Sophia Michaels
momfluencer’s child abuse arrest, admitting they’ve “kept quiet” about her for years.
Taking to social media Thursday, Ellie Mecham, Bonnie Hoellein and Julie Deru wrote that they opted to remain tight-lipped on the subject “for the sake of” their nieces and nephews — Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve.
“For the last 3 years we have kept quiet on the subject of our sister Ruby Franke for the sake of her children,” the trio wrote in a joint statement one day after the Utah mom known for her “8 Passengers” YouTube channel was arrested.
“Behind the public scene we have done everything we could to try and make sure the kids were safe,” the siblings continued. “We wouldn’t feel right about moving forward with regular content without addressing the most recent events.”
They concluded, “Ruby was arrested which needed to happen. [Her business partner] Jodi [Hildebrandt] was arrested which needed to happen. The kids are now safe, which is the number one priority.”
Franke was taken into custody on Wednesday under suspicion of two counts of aggravated child abuse. Hildebrandt was also arrested that day under the same suspicions.
Ruby’s estranged daughter, Shari, also posted a photo to her Instagram Story of police outside of her mother’s home, writing, “Finally.”
She later claimed that she and her family members were “glad” that her mom had been taken away.
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“Today has been a big day. Me and my family are so glad justice is being served,” Shari wrote. “We’ve been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this and [are] so glad they finally decided to step up.”
While Shari noted that the “kids are safe,” the 20-year-old acknowledged that there is a “long road ahead.”
Four Franke kids remain in the care of the Department of Child and Family Services.
Ruby’s husband, Kevin Franke, is making sure their six kids are his No. 1 priority, his lawyer told Page Six Thursday.
Attorney Randy S. Kester said that his client’s “urgent focus is simply to keep his children together under his fatherly care.”
In Utah, aggravated child abuse includes starvation, broken bones, head injuries from hitting or shaking, and suffocation.
If intentionally inflicted, the perpetrator faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Ruby, who will be held in Washington County jail without bail, has declined to speak to authorities and requested a lawyer.
She was arrested after one of her “emaciated” children fled to a neighbor’s home requesting food and water with duct tape around their wrists and ankles.
