RedHanded Podcast Episode #364

FROM THE VAULT: Ruby Franke: Monster Momfluencer
Release Date: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In this chilling and highly requested episode, hosts Hannah and Esther unpack the disturbing case of Ruby Franke, the Mormon "momfluencer" behind the ultra-popular YouTube channel "8Passengers." What started as a wholesome family vlogging enterprise spiraled into a harrowing story of child abuse, cult-like indoctrination, and the dangers of unchecked online fame. The hosts examine how Franke, with the support of her collaborator Jodi Hildebrandt, concealed calculated torture and neglect of her six children—all in broad daylight and with millions watching.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Case’s Shocking Introduction

• Opening Narrative: Hannah recounts how 12-year-old Russell Franke showed up at a neighbor’s house, emaciated, dirty, shoeless, and with duct-taped wrists and ankles, begging for help.
  • “This little boy was Russell Frankie. And his voice trembled as he begged the man to ring the police.” (Hannah, 00:53)
• 911 Call Audio: Heart-wrenching audio underscores the severity of Russell’s state.
  • “He’s emaciated, he’s got tape around his legs. He’s hungry and he’s thirsty.” (911 Operator, 01:35)

Ruby Franke’s Public Persona vs. Private Horrors

• Ruby’s vlogging persona presented the family as the idyllic, disciplined Mormon household—an image consumed by millions.
• Esther and Hannah emphasise how the real story was far more sinister: evidence of torture, starvation, psychological and physical abuse, and religious fanaticism.
  • “She seemed like the beautiful, idealised picture of disciplined Mormon motherhood. But after police raided her house, they discovered… calculated torture, days of starvation and religious fanaticism.” (Esther, 04:05)

Rise of “8Passengers” and The Family Vlogging Industry

• Launched in 2015, "8Passengers" reached 2.5 million subscribers, posting hundreds of videos depicting family life, discipline, and schooling.
• Concerns were voiced early by viewers over consent, privacy for children, and increasing on-camera punishment.
  • “Some commentators were uncomfortable with issues around consent and parents profiting off shoving cameras in their kid’s faces…” (Hannah, 08:49)

The Slippery Slope of Family Vlogging:

• Discussion on psychological and social harms of family vlogging, including humiliation and exploitation for brands and ad dollars.
• Notable moment: Hannah draws parallels to “prank” family channels which inflict genuine trauma for entertainment.
  • “The humiliation of that on a young psyche. These people are just not thinking, yeah.” (Hannah, 10:54)

Ruby Franke’s Disturbing Parenting Tactics

• Documented “punishments” escalate through the years:
  • Withholding food as discipline.
    • “Eating is a basic human right, not a privilege. Because if you don’t eat, you quite literally die.” (Esther, 21:26)
  • Public shaming for bed-wetting (in sponsored content), invading privacy, isolating children.
  • Threats with violence toward favorite toys, cruel control over emotional development.

Viral Outrage & Community Pushback:

• The infamous “No Lunch for Eve” video: Ruby ignores her six-year-old’s forgotten lunch, hoping “nobody gives her food.”
  • “I hope you were in pain and discomfort all day and I hope no one gives you food so that you remember not to forget your lunch again.” (Hannah, 24:02)
• Outrage peaks with punishment like Chad losing his bed for 7 months over a harmless prank.
• Public petitions call for CPS involvement but laws lag behind:
  • “Sleeping on a beanbag and being treated horribly… isn’t legally classed as child abuse.” (Hannah, 29:20)

Escalation & Collapse of the Franke Household

• Increasingly severe punishments and isolations; younger children denied Christmas presents as “the gift of truth.”
• The “8Passengers” channel slows to inactivity amid blowback and legal scrutiny.
• Transition to “Connections Classroom”: Ruby remakes herself as a “mental fitness coach” with Jodi Hildebrandt, peddling extreme, cult-like advice.

The Role of Jodi Hildebrandt & Cult Tactics

• Jodi becomes Ruby's confidante, therapist, and business partner, wielding enormous influence.

• History of abuse and overreach as therapist emerges (e.g., accusations of “porn addiction,” emotional isolation, cultic interventions).

• Jodi manipulates Ruby’s family, separates her from husband Kevin and eldest children, and ultimately moves Ruby and her youngest to her desert compound.

  • “Jodi is like the laziest couple [therapist]. She just needs one couple at a time.” (Hannah, 44:16)

Parallels and Patterns in Abuse:

• Jodi’s niece and former clients describe eerily similar duct-taping, isolation, and accusations of evil across years.
  • “To them, this was all too familiar. Jessie has since described the harrowing abuse that they suffered when they went to live with their Aunt Jody.” (Esther, 56:19)

Rescue & Unveiling of the Full Horror

Timestamp: 48:12–54:29

• Police finally intervene after Russell's escape.

