Family vlogging has become a staple of the YouTube community. Some think it’s innocent and shows that they’re just like any other family. But many have called out family vlogging for not giving children the choice to participate, warning that it would lead to disaster. Ruby Franke proved their fears right.
The vlogger ran the channel 8 Passengers. There she chronicled her life and that of her children. The now defunct channel at one point had 2.5 million followers. And cracks began to show when people started noticing unusual punishments of the children. But it really crumbled when Ruby started working with ex-counselor Jodi Hildebrandt.
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By 2022, Ruby’s husband had moved out, 8 Passengers was down, and Ruby and Jodie worked on ConneXions. They offered parenting classes to millions of followers. That all stopped when Ruby’s son escaped out of a window. Franke’s neighbors noticed his arms and legs were covered in duct tape. They immediately called the police. Ruby and Jodi were then arrested after four malnourished children were found.
Both Ruby and Jodie pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in December 2023. And they were sentenced to four one-to-15 year terms in prison. Now, Hulu is expanding on the harrowing story in the docu-series Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.
This 3-part docu-series marks the first time Shari and Chad, the Frankes’ two eldest adult children, share their story in-depth on camera. Kevin, Ruby’s husband, will also appear. And the docuseries will also includes exclusive access to the Frankes, their friends and neighbors, and unseen footage of the perils of living a life online.
Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke premieres February 27 on Hulu.
