Ruby Franke’s husband, Kevin, won’t ‘point fingers’ following child abuse charges, says lawyer

The Estranged Husband’s Response to Child Abuse Accusations

The estranged husband of Ruby Franke, the Utah YouTuber arrested for child abuse, refuses to “sling mud and point fingers” following accusations that he could have saved his children, says his attorney.

Kevin Franke and Ruby Franke are the parents of six children, who were featured on their mom’s former YouTube channel “8 Passengers” since 2015. The account, followed by millions, was controversial for Ruby’s uncompromising punishments. It has since been taken down.

‘8 Passengers’ and Ruby Franke’s Parenting

The Utah mom shared on her channel that her punishments included denying her children food and personal space, forcing them to do pushups and skip school to clean the floor when they misbehaved. She once withheld Christmas presents from her two youngest children and took away her eldest son’s bed for seven months, actions she freely shared on her own video channel.

Video: Ruby Franke and Business Partner Held Without Bail in Child Abuse Case

In August, Ruby Franke was arrested and charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse. Her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor who recorded parenting videos alongside Ruby, was also arrested and charged.

Last week, Ruby’s sisters Julie Griffiths Deru and Bonnie Hoellein posted YouTube videos stating they were unaware of their sister’s behavior, because she had cut contact with her family.

Hoellein also claimed that Kevin was the responsible party for protecting his family.

Ruby and Kevin Franke Separated, Attorney Says

Kevin’s attorney Randy Kester tells TODAY.com that Kevin and Ruby have been separated “at Ruby’s directive” for approximately 13 months.

“Kevin did not want to be separated,” says Kester. “He wanted to work through concerns as a family. There was never any formal, written decree of separate maintenance or separation agreement. The separation was under terms proscribed by Ruby and Jodi Hildebrandt.”

[Kevin] is making an effort to rebuild and bridge these relationships rather than sling mud and point fingers. He is focused on doing what is best for his kids at this point, even if that means undergoing some introspection.

-Kevin Franke’s attorney Randy Kester

Kester addressed Hoellein’s claims about Kevin.

“I think she admits that she, too, was out of the loop and had not had any contact with the children herself … however, Kevin is more interested in reaching out to his children, family, and friends to heal the past trauma and events.”

Kester tells TODAY.com, “(Kevin) is making an effort to rebuild and bridge these relationships rather than sling mud and point fingers. He is focused on doing what is best for his kids at this point, even if that means undergoing some introspection. None of that process, however, is going to be creating more distance between him and his family, including his extended family. He wishes Bonnie and her family well as we all travel down this path of healing.”

In previous footage published by “8 Passengers,” Kevin appears to support the decision to send their son, then 14, to the Anasazi Foundation Wilderness Therapy Program, an “outdoor behavioral healthcare program” for youth who struggle with “defiance” and other behavioral problems.

“(What) many of you are criticizing or calling abusive are actually things that mental health professionals have counseled us to,” Kevin said in the video.

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt’s Arrest

Last month, the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department announced in a press release that two minor children were found “emaciated and malnourished, with open wounds and duct tape around the extremities.” One child was asking for food and water and was hospitalized in “severe” condition, police said. Police said they found a second child “in a similar physical condition of malnourishment” in another home who was also hospitalized.

Four other children were taken in by the Department of Child and Family Services, according to the press release.

Ruby was arrested in connection with the children’s treatment, along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor who recorded parenting videos alongside Ruby for the former YouTube channel ConneXions.

Each woman was charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse.

Kester recently told Law & Crime, a multimedia network, that the dad was “absolutely shocked” by the child abuse allegations. He said that Kevin had not recently seen his children at all, as Ruby wanted to separate while they worked on their marriage.

Kester told the outlet that Ruby assured Kevin that their children were happy in his absence.

According to Kester, Kevin “never had any reason to believe that his children were being abused,” he told the outlet.

Kester said in that interview: “If he had even one inkling that his kids were being abused, and that this separation wasn’t for any other purpose than to figure out a way between he and Ruby to reunite their family, he would have been down there in two

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 1: No Poverty

The issue of child abuse and neglect discussed in the article is connected to SDG 1 as it highlights the mistreatment of children who may be living in poverty or vulnerable situations.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The article mentions that the Utah mom, Ruby Franke, punished her children by denying them food. This connects to SDG 2 as it addresses the issue of hunger and access to nutritious food.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article discusses the physical abuse and neglect suffered by the children, which is detrimental to their health and well-being. This aligns with SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The article mentions that Ruby Franke forced her children to skip school to clean the floor as a punishment. This goes against the goal of providing quality education to all children, as stated in SDG 4.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The article does not explicitly mention gender-based violence or discrimination, but it highlights the mistreatment of children, both boys and girls, by their mother. Ensuring the safety and well-being of all children is connected to SDG 5.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The article discusses the separation of Kevin Franke from his children due to the actions of his estranged wife. This highlights the need for social and economic inclusion for all individuals, irrespective of their family situation, aligning with SDG 10.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article focuses on child abuse and the legal consequences faced by Ruby Franke and her business partner. This connects to SDG 16, which aims to end abuse and violence against children and promote strong institutions for justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

This target can be identified based on the issue of child abuse and neglect, which may be more prevalent in families living in poverty or vulnerable situations.

Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round

This target is relevant as the article mentions that Ruby Franke denied her children food as a form of punishment.

Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births

This target is indirectly connected to the article’s content as it emphasizes the importance of ensuring the well-being and safety of children.

Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable

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Source: nbcnews.com

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