Hulu’s new docuseries, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, offers a deeper look into the 8 Passengers YouTuber’s controversial parenting, arrest, and conviction for child abuse.
The three-part series, featuring never-before-seen footage and first-time interviews with Franke’s husband, Kevin, and their eldest children, Shari and Chad, airs this week.
Franke, who gained fame as a parenting vlogger with over 2.5 million subscribers, faced mounting scrutiny for her extreme disciplinary tactics, including withholding food and isolating her children. Concerns turned into criminal charges in August 2023 when her malnourished 12-year-old son escaped and alerted authorities. Police found evidence of severe abuse, leading to the arrests of Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt. Both were sentenced to up to 30 years in prison in early 2024.
In the documentary, Shari, 21, recalls their home feeling “more like a set than a house,” while Chad, 20, describes being forced to film as punishment. He also shares a harrowing memory of cleaning blood off the walls after being beaten. Kevin, who publicly split from Franke in 2022, claims he was unaware of the abuse and was manipulated by Hildebrandt.
The series explores Franke’s troubling relationship with Hildebrandt, who co-founded the controversial life-coaching program ConneXions. Archival footage reveals the duo promoting extreme parenting tactics, including denying children privacy.
With exclusive insights and shocking footage, Devil in the Family sheds light on the dark reality behind the 8 Passengers brand.
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