The highly anticipated Hulu docuseries "Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke", which premiered in February 2025, has reignited public interest in the disturbing case of former YouTube family vlogger Ruby Franke.
The series provides a deep dive into the abuse allegations, featuring exclusive interviews with her children, ex-husband Kevin Franke, and legal experts. The docuseries also reveals previously unseen footage from her now-defunct YouTube channel, "8 Passengers", showcasing a pattern of controlling behavior and extreme punishments toward her children.
This latest development comes as Franke serves her 4 to 30-year prison sentence, which was handed down after her 2023 conviction for aggravated child abuse.
A Timeline of Events Leading to Her Conviction
August 2023: The Escape That Led to Her Arrest
- Ruby Franke was arrested in August 2023, after her 12-year-old son escaped from the home of her business associate, Jodi Hildebrandt.
- The child was severely malnourished, had open wounds, and showed clear signs of being tied up.
- Authorities later discovered another of her children in a similar condition, leading to the immediate arrest of both Franke and Hildebrandt.
February 2024: Conviction and Sentencing
- Both women pleaded guilty to multiple counts of aggravated child abuse.
- They were sentenced to a minimum of four years and a maximum of 30 years in prison.
February 2025: Hulu Docuseries and More Family Revelations
- The release of Devil in the Family sparked renewed outrage and brought additional details to light about Franke's strict and abusive parenting methods.
- Her oldest daughter, Shari Franke, gave a detailed interview, stating she had witnessed physical abuse and had even helped clean blood off the walls after one particularly violent incident.
- Her ex-husband Kevin Franke, who had initially stayed silent, is now speaking out about the abuse and the trauma his children have endured.
Kevin Franke Speaks Out: “I Want Nothing to Do With Her”
For months after Ruby Franke’s arrest, her husband Kevin Franke remained silent, leading many to question his involvement or awareness of the situation. However, in early 2025, he broke his silence in an exclusive People magazine interview, where he made several key revelations:
- He filed for divorce in November 2023, stating that he was unaware of the severity of the abuse but that he regrets not stepping in sooner.
- He revealed that Ruby Franke has been sending him letters from prison, which he has asked her to stop writing.
- Kevin also stated that he is trying to move forward with his life and will start dating once the divorce is finalized.
"I deeply regret everything that happened to my children," Kevin stated. "I just want to focus on their healing and rebuilding our lives."
Shari and Chad Franke: The Children Speak Out
Two of Ruby Franke's six children, Shari (20) and Chad (19), have been outspoken about the abuse they endured in the household.
- Shari Franke has described severe punishments, including being denied food for days, being forced to sleep on the floor, and extreme discipline methods.
- Chad Franke, who had previously been sent to a “behavioral camp” after defying his mother, stated in the docuseries that he lives with PTSD due to his childhood experiences.
- Both Shari and Chad are now advocating against child exploitation in family vlogging, urging platforms like YouTube to enforce stricter regulations on family channels.
What’s Next?
With Franke and Hildebrandt serving lengthy prison sentences, the focus now shifts to the children’s recovery and the ongoing debate about the ethics of family vlogging.
The release of "Devil in the Family" has renewed calls for stricter legal protections for children in online content and has sparked discussions about the long-term consequences of exploitative parenting for profit.
Meanwhile, Kevin Franke continues to fight for full custody of the younger children, stating that he wants to provide them with a safe and stable home away from the spotlight.
Final Thoughts
The fall of Ruby Franke is a chilling cautionary tale about the dark side of social media fame and parental control taken too far. As more details continue to emerge, her case will likely remain a significant moment in conversations surrounding child welfare, online exploitation, and abusive family dynamics.