Content warning: This story discusses child abuse.
Kevin Franke is not ready to date again amid his ex Ruby Franke‘s incarceration.
In fact, the estranged husband of the controversial mom influencer said he’s “holding off” until their divorce is finalized.
Kevin filed to legally separate from Ruby in 2023, shortly after she and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested on aggravated child abuses charges in Utah. At the time, he and Ruby had been living apart for over a year, per Kevin’s lawyer.
“Well, of course, it’s something I think about,” Kevin—who married Ruby in 2000 and with whom he shares six kids—said about finding a new partner in an interview with People published on Feb. 26. “But I’m a man of my honor, and I’m still technically married.”
The 46-year-old went on to note that he’s “still working through the divorce.”
“We’re trying to reach a settlement,” he continued. “It’s been a long process, well over a year, but it’s ongoing. We’re close.”
Ruby, 43, and Jodi, 55, are each serving four consecutive one to 15 year sentences—equivalent to four to 60 years in prison, but will be capped at 30 years in the state of Utah—after pleading guilty to their charges.
The two were taken into police custody in August 2023 after one of Ruby and Kevin’s sons escaped from Jodi’s home—where the YouTuber and several of her kids were living—and ran to a neighbor’s house to ask for food and water, according to Utah authorities.
Upon arrival, police said they found the boy in an emaciated state with open wounds and duct tape around his extremities, while they discovered another one of Ruby and Kevin’s children in similar malnourishment at Jodi’s residence.
In a recent hearing for Utah’s House Business, Labor and Commerce Committee, Kevin told lawmakers he feels remorse in having his and Ruby’s kids participate her previous parenting vlogs.
“Vlogging my family, putting my children into public social media, was wrong, and I regret it every day,” Kevin said on Feb. 18, per The Salt Lake Tribune. “If we, as adults, cannot understand the emotional and psychological impacts of sharing our lives to millions of strangers online, how can we expect our children to understand them?”
And for his part, Kevin has moved forward in severing ties with Ruby. In addition to the divorce, he’s requested that Ruby no longer contact him while she remains in prison.
“The last letter that I received from her from prison was maybe in March or April of last year,” he said in his People interview. “And then I requested the Department of Corrections to ask her to stop writing me.”
While Kevin did not disclose exactly what Ruby wrote in her letter, he said he “didn’t like what she was saying.”
“I’m very angry,” Kevin added. “I’m still very angry.”
For more about Ruby’s case, keep reading…
Aug. 30, 2023: Children Found Malnourished
Utah police received a call about a starved child being found, they shared in a press release. The minor—who appeared “emaciated and malnourished” with “open wounds and duct tape around the extremities”—was taken to the hospital in “severe” condition.
He was later identified as YouTuber Ruby Franke‘s 12-year-old son, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NBC News. He had been at the home of Ruby’s business partner Jodi Hildebrant and had climbed out of a window before going to a neighbor’s house to ask for help, per the document.
Police then searched a nearby home, where another child was found “in a similar physical condition of malnourishment” and was also hospitalized, per the press release.
Authorities later explained that they discovered Ruby’s 9-year-old daughter “petrified” while sitting by herself in an empty closet in Jodi’s house, per evidence released by the Washington County Attorney’s Office.
Aug. 30, 2023: Arrest
Ruby was arrested for aggravated child abuse charges in Utah along with Jodi, who in 2007 established a life coaching service called ConneXions, which former clients described to NBC News as a “cult-like” program based on principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Aug. 31, 2023: Ruby’s Daughter Speaks Out
On Aug. 31, E! reported that Shari Franke, Ruby’s estranged adult daughter, reacted to the news on her Instagram Story.
“Me and my family are so glad justice is being served,” wrote Shari, who was born in 2003. “We’ve been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this, and so glad they finally decided to step up. Kids are safe, but there’s a long road ahead.”
Aug. 31, 2023: Ruby’s Sisters React to Arrest
Ruby’s sisters Ellie Mecham, Bonnie Hoellein and Julie Deru spoke out as well, saying the YouTuber’s arrest “needed to happen.”
“For the last 3 years we have kept quiet on the subject of Ruby Franke for the sake of her children,” they wrote in a joint Instagram statement. “Behind the public scene, we have done everything to try and make sure the kids were safe. We wouldn’t feel right about moving forward with regular content without addressing the most recent events. Once we do, we will not be commenting on it any further.”
The siblings said Ruby’s kids are “now safe, which is the number one priority.”
Sept. 6, 2023: Charges Filed
The former 8 Passengers YouTuber and her business partner Jodi were each formally charged with six counts of felony child abuse by the Washington County Attorney in Utah.
Sept. 6, 2023: Kevin Franke Breaks Silence
Ruby’s husband Kevin Franke came forward to deny involvement in her alleged crimes. His lawyer Randy Kester told Good Morning America the spouses had been living apart for 13 months before the arrest.
“He is a good person, he’s very gentle,” the attorney said. “He’s a very gentle guy. And no one has ever made any allegations that he’s physically abused those kids or anyone else.”
Nov. 29, 2023: Kevin Files for Divorce
Kevin officially filed for divorce from the Utah influencer, according to a domestic relations injunction obtained by NBC News.
Dec. 18: Guilty Pleas
E! confirmed Dec. 18 that Ruby had entered a guilty plea for four of her charges. At the time, per the Associated Press, she stated, “With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children, guilty.”
Jodi would also plead guilty to four counts of second-degree felony aggravated child abuse.
Feb. 20, 2024: Prison Sentencing
Both women were sentenced to four consecutive one to 15 year sentences, which will be capped at the 30-year max in Utah.
Feb. 20, 2024: Ruby Apologizes
The parent vlogger apologized during her sentencing to her six kids and estranged husband.
“For the past four years, I’ve chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion,” she said in court. “My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me.”
She continued, “To my babies, you are a part of me. I believed dark was light and right was wrong. I would do anything in this world for you. I took from you all that was soft, and safe, and good.”
March 25, 2024: Ruby’s Diary Revealed
Prosecutors released her chilling journal entries, in which she wrote about her mistreatment of her children, including her “Satanic” tween son.
“He slithers & sneaks around looking for opportunities when no one is watching & then he scurries,” she wrote in an entry from July 10, 2023, which was her son’s 12th birthday. “If he wants to emulate the savior, he needs to be 100% obedient with exactness. No wavering, no hiding.”
She wrote about punishing her children by beating them and withholding food and water.
March 25, 2024: Kevin’s Interview With Authorities Becomes Public
Prosecutors released audio footage of Kevin talking with investigators after Ruby was arrested, in which he spoke about alleged restrictions he faced in their house.
“There were all these rules now placed on me, like I can leave when I want but I couldn’t come back until Ruby gave me permission,” Kevin said in an audio clip obtained by E!. “I couldn’t come into the kitchen to eat until Ruby gave me permission and the upstairs where Jodi was was completely offline. I couldn’t go upstairs anymore in my own house. And Ruby would dictate all of the terms of how our interactions would be, when we would talk. And that was hard.”
