Behind the Scenes of the 8 Passengers YouTube Scandal: Kevin Franke’s Untold Story

Amid the seemingly perfect facade presented by YouTube influencer Ruby Franke of the "8 Passengers" channel, a dark tale of abuse has emerged, shedding light on the untold story of her husband, Kevin Franke, and the two youngest children, referred to as R and E.

In newly released footage of Kevin Franke’s police interview following Ruby’s arrest for child abuse, he reveals his side of the story for the first time.

After R, the youngest son, escaped from Ruby Franke’s friend Jodi Hildebrandt‘s home in Ivins, Utah, Kevin arrived at the Santa-Clara Ivins Police Department, seeking his two youngest children, R and E.

Initially considered a suspect in the case, Kevin shares with investigators that he had been living separately from Ruby and the children for over a year, emphasizing that he hadn’t seen them in that period.

Kevin expresses love for his wife despite the turmoil, revealing that he does not wish to say anything that could incriminate her, even after hearing details of the abuse uncovered.

The separation between Kevin and Ruby stemmed from issues the couple faced, including Kevin seeking help for his pornography addiction, which Hildebrandt, the couple’s therapist, had been addressing.

Jodi Hildebrandt, known for her work with addiction treatment and as a therapist, played a significant role in the Franke couple’s marriage, focusing heavily on Kevin’s addiction.

With Hildebrandt moving into the Franke home due to a crisis, the dynamics of the family changed, leading to a shift in the Franke marriage; Jodi became increasingly involved in their lives, a factor in the eventual separation.

The behind-the-scenes unraveling of the Franke family contrasts with the public persona they presented on social media for their shared life coaching business, ConneXions, where Kevin’s absence from content coincided with his separation from the family.

In the legal aftermath, Kevin now seeks custody of his children and has filed for divorce from Ruby, attributing the distressing therapy sessions with Hildebrandt as playing a significant role in the breakdown of his marriage.

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt both pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse charges, leading to their concurrent prison sentences, up to 30 years with the possibility of parole.