Convicted YouTuber Ruby Franke Left Journal Detailing Abuse of Her ‘Demonic’ Children: ‘Shaved Head, Head in Toilet, Painful’
Before YouTuber Ruby Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse in late 2023, alongside her former business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, authorities uncovered a chilling journal that detailed the horrific abuse of her children. The entries, revealed in Hulu’s new docuseries Devil In The Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, paint a disturbing picture of the Mormon family vlogger’s actions toward her two youngest children, whom she believed were demonically “possessed.”
In one journal entry, Franke described subjecting her daughter to extreme punishments: “Sleep outside, shaved her head, doused her with water, over his nose and mouth, head in the toilet, needs to be painful. Blood on his face, scream and scream.” Another entry detailed her justification for the abuse, stating, “I told the boy, he emulates a snake. If he wants to emulate the Savior, he needs to be a hundred percent obedient with exactness. The body must engage in good work, and the good works need to be painful. I have the power of God, and he must obey.”
Franke’s journal also recounted an incident where she forced her son into the sun and used a “cactus poker” to prod him. She wrote, “When I poke his back to get in the sun, he doesn’t even flinch. I told him, give your demon friend a message for me. I will not rest. I will not stop. I will not leave. I will fight him until the day you die.”
Franke’s descent into abuse came to light in August 2023 when her 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s home and sought help from a neighbor. The neighbor, visibly shaken by the boy’s emaciated appearance and visible wounds, immediately called 911. Police discovered tape marks on his wrists and ankles, indicating he had been restrained. Shortly after, authorities found Franke’s 9-year-old daughter in a similarly malnourished state at Hildebrandt’s residence in Ivins, Utah.
Franke and her husband, Kevin, had gained fame through their YouTube channel 8Passengers, which showcased their strict parenting style and amassed over 2 million followers. The channel, launched in 2015, was shut down by YouTube following Franke’s arrest. Notably, Kevin was not arrested or charged in connection with the abuse.
The abuse reportedly escalated after Hildebrandt, a former sex therapist and founder of the religious social media network ConneXions, entered the family’s life. A therapist featured in the docuseries described Hildebrandt as someone who “would prey on the weak,” adding that she was “excellent at exploiting Mormon anxiety.”
Both Franke and Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse and received identical sentences of four to 30 years in prison. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will determine the exact duration of their incarceration. At her sentencing, Franke tearfully apologized to her children, saying, “I will never stop crying for hurting your tender souls.”
Devil In The Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke is now streaming on Hulu, offering a harrowing look into the case that shocked the nation and exposed the dark side of a once-beloved family vlogger.
