Shari Franke Reveals Family Abuse in Memoir Amid Ruby Franke’s Sentencing

Shari Franke, the eldest daughter of disgraced YouTube family vlogger Ruby Franke, is sharing her harrowing experiences in her memoir, “The House of My Mother.” The book, released on Jan. 7, details the abuse she and her siblings endured under their mother’s extreme parenting, which escalated after Ruby’s partnership with Jodi Hildebrandt, a controversial counselor. Ruby Franke, creator of the “8 Passengers” channel, was arrested in August 2023 and later pleaded guilty to four felony counts of second-degree child abuse, receiving a prison sentence.

Shari’s memoir reveals a pattern of abuse that began long before Hildebrandt entered the picture. She describes her mother as a “malignant narcissist” who justified her actions through extremist religious theories. The abuse included forcing her children to sleep on hard floors, locking them in a concrete bunker, and starving them. Shari also recounts how her mother’s slaps during piano lessons were “calibrated to instill fear” without leaving visible bruises.

One of the most shocking revelations in the memoir is the emotional and psychological manipulation Shari endured. When she disclosed her depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation to her parents, her father, Kevin Franke, was initially supportive. However, Ruby dismissed her struggles, insisting that “all problems can be solved with prayer, diet, and exercise.” Shari also writes about her mother’s obsession with West Point Military Academy, which led to her punishing the children by making them “condition like soldiers.”

Shari’s memoir also delves into her relationship with an older man from her church, referred to as “Derek” in the book. She describes how he sexually assaulted her during her time at Brigham Young University, claiming he was “training” her for marriage. Despite reporting the abuse to her bishop, Derek faced no consequences, and Shari’s “temple recommend” was revoked for a month. She attributes her vulnerability to Derek’s abuse to the emotional conditioning she received from her mother.

Hildebrandt, who entered the Franke family as a therapist for Shari’s younger brother Chad, quickly became a dominant figure in the household. Shari writes that Hildebrandt’s influence led to the isolation of family members, including her father, Kevin, who was eventually “invited” to leave the family. Shari also recounts how Hildebrandt and Ruby grew increasingly close, sharing a bedroom and engaging in what Shari describes as a private relationship that contradicted their public condemnation of queerness.

The memoir also sheds light on the impact of family vlogging on the Franke children. Shari describes how the “8 Passengers” channel, which amassed over 2 million subscribers, fueled Ruby’s narcissistic tendencies. From a young age, Shari learned that she could earn her mother’s affection only by participating in the vlogs, even when it meant sharing deeply personal moments. She started her own vlog channel, making videos about periods and shaving, knowing that “this is what makes money.”

Shari has since spoken out against family vlogging, telling Utah lawmakers that “there is no such thing as a moral or ethical family vlogger.” She has also confirmed that she is done sharing her private life with the world, stating, “I’ve had my voice and agency taken for so long, and now, I’m putting my foot down.”

The Franke family’s story will also be explored in the upcoming Hulu docuseries “Devil In The Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke,” set to premiere on Feb. 27. The series will feature exclusive interviews with Kevin, Shari, and Chad Franke, as well as unseen footage from their YouTube channel.