Ruby Franke – Where Is She Now in 2025

Ruby Franke, the former star of the family vlog channel 8 Passengers, is serving a prison sentence of up to 30 years for aggravated child abuse. As of 2025, she and her co-defendant Jodi Hildebrandt remain incarcerated in Utah, with parole hearings expected in 2026. Recent documentaries have renewed public interest in the case, and a new state law passed in spring 2025 expands child abuse definitions but does not affect their already-final convictions.

Where Is Ruby Franke Now?

• Ruby Franke’s fall from online fame is a cautionary tale about unchecked parental authority in the “mommy blogger” industry.
• The involvement of ConneXions, a religious life‑coaching organization run by Hildebrandt, added ideological justification to the abuse.
• Franke’s children are now adults or in protective care and maintain no public social media presence.
• The documentary Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (Hulu) provides the family’s first narrative counter to Franke’s old content.
• Netflix’s Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story focuses on the manipulation dynamic.
• Utah’s SB24 (2025) expanded child‑abuse definitions but does not retroactively change Franke’s or Hildebrandt’s convictions.

What Did Ruby Franke Do to Her Children? Details of the Abuse and Arrest

When Did Ruby Franke Get Arrested?

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested on August 30, 2023, after law enforcement found Franke’s children malnourished and injured at Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins, Utah. Washington County prosecutors said the abuse covered by the plea agreements occurred between May and August 2023. Official court documents describe serious physical injuries inflicted on the children.

What Did She Do to Her Children?

According to ABC News, Franke and Hildebrandt admitted to inflicting or allowing serious physical injury. The charges included starving, binding, and isolating the children. Two additional charges against Franke were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

What Happened to the 8 Passengers YouTube Channel?

The channel, which at its peak had millions of subscribers, documented the daily lives of Franke’s six children. It was taken down or made private after Franke’s arrest. The case has raised ongoing debates about child privacy and safety in family vlogging. For more on these issues, see our article on family vlogging consequences.

How Long Is Ruby Franke’s Sentence? The Full Sentencing Timeline

When Was Ruby Franke Sentenced?

On February 20, 2024, Judge John J. Walton sentenced both Franke and Hildebrandt to four consecutive terms of one to 15 years. Under Utah’s indeterminate sentencing system, the practical maximum is 30 years. Some media reports incorrectly described the sentence as “up to 60 years,” but the Washington County official case summary and Biography.com clarify that each count carries one to 15 years, with consecutive terms making the effective maximum 30 years.

Did Ruby Franke Plead Guilty?

Yes. On December 18, 2023, Franke pleaded guilty to all four counts of aggravated child abuse. Hildebrandt also pleaded guilty. ABC News reported that after sentencing, the prosecutor said Franke appeared to understand she was wrong and had taken responsibility, while Hildebrandt had made jail calls suggesting a lack of remorse.

Who Is Jodi Hildebrandt? The Role of the ConneXions Founder in the Case

How Was Jodi Hildebrandt Involved?

Hildebrandt was Franke’s business partner and the founder of ConneXions, a self‑improvement program that blended life‑coaching with religious elements. The Washington County District Attorney’s office describes her as having an “enabling role” that normalized extreme disciplinary practices. KUTV reports that Hildebrandt has been trying to challenge her conviction to reduce her prison time.

Prison Location and Separation

Biography.com states that both women are housed in the Dell unit of the Utah State Correctional Facility, but they are not in the same housing arrangement. Hildebrandt’s first parole hearing is also expected in 2026.

Ruby Franke Case Timeline: Key Events From Vlogging to Prison

1. 2000s: Ruby Franke begins family vlogging, eventually launching 8 Passengers.
2. 2020: Channel reaches millions of subscribers; public criticism starts over controversial parenting.
3. Early 2023: Eldest son Shari Franke cuts ties; Ruby aligns closely with Jodi Hildebrandt.
4. August 30, 2023: Ruby and Jodi arrested; children found malnourished and injured in Jodi’s home.
5. December 18, 2023: Both plead guilty to 4 counts of aggravated child abuse.
6. February 20, 2024: Sentencing; each receives four consecutive 1‑to‑15‑year terms.
7. 2025: Hulu releases Devil in the Family; Netflix releases Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story.
8. Spring 2025: Utah passes SB24, expanding child‑abuse definitions for future cases.
9. Current: Both women incarcerated; parole hearings anticipated in 2026.

What Is Certain and What Remains Unclear About the Ruby Franke Case?

What Does the Ruby Franke Case Mean for Family Vlogging and Child Safety?

The case highlights the failure of the family vlogging ecosystem to protect child privacy and safety. The children became props in a monetized narrative, a dynamic described by critics as “the passenger analogy.” The role of religious extremism, amplified by Hildebrandt’s ConneXions business, created an environment where abuse was enabled. For a broader look at similar cases, see our research on YouTuber child safety cases.

Key Sources and Quotes on the Ruby Franke Case

“Franke appeared to understand she was wrong and had taken responsibility, while Hildebrandt had made jail calls suggesting a lack of remorse.”

– Washington County prosecutor, as reported by ABC News

Primary documents are available from the Washington County District Attorney’s office. The Netflix Tudum article, “Where Are Jodi Hildebrandt And Ruby Franke Now?”, provides an update as of December 2025. The Hulu documentary Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke features family‑produced footage. For a UK legal perspective, AbuseClaimsUK offers analysis.

Summary: Where Does the Ruby Franke Case Stand Now?

Ruby Franke is serving a 1‑to‑15‑year term on each of four counts of aggravated child abuse, with a practical maximum of 30 years. She remains at the Utah State Correctional Facility, with a parole hearing scheduled for December 2026. Co‑defendant Jodi Hildebrandt faces the same sentence and a similar parole timeline. Two major documentaries have been released in 2025, and Utah’s new SB24 law will affect future child‑abuse cases but does not alter Franke’s or Hildebrandt’s convictions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ruby Franke’s Case