Ruby Franke, known for her YouTube channel 8 Passengers, recently grabbed headlines, but for reasons far from her usual content. The once-beloved ‘momfluencer,’ now accused and convicted of child abuse, had her handwritten journals exposed, revealing a darker side of her life that her followers never knew.
These journals unveiled a chronology of abuse, purportedly driven by a distorted religious belief that her children were possessed by evil spirits. The details are chilling, providing a stark contrast to the happy family life Franke portrayed on her YouTube platform.
However, a series of recently released handwritten journals painted a drastically different picture of Franke’s family life. The entries revealed that Franke allegedly subjected her two young children to harrowing abuse, under the guise of religious purification. Franke was quoted as saying, “I will not feed a demon,” referencing her 12-year-old son.
Franke was not alone in her actions. Her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor, was also implicated in the abuse. The pair reportedly engaged in various acts of cruelty, including shaving the children’s heads, forcing them to perform hard labor, and denying them essential needs like food and comfortable sleeping arrangements.
During her sentencing, Franke issued an apology to her children. She claimed to have been “disoriented,” saying, “For the past four years, I’ve chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion.”
The abuse came to light when Franke’s malnourished 12-year-old son escaped from their home and sought help from a neighbor. The boy’s visible injuries and his subsequent account of the abuse triggered an investigation into the Franke household.
The investigation uncovered further evidence of the abuse, including Franke’s 10-year-old daughter found hiding in an empty closet. The released records from the Washington County Attorney’s Office also highlighted Franke’s plunge into a distorted interpretation of her religious beliefs.
Franke’s husband, Kevin, filed for divorce following her arrest. He claimed ignorance of the abuse, having separated from Franke and moved out of their shared home a year prior.
Both Franke and Hildebrandt were sentenced to at least four years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of second-degree felony child abuse.
The case has sparked widespread shock and outrage, particularly among Franke’s YouTube followers. The contrast between her public persona and the hidden reality of her home life has served as a stark reminder of the potential disconnect between social media portrayals and reality.
This case has also raised concerns about the unchecked influence of social media personalities and the lack of regulations governing their content and conduct.
From a legal standpoint, the case underscores the importance of child protection laws and the need for vigilance in reporting any suspected instances of child abuse.
Image Source – nytimes
