YouTube mumfluencer accused of child abuse says her kid sexually abused siblings

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Ruby Franke made her initial appearance on felony child abuse charges (Image: Utah Fifth District Court)
Ruby Franke made her initial appearance on felony child abuse charges (Image: Utah Fifth District Court)

A YouTuber mum accused of abusing and starving her children put the blame on them making shocking allegations.

Ruby Franke, a mother of six who once ran a YouTube channel called "8 Passengers", appeared in court for a shelter hearing to determine the custody of her four minor children. This emotionally charged court appearance saw Franke making shocking claims about her family's troubled situation.

The court decided that Franke to be held without bail and set the next appearance for September 21. Franke alleged in court that one of her minor children had not only sexually abused their sibling but had also molested several other family members and children in their neighbourhood over an extended period. These allegations were made during a public courtroom session, which was both emotionally charged and distressing.

Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, had been arrested a month prior to this court hearing and were both charged with six counts of felony child abuse. It came after Franke's 12-year-old son escaped the house that morning and asked a neighbour to call police, according to the 911 call released by the St. George Police Department. The boy was emaciated and had duct tape around his ankles and wrists, but wouldn't say why, the caller reported.

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YouTube mumfluencer accused of child abuse says her kid sexually abused siblingsRuby Franke, mother of six and YouTuber, makes shocking child abuse allegations in court (Instagram)

At the time of the hearing, Ruby Franke was in custody at a Utah jail, and she was being held without bail. She was expected to remain in jail until her next court appearance, scheduled for the following day.

The court hearing was presided over by Judge Suchada Bazzelle and lasted just 30 minutes. Ruby Franke's husband, Kevin, was present in court, accompanied by his attorney, Randy Kester. The state attorneys and Franke's two oldest daughters were also in attendance, with the daughters seemingly accompanied by their own attorney.

During the hearing, Ruby Franke seemed to place the blame for her behaviour on her children. She provided gruesome details about one of her six children abusing other children, including claims that one of her children began looking at pornography at the age of three. She alleged that one child had been sexually abusing a younger sibling for years, eventually involving other children in the abuse.

YouTube mumfluencer accused of child abuse says her kid sexually abused siblingsHer son found with open wounds; she and her partner charged with felony child abuse (Instagram)

The courtroom fell eerily silent after Franke made these disturbing allegations, the Daily Mail reported. In response, the judge stated that the alleged abusive child would need to be placed in a home without other children.

An attorney in the public viewing area of the courtroom requested to share details about the molestation of another child, as the mother of one of the alleged victims was present. However, the judge denied this request, stating that such details could be discussed at a later time.

YouTube mumfluencer accused of child abuse says her kid sexually abused siblingsRuby Franke will remain in Utah jail, with no bail until her next court appearance (Instagram)

Outside of the courtroom, DailyMail.com attempted to get a comment from the mother of one of the children allegedly molested by Franke's child, but she declined to speak. Kevin Franke and his attorney also left the courthouse without making any comments to the press.

The judge scheduled the next hearings for September 15th (mediation hearing) and September 18th (pre-trial hearing). Ruby Franke was informed that if she were released from jail, she would need to attend these hearings in person, and arrangements would be made for her transportation.

YouTube mumfluencer accused of child abuse says her kid sexually abused siblingsFranke's strict parenting style and YouTube fame contrast with the disturbing allegations in court (Instagram)

Ruby Franke gained fame on YouTube for her strict parenting style, which garnered millions of subscribers. She and her husband, Kevin, documented their daily lives on social media. However, they stopped uploading videos in January 2022, and their YouTube channel was taken down later in the year.

Ruby Franke faced criticism in July when a video surfaced showing her allowing her daughter to go hungry as a form of teaching responsibility. She explained that she expected her daughter to learn the importance of being prepared and self-sufficient.

One of Ruby's adult children, Shari (20 years old), celebrated her mother's arrest on social media, expressing relief that justice was being served. Shari claimed to have reported the abuse to the police and Child Protective Services for years.

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