• Eve is found emaciated, traumatized, in a cupboard—evidence of systematic torture, starvation, and cult-like brainwashing.

• Discovery of a panic room stocked for intentional, repeated child abuse.

  • “The police turned down a corridor and in the middle of a dark cupboard, they found Eve. The nine year old girl is painfully thin. She was sitting alone in the middle of the space… It would take the police a total of four hours to get her to leave the room at all. And then she finally ate some pizza.” (Esther, 51:07)

Ruby’s Diary of Atrocities

• Authorities find Ruby’s diary, chronicling forced starvation, isolation, binding and punishment rationalized by claims of “demons” and “evil.”
  • “She writes about starving Eve and Russell… The short entries often reference Russell being possessed by the devil and Ruby justifies starving him by scrawling, ‘I will not feed a demon.’” (Hannah, 54:29)

Aftermath: Arrest, Conviction, and Sentencing

Timestamp: 57:40–65:27

• Ruby and Jodi arrested and charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse.
• Both continue to rationalize actions, portraying themselves as victims of a witch hunt.
  • “Your little boy’s bones are showing. But Ruby was having none of it. She called the whole thing a witch hunt and claimed the devil had been after her for years. You are the devil.” (Esther & Hannah, 58:22–58:51)

Legal Outcomes:

• Ruby and Jodi each sentenced to up to 30 years in Utah State prison.
• Kevin Franke divorced Ruby, seeks custody but remains under scrutiny.
• Franke children placed in state care; Shari and Chad build independent lives.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Family Vlogging:
  • “Anything and everything was content.” (Esther, 14:32)
  • “Was it worth it? Was it worth it? Like there are so many issues with this kind of thing.” (Hannah, 10:54)
• On Parenting as Abuse:
  • “Sometimes they are [monsters]. I feel increasingly… hard to defend the stance that somebody who starves her children to the point that they are at the brink of death is not a monster.” (Hannah, 04:48)
• On Collusion & Cult Dynamics:
  • “Jodi, meanwhile, goes on a charm offensive, claiming she’s nervous and she’s done nothing wrong… the pair see themselves as the victims here.” (Hannah, 57:37)
• On Public Blindness:
  • “It’s the fact of the public nature again, and the fact that she got away with it for so long and that nobody stepped in to save these children when red flags were apparent.” (Hannah, 63:37)
• On Broader Implications:
  • “Don’t take parenting advice from crazy people on the Internet. And if you don’t like kids, don’t have them.” (Hannah, 67:15)

Important Timestamps

• 00:53: Discovery of Russell Franke and the 911 call
• 04:05: Introduction of Ruby Franke’s secret abuse
• 08:49: Ethical concerns around family vlogging
• 13:02–14:30: On-camera shaming and privacy violations
• 21:26: Food deprivation as “discipline”
• 24:23: Viral outrage over lunch deprivation
• 27:42: Chad’s removal from his room and the “beanbag punishment”
• 29:20: Petition for CPS intervention, legal limits
• 32:35: Hiatus of “8Passengers,” move to “Connections Classroom”
• 34:52–35:17: Cult-like principles, radical denial of children’s rights
• 38:02–41:40: Jodi’s prior abuses – cultic isolation tactics
• 43:12–44:16: Ruby completely isolated, family collapse
• 48:12–54:29: Russell’s escape, police rescue, discovery of abuse, panic room
• 54:29–56:04: Ruby’s diary and explicit records of torture
• 57:37: Ruby and Jodi’s arrests, final horror of their plans
• 62:13–64:36: Sentencing, lack of remorse, cycles of abuse

Tone & Delivery

Hannah and Esther maintain their trademark mix of dark humor and unflinching examination. They oscillate between incredulity, horror, and frustration—often interjecting with acerbic asides, memorable one-liners, and reflections on wider cultural implications. Their style remains direct, conversational, and deeply empathetic to the victims.

Takeaways

• The Ruby Franke case is a harrowing example of how abuse can be hidden in plain sight—amplified, not exposed, by social media.
• The episode serves as a cautionary tale against the unchecked dynamics of family vlogging, weak legal protections, and the seductive power of online influencers.
• Both hosts emphasize the need for vigilance, healthy skepticism towards “parenting experts,” and the importance of listening to children.

Final Words:
“If you are a parent and you’re having a tough time, you’re probably doing a perfectly good job. Don’t go to anybody who says they can fix all your problems.” (Hannah, 67:47)