Ruby Franke’s Arrest: A Shocking Tale of Family Abuse and Betrayal.
The case of Ruby Franke, once a prominent YouTube family vlogger, has captivated the public with its horrific details.
The third episode of Hulu’s Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke sheds light on the disturbing child abuse that led to Ruby and her partner Jodi Hildebrandt’s arrests. This gripping documentary offers a first-ever glimpse into the trauma faced by Franke’s children and the emotional toll it took on her husband, Kevin Franke, as well as their older children, Shari and Chad.
Kevin Franke’s Struggle with Guilt and Betrayal
For years, Kevin Franke lived under Ruby’s control, increasingly isolated from his children. His compliance in the face of Ruby’s disturbing actions left him feeling helpless and emotionally torn.
In the documentary, Kevin admits to feeling "1000% compliant" with Ruby, fearing she would ask for a divorce. When asked why he didn’t step in sooner, he confesses, “If I dwell on that question, it eats me alive.”
The turning point came when Kevin was told by police about the extreme abuse his children endured. At first, he couldn’t comprehend it.
He struggled to believe the police’s accounts, even refusing to look at pictures of his children’s condition. It wasn’t until he saw the physical evidence that everything fell into place. He recalls a moment of clarity when he realized the full extent of Ruby’s abuse, feeling “angry” and “lost” but acknowledging, “I was the last line of defense for these children, and I packed my bags and walked away.”
The Children’s Ordeal: Abused, Isolated, and Fearful
The details of the abuse were chilling. One of Ruby’s sons, a 12-year-old, escaped from Jodi’s home, covered in tape and emaciated.
The police who responded described him as “nothing but skin and bones,” with tendons exposed. In the months that followed, Ruby’s children revealed further horrors, including being deprived of food, forced to stand in the sun for hours, and subjected to physical punishment such as being tied to weights and forced to jump on a trampoline for hours.
A journal, found during the investigation, revealed Ruby’s disturbing belief that her children were "demonically possessed." She documented punishments based on these beliefs, including tormenting her children in the name of religious conviction. The extent of her manipulation and control over her family is evident in her journal entries, which document her own warped justification for the abuse.
Ruby Franke
Shari and Chad’s Painful Realization
Shari, one of the older children, struggled with her feelings of betrayal and trauma after the arrest. She explains that she will “never” speak to Ruby again, regardless of any apologies, expressing her anger and hurt at her mother's actions. “We have one childhood and one mom, and that was mine,” she says, emphasizing how Ruby’s abuse stole her sense of family and safety.
Chad’s experience is similarly painful. He initially believed Ruby’s justifications for her behavior, but upon learning the full extent of the abuse, he began to come to terms with the harsh reality.
His journey from denial to understanding mirrors the internal conflict many victims face when they are caught between love for their abuser and the truth of their actions. Chad says he believes Ruby’s punishment is deserved and, like Shari, holds no illusions about her remorse.
Kevin’s Conflict: Love and Deception
Kevin’s emotional conflict after the arrest is heartbreaking. Despite the abuse, he admits he still feels a longing for Ruby, the woman he once loved. “The actions that she did are atrocious, but I still feel a longing. I miss her,” he says, illustrating the complexity of his emotions.
However, as he reflects on the years of manipulation and control, he recognizes that he has been deceived and betrayed. He acknowledges that Ruby, alongside Jodi, committed something truly awful and that his failure to act sooner is something he’ll always carry with him.
The Aftermath: Moving On and Seeking Justice
The documentary also shows the lasting impact on the Franke family after Ruby’s arrest. Chad, now an influencer, and Shari, who has become an advocate against family vlogging, have both sought to rebuild their lives away from the public image of their family.
Kevin has since filed for divorce and voiced support for legislation aimed at protecting children who appear in online content.
Ruby and Jodi’s arrest, followed by their guilty pleas to child abuse, marks the end of a disturbing chapter in a once-promising family’s life. However, for Kevin, Shari, and Chad, the road to healing is long, and their painful experiences will continue to shape their lives.
A Story of Control, Deception, and the Dangers of Family Vlogging
The Franke family’s story is not just about abuse, but also about the dangers of unchecked control and manipulation, often hidden behind the polished veneer of social media.
Ruby’s actions, justified by her delusions of religious righteousness, underscore how easily the lines between love, control, and abuse can blur, especially within the confines of a family. As the Franke children continue to heal, their story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable children from abuse, both in the home and in the public eye.
For more details on how to protect children from abuse, visit the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit childhelp.org.
