In recent shocking news, Ruby Franke, a Utah-based family vlogger, and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, have been arrested following the rescue of Ruby’s 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter from a situation involving open wounds and duct tape restraining them. This revelation has left fans of the now-defunct YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, deeply concerned about the children’s well-being.
Chad Franke’s Warning Signs in 2020
Back in May 2020, Ruby Franke posted a video on her 8 Passengers channel, discussing her kids’ activities. At the time, Chad Franke, who was 15 years old, left a comment in the video mentioning that his room had been taken away for seven months. He explained that this happened because he had been playing pranks on his younger brother, Russell, and was now sleeping on a beanbag since October.
Ruby later clarified that Chad had been separated from Russell on the recommendation of a therapist and was given the option to sleep on an inflatable mattress. This video was eventually removed from the channel, but it raised concerns among fans due to the channel’s history of controversies related to child abuse.
A Change.org petition garnered over 17,800 signatures, prompting child protection services to intervene and investigate the Franke family’s situation. According to Ruby and Kevin Franke, the deleted video was meant to showcase a bedroom makeover with LED lights, and they claimed that Chad’s behavior had been physically and emotionally damaging to his siblings.
Chad Franke’s Current Whereabouts
Chad Franke, who recently turned 18, has reportedly moved out of the Franke family home. A Reddit user posted some VSCO pictures of Chad, showing him smiling and posing by a pool. However, his exact location and current circumstances remain unknown.
Chad is the second oldest among the Franke siblings, and he attended a local high school in Utah after the family’s move to the state. He was actively involved in the 8 Passengers channel.
Throughout the accusations of child abuse, Ruby and Kevin Franke maintained that they were disciplining their children, and they believed that certain videos and clips were edited to portray them in a negative light. The controversy surrounding parents involving their young children in online content creation is not a new issue, and it has raised concerns about the impact on the children’s well-being.
Conclusion
The case of Ruby Franke and her family serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers when families expose their lives online. The arrest of Ruby and her partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, after the rescue of their children from an alarming situation, has shocked many. Chad Franke, the eldest son, has now embarked on a new chapter in his life, away from the family’s tumultuous past.