In a stunning development that has captivated followers of the harrowing case, Kevin Franke - the estranged husband of disgraced parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke - has announced his engagement to a new partner while his former wife serves what could be decades in prison.
The revelation comes as Ruby Franke continues her four to sixty-year sentence for six counts of aggravated child abuse, crimes that shocked the world when details emerged of the torture inflicted upon her own children.
A New Beginning Amidst Ongoing Trauma
Court documents obtained from Washington County confirm that Kevin Franke has filed a notice of his intended marriage to Monica Barlow. The couple plan to wed in October, marking a fresh start for Franke after the very public downfall of his marriage and family.
This new relationship emerges against the backdrop of continuing legal proceedings, with Kevin having filed for divorce from Ruby back in November 2023 as the full extent of her crimes came to light.
The Horrific Crimes That Shattered a Family
Ruby Franke, once a prominent figure in the parenting advice sphere with her YouTube channel '8 Passengers', saw her world collapse when authorities discovered the abuse occurring within her own home. The 42-year-old mother of six pleaded guilty to multiple counts of child abuse alongside her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt.
The disturbing details that emerged painted a picture of unimaginable cruelty:
- Children being regularly bound with rope and duct tape
- Forced to perform manual labour in desert heat without adequate water
- Being denied food as punishment for minor infractions
- Suffering from severe wounds that were left untreated
One particularly harrowing incident involved Franke pushing her son's face into carpeting while pressing his arms behind his back, causing significant injury.
YouTube Fame to Prison Infamy
Before her conviction, Ruby Franke and Kevin had built a substantial online empire through their family-focused content, amassing millions of views and cultivating an image of wholesome family values. The channel, which documented their lives with six children, suddenly became evidence in one of the most shocking child abuse cases in recent memory.
The couple's business, ConneXions, which offered parenting advice and counselling, has since been completely dismantled in the wake of the scandal.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
While Ruby serves her sentence at the Utah State Correctional Facility, the legal process continues to unfold. Both Franke and Hildebrandt are scheduled for sentencing on February 20th, where victims are expected to deliver impact statements that will likely detail the full psychological toll of their ordeal.
As Kevin Franke moves forward with his new life, the children at the centre of this tragedy continue their recovery journey, a stark reminder of the real human cost behind the headlines.
