The eldest daughter of Ruby Franke, a Utah parenting blogger arrested on child abuse charges last month, has broken her silence for the first time since her mother's arrest.
Ruby Franke and her partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, who co-managed a YouTube channel focused on parenting and lifestyle, were both charged with six counts of child abuse after authorities rescued two of Franke's six children from Hildebrandt's residence on August 30. Police reported that the children showed signs of malnourishment and neglect.
In a recent Instagram post, Shari Franke, Ruby's oldest daughter, expressed the turmoil in her life, saying, "There's no way to explain how chaotic my life has become." She shared her struggles with panic attacks, comfort food, and finding strength through therapy and faith. She also mentioned that her life is gradually becoming more beautiful and fulfilling despite the ongoing difficulties.
Shari added that, despite her desire to withdraw from the world, she's tried to embrace life to the fullest in recent weeks. She requested thoughts and prayers for her family ahead of a significant court hearing related to their child welfare case, which has been sealed from the public. She expressed gratitude for the support she's received, saying, "Words can't express the gratitude I feel for you all, and I feel your love."
Right after her mother's arrest, Shari posted an Instagram story featuring a photo of a police vehicle outside their home with the caption "Finally."
Following the rescue of Franke's youngest children from Hildebrandt's home on August 30, police initiated a search for her other four children who were not present there. When they arrived at Franke's home, officers had to forcibly open the front door while executing a search warrant, according to Springville Police records.
Two days later, Ruby's husband, Kevin Franke, reported that the front door of their home had been damaged and some of his electronic devices were missing. He also named his oldest daughter, Shari, as a suspect in what he believed was a burglary.
Kevin stated that Shari was not allowed in the home and accused her of unlawfully entering, requesting burglary charges against her. However, the responding officer clarified that the damage to the door had occurred during the search warrant execution, and Shari wasn't responsible for the damage.
Kevin Franke also wanted to have his daughter charged with theft for taking some hard drives from the house, but the officer explained that Shari had no intention to deprive him of any items. She returned the electronics, including tablets, cellphones, cameras, written journals, and passports, to the police, who then returned them to Kevin Franke. The police report indicated that Shari had previously been allowed in the home, and Kevin had not been there for 13 months.
According to the report, Kevin Franke allegedly threatened to sue the police department. However, his attorney, Randy Kester, stated that the police reports alleging Kevin's desire to have his daughter arrested were not accurate.
Ruby Franke was well-known for her video blog, "8Passengers," featuring herself, her husband, and their six children. She faced controversy over some of her videos and decided to stop posting on the channel. In one video, she mentioned withholding Christmas presents from her two youngest children as a form of discipline for what she deemed selfish behavior.
In an August 2021 Instagram post, Ruby Franke described herself as a "nurturing mother" and urged others not to be discouraged by labels and accusations from the world. She emphasized the importance of staying true to one's beliefs and values.
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