Disney+ Exposes Dark Truth Behind Ruby Franke’s Parenting Vlogger Facade
A new Disney+ documentary examines the shocking case of Ruby Franke, a once-popular YouTube parenting vlogger now serving prison time for child abuse. The series, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, follows her rapid downfall after years of presenting a perfect family image while secretly tormenting her children. The three-part documentary premiered in the US on February 27 before reaching German and Austrian audiences on March 19, 2025.
Franke’s abuse came to light in August 2023 when her 12-year-old son, Russell, escaped to neighbours. The boy was severely emaciated, with visible injuries from being bound with duct tape. His desperate plea for help triggered a police investigation that exposed months of systematic cruelty.
Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested shortly after. Both had openly discussed extreme discipline in their online content, including withholding food for minor infractions. Franke’s husband, Kevin, later admitted he had no idea how severe the abuse had become, though he had defended their strict parenting methods. In February 2024, Franke was sentenced to at least four years in prison. During her trial, she apologised to her children for the suffering they endured. The documentary explores how she maintained a polished public persona while inflicting harm behind closed doors. The series features interviews with investigators, family members, and experts who analyse how Franke’s authoritarian approach spiralled into abuse. It also examines the role of her online platform, where she once shared parenting tips to thousands of followers.
The documentary’s release has renewed public attention on Franke’s case, which raised questions about online parenting influencers and the dangers of unchecked authority. Franke remains incarcerated in Utah, while her children continue to recover from the trauma. The series serves as a stark reminder of the harm that can hide behind carefully curated digital personas.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
