YouTube Parenting Advice Vlogger Ruby Franke Faces Child Abuse Charges

A Utah woman who gained fame on YouTube for her parenting advice has been arrested on charges of child abuse. Ruby Franke, who ran the channel "8 Passengers," was charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse after two of her six children were found abused and malnourished. Franke's arrest came after one of her children climbed out of a window and asked a neighbor for food and water.

A Utah woman, Ruby Franke, who gained fame through her YouTube channel "8 Passengers," has been arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse. The arrest came after two of Franke's children were found abused and malnourished. Franke's channel, which chronicled her family life, has since been taken down.

Franke was arrested at the home of Jodi Hildebrandt, who runs a counseling business called ConneXions Classroom. Hildebrandt was also arrested and faces the same charges. Both women are being held without bail.

The arrest came after Franke's 12-year-old son climbed out of a window and sought help from a neighbor, who noticed duct tape on the boy's ankles and wrists. The boy was taken to the hospital, where he was found to have deep lacerations and signs of malnourishment. Franke's daughter was later found malnourished in Hildebrandt's house.

The Franke family had faced criticism online for their parenting decisions, including a video in which they banned their oldest son from his bedroom for seven months and sent him to a wilderness therapy camp. In another video, Ruby Franke talked about refusing to bring lunch to a kindergartener and threatening to cut the head off a young girl's stuffed toy.

Following the arrest, Franke requested an attorney and did not speak with officers. Her husband's attorney, Randy S. Kester, stated that he is focused on keeping the children together and in his client's care.

The YouTube channel, which began in 2015, ended after seven years. The case has prompted an online petition calling for child protective services to intervene. The Franke's oldest daughter has also cut ties with her parents.

While the children were found at Hildebrandt's house, Franke was seen in a YouTube video filmed at the residence, suggesting she was aware of the abuse and neglect. No comments have been made by either Franke or Hildebrandt's counseling business regarding the arrest.

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