Ruby Franke’s journals hold hidden clues about front she presented online while secretly abusing own kids, expert says
DISGRACED YouTuber Ruby Franke’s handwriting shows how she was able to pose as a happy-go-lucky mom while secretly torturing her children, a master graphologist revealed.
Devout Mormon mom-of-six Franke, 42, wrote about hitting, starving, and chaining up her two youngest children in a deranged journal that was found by police last year.
Franke and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt were imprisoned earlier this year after they pleaded guilty to sick child abuse charges in December 2023.
They were arrested months before in August after Franke’s emaciated son escaped Hildebrandt’s home in St. George which is on Utah’s southwestern border.
Shackled in duct tape with visible wounds across his back, the then-12-year-old begged a neighbor for food and water, prompting them to call the police.
Officers arrived to find the boy’s 9-year-old sister in a similar condition and took Franke and Hildebrandt in for questioning.
Bodycam footage from that day has been released per Utah’s public records law, as well as incriminating documents like Franke’s diary.
In her entries written between July 9 and August 27, 2023, Franke wrote about how her children were possessed by demons and blamed satanic forces for causing their disobedience.
She admitted to pushing her son into a cactus and holding his head underwater as sick methods to teach her children discipline and rid them of evil.
Franke also wrote about pouring dirty mop water on the children to cool them off after they worked all day in the hot sun, and performed an odd baptism with them in a pond.
Though the content of her writing gives a stark look at the inner workings of her mind, Franke’s actual handwriting could give even greater insight as to how she was able to perform such sick acts.
HANDWRITING EXPLAINED
In an exclusive conversation with The U.S. Sun, master graphologist Paula Sassi said key clues in the diary show how Franke ran a successful YouTube channel while holding her extreme beliefs.
At first glance, Sassi, who has been studying handwriting for over 40 years, said she was struck by the intelligence that Franke shows through her writing.
“It’s well organized. It’s pretty consistent, and the middle zone shows good concentration and focus,” she said.
“Well-placed I dots show she’s good at detail and can be dedicated to whatever she’s doing.
“It doesn’t jump out at you and say, ‘This person is crazy.'”
Franke’s ability to neatly fill a page also shows her desire to control her environment, according to Sassi.
But other details in her writing indicate how Franke could have hidden personality traits that open her up to religious extremism.
Franke loops the bottom of her Gs and Ys which is a sign that she loves deception and fantasy, Sassi explained.
Franke's horrific punishments
Starting in May 2023, disgraced YouTuber Ruby Franke journaled about the punishments she imposed on her children.
She appeared to justify the abuse by referring to “Satanic choices” and “the devil’s” influences on her kids’ actions.
Some of the horrific punishments detailed in the journal include:
- Poking her children with cactus needles
- Pouring cold water on the kids
- Whipping with a towel or belt
- Forcing them to stand in the hot sun
- Forcibly dunking her son in the pool
- Forcing them to sleep on the ground
- Restricting food
She also writes her capital Is in a strong, independent manner which shows that she’s comfortable in her own skin.
“The writing is deceiving because it is very concentrated and focused and she’s got dedication,” Sassi said.
Analyzing her signature, Sassi said, “She puts up a good front and feels that she is being honest and genuine in her initial presentation.
“She is attractive and engaging which enables her to gain the attention and recognition of others.”
The traits that Sassi sees are mainly positive, but because of Franke’s extreme beliefs, they have devastating repercussions.
“She had all these positive qualities and even a positive attitude, but she applied them in devious ways,” Sassi said.
YOUTUBER JAILED
Franke rose to fame with her YouTube channel 8 Passengers which gave an inside look at her life as a mom of six.
At the height of her popularity, she had nearly 2.5 million subscribers.
However, fans started to move away from her content after noticing her discipline techniques were getting increasingly severe.
After she sent her 5-year-old daughter to school without lunch because the little girl refused to make it herself, a petition was made to remove her from YouTube.
Her channel was shut down in early 2023, but she continued to share spiritual and parenting advice with Hildebrandt for Hildebrandt’s counseling business ConneXions.
In December, Franke and Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse and will spend between four and 30 years behind bars.
At her sentencing, Franke gave an emotional apology to the court and her family.
“I will never stop crying for hurting your tender souls,” she told her children in court.
“I’m sorry for twisting God’s words and distorting his doctrine.
“My willingness to sacrifice all for you was masterfully manipulated into something very ugly. I took from you all that was soft and safe and good.
“I am willing to serve a prison sentence as long as it takes to unravel what I believed.”