence belonging to Jodi Hildebrandt and ran to a neighbor’s home," according to court documents.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jodi & Ruby (@moms_of_truth)


 

The child reportedly arrived at the neighbor's residence with duct tape binding his ankles and wrists as he sought help. The concerned neighbor immediately contacted the police.

What did Ruby Franke's neighbor reveal to police in the 911 call?


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jodi & Ruby (@moms_of_truth)


 

According to a recording of the 911 call, the neighbor said, "I just had a 12-year-old boy show up here at my front door asking for help," reported ABC News.

"And he’s said he had just come from a neighbor’s house and we know there’s been problems at this neighbor’s house,” said the neighbor.

"He is emaciated. He’s got tape around his legs. He’s hungry and he’s thirsty," the person continued.

"He has duct tape around each ankle. There’s sores around them. He has them around his wrists as well."


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jodi & Ruby (@moms_of_truth)


 

"This kid has obviously... he’s been detained. He’s obviously covered in wounds," he told 911 in a shaky voice.

As per the probable cause statement, law enforcement authorities determined the child to be severely malnourished. The 12-year-old was then transported to a nearby hospital.

Following the medical evaluation, it was found that the child also suffered from "deep lacerations" which resulted from "being tied up with rope."

Investigators then conducted a search at Franke's residence. Inside, the officers found a 10-year-old girl who was also reportedly suffering from wounds and was malnourished. She was also shifted to the hospital. It was not clear how she was related to Ruby or Jodi.

Franke who previously ran the YouTube channel '8 Passengers' along with her husband Kevin Franke now faces six felony child abuse charges.

Ruby Franke and her husband Kevin Franke ran a now-defunct YouTube channel named '8 Passengers' (moms_of_truth/Instagram)
Ruby Franke and her husband Kevin Franke ran a now-defunct YouTube channel named '8 Passengers' (moms_of_truth/Instagram)

According to KUTV, four of Franke's children have been placed in the custody of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services.

Who are Ruby and Kevin Franke's children?

Ruby and Kevin's six children are Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve. Their home-schooling and upbringing has been a frequent topic of discussion on '8 Passengers'.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jodi & Ruby (@moms_of_truth)


 

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