The downfall of the 8 Passengers YouTube channel didn't just break the internet; it fractured a family that had spent a decade building a digital empire based on Mormon values and "perfect" parenting. For years, the Griffiths family was the gold standard of vlogging. You had the sisters—Bonnie, Ellie, Julie, and Ruby—all filming their lives, their kids, and their shared vacations. It looked like a dream. Then the dream turned into a literal crime scene.
When Ruby Franke was arrested in August 2023 for aggravated child abuse, the spotlight didn't just hit her. It scorched the Ruby Franke siblings who had been right there in the frame for years. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know: how much did they know? Were they complicit, or were they victims of the same manipulation that led to Ruby's spiral?
Honestly, the truth is way messier than a 15-minute vlog can capture.
The Sisters Break Their Silence
Bonnie Hoellein, Ellie Mecham, and Julie Deru are stars in their own right. They aren't just "Ruby’s sisters." They have millions of subscribers combined. When the news of the 12-year-old escaping a window in Ivins, Utah, hit the headlines, these three women did something they hadn't done in years. They spoke as a united front.
They posted a joint statement on Instagram basically saying they were "on the same page" and that the children's safety was their only priority. But the individual videos that followed? Those were gut-wrenching.
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Bonnie Hoellein’s video was particularly raw. She looked into the camera—a tool she’s used for over a decade to share happy memories—and admitted that the family had been "clinging to each other" for three years behind the scenes while Ruby cut them off. It wasn't just a tiff over Thanksgiving dinner. According to Bonnie, Ruby’s involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt and the ConneXions "cult" (as many fans call it) led to a total severance of family ties.
Bonnie didn't hold back on Ruby’s husband, Kevin Franke, either. She flat-out said it was his job to check on the kids, and he failed. That’s a heavy accusation to lob at a brother-in-law in front of millions of people.
Why the Siblings Couldn't Intervene
A lot of people on TikTok and Reddit were quick to judge. "Why didn't they call the police sooner?" "They must have seen the signs."
But when you actually listen to Julie Deru’s side of the story, it gets complicated. She explained that they had tried. They had expressed skepticism about ConneXions. They had noticed things were "off" for a long time. But in Utah—and legally in most places—if a parent decides to cut off extended family, there isn't a whole lot the siblings can do unless they have hard evidence of immediate danger.
They didn't have that evidence because they were locked out.
Ruby had allegedly "decoupled" from them, a term used in the ConneXions program to describe cutting out "toxic" influences. In this case, Ruby’s own mother and sisters were deemed the toxic ones. Bonnie even mentioned that the stress of the family rift caused their mother to suffer a heart attack and kidney failure. This wasn't just internet drama; it was physical, life-altering trauma.
The Role of the Only Brother: Beau Griffiths
While the sisters are the face of the family vlogging world, the Ruby Franke siblings also include their brother, Beau. He’s always been more low-key, but he stepped up during the sentencing phase.
In February 2024, when Ruby was sentenced to prison, Beau and his parents submitted letters to the court. They didn't excuse what she did. They were horrified. But they also offered a perspective that some found controversial: they believed Ruby had been "brainwashed."
They painted a picture of a woman who was vulnerable and led down a dark path by Jodi Hildebrandt. It’s a nuanced take. Can someone be a victim of a cult and a perpetrator of horrific abuse at the same time? The court seemed to think so, as Ruby herself apologized to her children, admitting she had been living in a "dark delusion."
Where Are They Now in 2026?
Fast forward to today. The dust has settled, but the scars are deep. As we approach December 2026, the focus is shifting toward Ruby’s first parole hearing.
The siblings have largely returned to their own lives, but the content has changed. You don't see the same "perfect family" gloss anymore. Ellie and Jared Mecham, once the pioneers of the genre, have dealt with their own health struggles and have been much more guarded. Julie Deru continues her vlogs but with a tone that feels more grounded in reality.
Then there's Shari Franke, Ruby’s eldest daughter. While she’s a niece to the siblings, she’s become the central figure in the family's healing process. She’s been open about her "reconnection" with her aunts after years of being forced to stay away. The fact that Shari was able to find a home with her aunts—specifically Bonnie and Ellie—during the peak of the crisis says a lot about where the family stands now.
The Fallout of Family Vlogging
One of the biggest takeaways from the saga of the Ruby Franke siblings is the conversation it started about child privacy and the ethics of "vlog life."
- Utah's New Laws: In early 2025, Utah passed some of the first laws in the country to protect child influencers. This was directly influenced by the 8 Passengers case.
- The "Vlog" Stigma: The sisters now carry a heavy label. They are "family vloggers" in an era where the term has become synonymous with exploitation for many.
- Healing Offline: Most of the real work is happening where the cameras aren't allowed. The siblings have hinted at extensive therapy and "cycles of grief" that don't make it into their 10-minute uploads.
It’s easy to look at the Griffiths family and see a cautionary tale. It is one. But it’s also a story about what happens when a family is pushed to the absolute brink. They lost a sister to a prison cell and a fringe ideology. They almost lost their nieces and nephews to starvation and abuse.
If you're following the case because you want to see justice, that's one thing. But for the siblings, this isn't a "case." It’s their actual life.
Moving Forward: What You Can Do
The tragedy of the Franke family serves as a massive wake-up call for anyone consuming family content or living their life in the public eye. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Support Child Privacy: Advocate for laws like the ones passed in Utah that ensure children who appear in vlogs receive a portion of the earnings in a trust.
- Recognize the Signs: Cult-like manipulation often starts with "decoupling" or cutting off family. If a friend or family member starts isolating themselves under the guise of "self-improvement," take it seriously.
- Respect the Boundaries: While the Ruby Franke siblings are public figures, the children involved are victims of a crime. Avoid seeking out "leaked" details about their current lives or locations.
The next big milestone for this family will be the 2026 parole hearings. Until then, the focus remains on the kids—who are finally, hopefully, safe.
Next Steps:
If you want to understand the legal nuances of the case, you should look into the specific details of the Utah Washington County court records regarding the sentencing of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt. For those interested in the impact on family vlogging, researching the 2025 Utah Senate Bill regarding child social media stars provides a clear picture of how this case changed the law forever.