Kevin Franke has undergone a profound personal transformation in the years following the arrest and conviction of his ex-wife, YouTuber Ruby Franke, for horrific child abuse. The case, which sent shockwaves through the online community and beyond, saw Ruby and her business partner, life coach Jodi Hildebrandt, imprisoned. Now, Kevin has secured a stable future for his children, found new love, and become an advocate for legal reform.
A Family Torn Apart by Abuse
The disturbing saga came to light in August 2023 when the couple's twelve-year-old son escaped from Jodi Hildebrandt's house in Utah, where he and a younger sister were being held captive. This led to the arrest of Ruby Franke and Hildebrandt. The pair, who met through their church, had promoted severe disciplinary methods. Ruby had documented her family life on the YouTube channel 8 Passengers with Kevin, her husband of over twenty years.
By February 2024, Ruby Franke was convicted and received four consecutive prison sentences of one to fifteen years, ensuring she will serve a minimum of four years. Kevin Franke, who had separated from Ruby over a year prior, filed for divorce in November 2023. He faced no criminal charges, as authorities determined he was unaware of the abuse occurring after their separation.
Rebuilding and a New Beginning
In the aftermath, Kevin Franke's primary focus was the welfare of his children. After a period in protective custody, he was granted full custody of his youngsters. His personal life also took a positive turn. Following the finalisation of his divorce in March 2025, he became engaged to Becca Bevan in October of that year and has since remarried.
The union has been a source of joy for the family. Eldest daughter Shari Franke shared the news on Instagram, expressing her happiness at seeing her father find love. "I prayed that one day he'd find someone that made him happy like he deserved," she wrote. In his own engagement announcement, Kevin, 47, spoke of finding "redemption" and gratitude for the support that carried him through a dark period.
Advocacy and Lasting Impact
Beyond his personal recovery, Kevin Franke has used his family's experience to push for systemic change. In July 2024, he addressed Utah's Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel. He highlighted critical failures in the system, revealing that despite 15 visits from authorities over four years and reports from neighbours and his eldest daughter, officials were unable to intervene to protect the children.
He called for legislation to close gaps in child welfare laws and demanded regulation for unlicensed life coaches like Jodi Hildebrandt, arguing they can exploit vulnerable clients. The case's notoriety has been amplified by the Netflix documentary Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, which has topped streaming charts, ensuring the story's warnings continue to resonate with a global audience.
