Abusive mummy vlogger's YouTube income as it emerges she kept money from kids

22 December 2023 , 22:22

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Abusive mummy vlogger's YouTube income as it emerges she kept money from kids

Over the years, family vlogger Ruby Franke accumulated millions of social media followers by chronicling her family's life in a lakeside town. However, Franke's precipitous decline from grace is now complete as she faces prison time after entering a guilty plea on Monday to four counts of severe child abuse.

YouTubers.me, a site displaying the estimated earnings of content creators, reported that Ruby Franke's channel, "8 Passengers" had a net worth of $2.5million(£1,968,022) in 2021. The channel reportedly made $195(£153) per day and $838(£660) a week. The majority of her earnings came from YouTube ads, sponsored content, and clothing sales. The Ohana Adventure, the creator's second channel, showcases partnerships with additional family-oriented channels.

After her 12-year-old son was discovered with duct tape covering his limbs and open wounds, Franke was charged with six counts of criminal child abuse.

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The YouTube mom amassed millions before her arrest (8 Passengers/Instagram)

The YouTuber and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, who lived in of Springville, Utah, were both arrested earlier this year on two counts of aggravated child abuse. A probable cause affidavit states that the Mormon mother's boy rushed to a neighbour for help after climbing out of Hildebrandt's house through a window.

'I ventured into Alcatraz after dark and was terrified by what I saw and heard'

The boy was found malnourished in addition to his wounds. The 10-year-old daughter of Ruby and her spouse, Kevin Franke, was discovered in a comparable state. Additionally, Hildebrandt faces six felony counts of child abuse in Washington County, Utah. A $10,000 fine and a maximum term of 15 years are imposed for each count.

The mom's children were found so malnourished, they had to be transported to a hospital (Youtube)

Russell, 12, and Eve, 10, were so malnourished when they were found, according to the authorities, that they had to be brought to a hospital for treatment. A search inside the house turned up "evidence consistent with the markings found on the juvenile," according to the investigators.

The Utah Division of Child and Family Services removed the mother's other four children, Shari, Chad, Abby, and Julie. According to a statement from the Washington County attorney, there are three possible ways that the two ladies could have contributed to or allowed "serious physical injury."

The children have since been in custody of Child Protective Services (8 Passengers/Youtube)

'(1) a combination of multiple physical injuries or torture, (2) starvation or malnutrition that jeopardizes life, and (3) causing severe emotional harm,' they said.

Both ladies remain in the custody of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, as stated on their official website.

The "8 passengers" YouTube channel had more than 2 million subscribers

The Mormon woman initially gained notoriety for her rigorous parenting methods, which went viral on YouTube and allegedly brought her "millions" of dollars. Together with her spouse Kevin, she amassed over 2.2 million followers on social media by sharing their daily activities.

Mataeo Smith