Current:Home > FinanceYouTuber Ruby Franke Denies Doing "Naughty Things" in Jail Phone Call to Husband Kevin Franke -TradeWisdom
YouTuber Ruby Franke Denies Doing "Naughty Things" in Jail Phone Call to Husband Kevin Franke
View
Date:2025-04-17 02:36:38
Content warning: This story discusses child abuse.
Prosecutors have shared more insight into Ruby Franke's mindset following her arrest.
The Washington County Attorney's Office in Utah has released a jailhouse conversation between the former YouTuber and her estranged husband Kevin Franke, in which she blamed the devil for her Aug. 30 arrest over child abuse charges.
In the phone call—which took place just two days after Ruby and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt were taken into custody—Ruby told her husband, "The most upsetting thing is that I am completely misunderstood."
"Satan has taken everything away from me that I love," the 42-year-old said Sept. 1 in the call from Purgatory Correctional Facility. "And I'm a good woman. I don't do naughty things. I don't do naughty things. I'm a really good girl."
The mom of six also told Kevin that she would stay away from their kids if she were acquitted. However, Kevin predicted she would likely have legal restrictions placed on her access to the children until they reached the age of 18.
"I figured such. God told me," she said. "God told me when I was driving before I called you."
"The Spirit said, ‘Your children are gonna be removed,'" she continued. "And I just cried out loud. I'm like, ‘No, I'm not done. I'm not ready.' And God told me I'm done."
Kevin can be heard telling her at that time, "I'm committed to our family. I'm committed to you and our marriage, no matter what happens. I will be here to support you in any way that I can."
He has since filed for divorce from Ruby, with his lawyer saying the pair had been living apart from for more than a year before her arrest.
E! News has reached out to lawyers for Ruby, Kevin and Jodi for comment on the phone call but has not heard back.
Ruby—who ran the 8 Passengers YouTube channel—was sentenced Feb. 20 to four to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. Following her sentencing, her lawyer made it clear she had no intention of appealing the sentence.
The family vlogger was originally arrested over aggravated child abuse charges in August when Utah police received a report of a starving child and investigated the allegations, the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department said in a press release.
Authorities determined the child was in "severe" condition, looked "emaciated and malnourished" and had "open wounds and duct tape around the extremities."
During her hearing, Ruby apologized to her children and husband.
"For the past four years, I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion," Ruby said in court, per the livestream on the Utah court's website. "My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me."
"I believed dark was light and right was wrong," she added while addressing her kids. "I would do anything in this world for you. I took from you all that was soft and safe, and good."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (573)
Related
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Iowa teen convicted in beating death of Spanish teacher gets life in prison: I wish I could go back and stop myself
- Viking ship remnants unearthed at burial mound where a seated skeleton and sword were previously found
- Hip-Hop mogul Sean Combs accused of trafficking, sexual assault and abuse in lawsuit
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- At talks on cutting plastics pollution, plastics credits are on the table. What are they?
- Biden and Mexico’s leader will meet in California. Fentanyl, migrants and Cuba are on the agenda
- Serena Williams and Ruby Bridges to be inducted into National Women’s Hall of Fame
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- 2025 Toyota Camry: The car is going hybrid for the first time. What will be different?
Ranking
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Elon Musk expresses support for antisemitic post on X, calling it the actual truth
- Dollywood temporarily suspends park entry due to nearby wildfire
- Capitol Police clash with group protesting violently outside Democratic headquarters during demonstration over Israel-Hamas war
- Bodycam footage shows high
- A pregnant woman who was put on life support after a Missouri mall shooting has died, police say
- Starbucks Red Cup Day is sheer stress for workers. We're going on strike because of it.
- USMNT scores three second-half goals to win in its Concacaf Nations League opener
Recommendation
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
Ken Squier, a longtime NASCAR announcer and broadcaster, dies at 88
Green Bay police officer will resign after pleading no contest to hitting a man with his squad car
Is your $2 bill worth $2,400 or more? Probably not, but here are some things to check.
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
National Book Awards: See all the winners, including Justin Torres, Ned Blackhawk
ASEAN defense chiefs call for immediate truce, aid corridor in Israel-Hamas war
U.S. military veterans turn to psychedelics in Mexico for PTSD treatment