“Pretend to be happy,” said family YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke to her son, Chad Franke.
This clip is one of hundreds featuring thousands of hours of unreleased footage of the Franke mother verbally attacking her children.
The children of the family grew up in front of the camera, fulfilling their mother’s dream of being seen as the ideal Mormon family. The family of eight documented everything on their YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” from church on Sundays to family dinners. Viewers excitedly watched the family videos, leaving likes and comments expressing their love for them.
So, how did this seemingly perfect family end up in child abuse and prison headlines in August 2023?
The Rise and Fall
Late February, Hulu and Disney+ released a three-part documentary called “Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.” The docuseries was chilling, completely diving into the horrors within the Franke family. The widely followed case became even more intense with sickening unseen footage and shocking interviews with family, friends and neighbors.
Episode one: “Abundance,” painted a picture of who the family was at the beginning of the channel. Ruby wanted nothing more than to be the perfect mother, inspiring her to launch “8 Passengers.” The videos showcased the nuclear family’s every moment. With funny moments in the living room, kids’ school events and religious milestones, viewers felt connected to the family on their screen.
But, as the uplifting family channel rapidly grew, bringing in millions of subscribers who enjoyed watching the family from their screens, things behind the scenes took a dark turn.
The eldest son, Chad, upset with the intensity of the vlogging lifestyle, began acting out. He disobeyed and was expelled from school. That was when Ruby and her husband, Kevin, discovered Jodi Hildebrandt, a life coach and well-known Utah therapist. Ruby and Hildebrandt would soon become attached at the hip — leading to child disownment, abuse and imprisonment.
The Dark Truths
Episodes two and three: “Distortion” and “Truth,” took on this chilling turn, diving into the nightmares that unfolded in the family after the friendship with Ruby and Hildebrandt was formed.
Shari, the eldest daughter, shared that Ruby began working with Hildebrandt at her counseling service, ConneXions, and even let Hildebrandt move into the Franke home. As a result, Shari was forced to give up her bedroom to Hildebrandt. Shortly after giving up her bedroom, she was kicked out of the house entirely and was disowned.
Kevin and Chad would later be put in a similar situation, losing all contact with Ruby for over a year.
That year would be the one in which the widely reported child abuse of the two youngest Franke children occurred.
The documentary does not shy away from the dark and disturbing details of the abuse — including photos and video from the day the children were found. It was a difficult watch, leaving no detail left unsaid.
It’s Not Always What it Seems
Overall, the documentary was well done. It featured interviews with Kevin, Shari and Chad sharing their raw story with viewers. The family interviews were supported by interviews with neighbors and the police present when the two youngest children were found. All the sources created a compelling series that shared all the tragic moments.
The documentary served as a wake-up call to the darker side of family vlogging. Social media can be deceiving. What appeared to be an ideal family was covered in terrors. The carefully curated posts showcasing exciting memories and a happy family life hid the reality.
