Current:Home > MarketsYouTuber Ruby Franke Denies Doing "Naughty Things" in Jail Phone Call to Husband Kevin Franke -TruePath Finance
YouTuber Ruby Franke Denies Doing "Naughty Things" in Jail Phone Call to Husband Kevin Franke
View
Date:2025-04-18 01:22:35
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! (3)
Related
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- Flash flood warnings continue for parts of Missouri, Illinois
- Simone Biles Makes Golden Return to Competitive Gymnastics After 2-Year Break
- Two years after Tokyo, Simone Biles is coming back from ‘the twisties.’ Not every gymnast does
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Tim Scott says presidents can't end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants
- Rosenwald Schools helped educate Black students in segregated South. Could a national park follow?
- A Proposed Gas Rate Hike in Chicago Sparks Debate Amid Shift to Renewable Energy
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Washington and Oregon leave behind heritage -- and rivals -- for stability in the Big Ten
Ranking
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- South Korea presses on with World Scout Jamboree as heat forces thousands to leave early
- FDA approves first postpartum depression pill
- Rita Ora and Taika Waititi Share Glimpse Inside Their Wedding on First Anniversary
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- 3-year-old filly injured in stakes race at Saratoga is euthanized and jockey gets thrown off
- 4th body is found in New Jersey house that exploded; 2 injured children were rescued by civilians
- Trump mounts defense in Alabama campaign appearance
Recommendation
'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
World Cup's biggest disappointments: USWNT escaped group but other teams weren't so lucky
Did anyone win Mega Millions? Winning numbers for Friday's $1.35 billion jackpot
Tom Brady becomes co-owner of English soccer club Birmingham City: I like being the underdog
Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
'A horrible person': Suspect accused of locking woman in cage had aliases, prior complaints
Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz: How to watch pay per view, odds and undercard fights
Officials order Wisconsin brewery to close. Owner says it’s payback for supporting liberals