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Kevin Franke and his 6 children struggle to stay united as mom Ruby's scandal gets darker

Ruby Franke was arrested on suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt recently

IVINS, UTAH: In the midst of a troubling child abuse case involving momfluencer Ruby Franke, her husband Kevin Franke is placing the welfare of their six children at the forefront of his concerns.

Ruby, known for her YouTube channel '8 Passengers', was arrested on suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. 

Kevin's attorney Randy S Kester emphasized that his client's “urgent focus is simply to keep his children together under his fatherly care.” The Franke family consists of Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve.

Kevin Franke worked as the assistant professor of civil engineering at BYU

Kevin has long been known as the patriarch of the Franke family, recognized for their videos on the popular 8 passengers YouTube channel.

Additionally, he also worked as the assistant professor of civil engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU), as per Famous Birthdays.

However, Reddit user @r/8passengersnark claimed that Kevin’s BYU page was allegedly “gone” following Ruby’s arrest.

Kevin reportedly graduated Magna Cum Laude from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.

He also received a master’s degree in the same field from the University of Washington before earning his PhD from Brigham Young University.

According to Famous Birthdays, Kevin even worked as a professional geotechnical or earthquake engineering consultant for nearly 7 years in the past.

Why were Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt arrested?

The arrest stemmed from a distressing incident in Utah, where a child managed to escape from Hildebrandt's residence and sought assistance from a neighbor, pleading for food and water.

Disturbingly, the child "appeared to be emaciated and malnourished," with duct tape observed around their ankles and wrists, as per NBC News. 

The Good Samaritan immediately alerted the authorities, who noted the severity of the child's condition, leading to their hospitalization at Saint George Regional Hospital.

The child was placed on a medical hold “due to deep lacerations from being tied up with rope," according to police. 

The police report revealed that Ruby had filmed a video in Hildebrandt's home just days prior to the incident, indicating her knowledge of the alleged abuse, malnourishment, and neglect.

Ruby, aged 41, has been remanded in Washington County jail without bail, opting for legal representation rather than cooperating with authorities.

Who are Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt?

Ruby and Hildebrandt, the co-founders of ConneXions, had established a self-help program in June 2022. However, their venture was met with accusations of being a "cult," and Hildebrandt faced professional repercussions when her therapist license was suspended after discussing a patient's "porn addiction" within her Mormon church.

Currently, four of the Franke children are under the care of the Department of Child and Family Services.

In Utah, aggravated child abuse encompasses various forms of harm, including starvation, broken bones, head injuries from hitting or shaking, and suffocation.

Perpetrators intentionally inflicting such harm can face up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

In response to Ruby's arrest, her estranged daughter Shari took to Instagram, expressing relief that "justice is being served" and asserting that they had attempted to report concerns to the police and Child Protective Services for years.

Ruby's sisters echoed these sentiments in a joint statement, emphasizing the two arrests “needed to happen.”

“For the last 3 years we have kept quiet on the subject of our sister Ruby Franke for the sake of her children,” the statement continued, before adding, “Behind the public scene we have done everything we could to try and make sure the kids were safe.”

According to the sisters, the Franke “kids are now safe, which is the number one priority.”