Unveiling the Dark Truth Behind Ruby Franke: A Story of Abuse and Betrayal
Delve into the chilling tale of Ruby Franke, the woman embroiled in Hulu’s latest docuseries, “Devil In the Family.” Before you hit play, brace yourself for the harrowing journey of the Franke family, as their story unfolds from the lens of their YouTube channel 8Passengers and beyond. Trigger warning: child abuse lurks in the shadows of this narrative.
The Rise of Ruby Franke and 8 Passengers
Ruby Franke, a devoted Mormon mother of six, embarked on a digital voyage when she launched the YouTube channel 8 Passengers in 2015. Alongside her husband, Kevin, they opened the doors of their bustling household to the online world, capturing the essence of family life with candid authenticity. However, as their channel soared past two million subscribers, the spotlight intensified, scrutinizing the couple for their transparent portrayal of their children’s lives and their disciplinary methods, deemed by some as stringent or even severe.
In 2021, Utah Child Protective Services paid a visit to the Franke family abode following a neglect complaint, yet no charges were pressed, as reported by Forbes. The shadows of suspicion loomed over the family, hinting at a darker narrative brewing beneath the surface.
The Enigmatic Jodi Hildebrandt: Interloper or Savior?
In a twist of fate, the Frankes crossed paths with the enigmatic Jodi Hildebrandt, a Mormon therapist enlisted to aid with their son Chad’s struggles. However, what began as a professional liaison spiraled into an intense relationship, culminating in Hildebrandt’s residence within the family home in 2021. Assuming the role of a counselor to all the children, she inadvertently pushed Kevin to the sidelines, altering the family dynamic irreversibly. Hildebrandt’s counseling business, ConneXions, became intertwined with the Franke household, with Ruby Franke even delving into the program herself.
The Trail of Abuse: Uncovering the Horrors
The Frankes’ narrative took an ominous turn as early glimpses of the ConneXions approach to “parenting” surfaced online. Disturbing practices, such as withholding meals and forcing a child to sleep on a bean bag chair for months, hinted at a darker reality lurking behind closed doors. The veil of secrecy was lifted when the truth emerged – the Franke children, subjected to barbaric conditions meant to “exorcise” them of perceived demons, suffered untold atrocities.
The rescue operation unearthed a grim tableau: the four remaining children, malnourished and scarred, bore the trauma of brutal treatments. Reports from Time revealed harrowing accounts of children being tethered to weights under the scorching sun, coerced to bounce on a trampoline, and compelled to traverse the unforgiving desert. Their resulting injuries, inflicted in the name of purification, were haphazardly tended to with ineffective remedies, leaving scars both physical and emotional.
In the wake of these revelations, the Franke family’s idyllic facade crumbled, revealing a sinister underbelly of abuse and neglect. As the spotlight turns on Ruby Franke and the insidious web she wove, the echoes of their haunting tale linger, serving as a poignant reminder of the horrors that can lurk behind closed doors.
Join us as we unravel the chilling saga of Ruby Franke, a cautionary tale of abuse, manipulation, and the resilience of the human spirit amidst dark adversity.