Daughter of 'Momfluencer' Convicted of Child Abuse Reveals Last Thing She Said to Her Mother Before Arrest: Memoir

In a new memoir, Shari Franke, 21, reveals chilling details of her mother's dark transformation and the final conversation that ended their relationship.

Ruby Franke, a once-beloved Utah YouTube parenting influencer, was sentenced in February 2024 to four one-to-15 year terms in prison for aggravated child abuse.

In Shari's memoir, "The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom," released on Tuesday by Simon & Schuster, Ruby's eldest daughter Shari writes about their strained relationship, psychological abuse and the events leading to Ruby's arrest.

Shari recounts their last conversation, triggered by an Instagram post Shari made addressing growing online allegations against her family. "Can you promise not to talk about this any more on social media?" Ruby asked. Shari's response: "No." That was the final word she spoke to her mother before her arrest, as reported by Fox News.

Ruby's YouTube channel "8 Passengers" shared her, her husband and six children's lives as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with about 2.5 million subscribers. The channel came under fire after Ruby shared the harsh punishments she used to parent her children. In one video, Shari's brother admitted on camera to sleeping on a beanbag for seven months as a punishment. The video was cited on a Change.org petition created by viewers that called on the Utah Division of Child and Family Services to check in on the children.

"That one video burned down the 8 Passengers YouTube channel overnight and cost our family 90 percent of our income," Shari writes.

Seeking a fresh start, Ruby joined forces with Jodi Hildebrandt, a Mormon family counselor, to create "ConneXions Classrooms," a parenting channel promoting controversial teachings. Shari describes Hildebrandt's influence as cult-like, further isolating Ruby from her family and enabling extreme behaviors.

Both Ruby and Hildebrandt faced convictions on six counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse involving two of Ruby's children. The court handed down sentences requiring them to serve four consecutive terms, with prison time ranging from a minimum of 30 years to a maximum of 60 years.

Shari's memoir sheds light on life under Ruby and Jodi's control, from unhealthy dietary habits to apocalyptic fears. Ruby allegedly forced her youngest children into severe punishments, including starvation.

The abuse was exposed when one of Ruby's sons fled Hildebrandt's residence and approached a neighbor for help. The neighbor, alarmed by the boy's emaciated appearance and the duct tape binding his wrists and ankles, immediately called 911.

Police arrested Ruby and Jodi shortly after.

At Ruby's sentencing, she gave an emotional statement but, according to Shari, failed to take accountability.

The case is symbolic of broader issues tied to family influencers and children's rights, where public personas may mask pain behind the scenes.

In October, Shari addressed the Utah House of Representatives on the dangers of family vlogging, sharing, "There is no such thing as a moral or ethical family vlogger."

According to the University of Chicago Law School, revenue generated from sharing children's intimate lives online raises serious legal and ethical concerns. Many family influencers profit from exposing personal moments of their children without informed consent, leaving them susceptible to exploitation and privacy violations.