Kevin Franke Files for Divorce From Disgraced YouTube Star Ruby Franke Amid Child Abuse Allegations

A lawyer for Kevin Franke previously told TODAY.com his client and Ruby were separated

Kevin Franke, the husband of disgraced YouTube parenting vlogger Ruby Franke, filed for divorce Wednesday, months after his wife was first charged with felony child abuse.

Ruby Franke and her business partner and podcast co-host Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested Aug. 30 and charged with multiple counts of child abuse after two of Franke's children were allegedly found “emaciated and malnourished” at Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins, Utah, police said at the time. Kevin Franke, with whom Ruby has six children, has not been charged with any crime.

According to court records reviewed by PEOPLE, Kevin filed a petition for divorce, which is sealed under Utah law. Also filed was a domestic relations injunction, which orders both Ruby and Kevin not to harass each other or disparage the other in front of their children, according to the court document.

Related: A Timeline of Ruby Franke's Rise and Fall: From Family Vlogger to Child Abuse Charges

Ruby Franke and Hildebrandt are currently being held without bail by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

The Frankes rose to prominence through their YouTube channel “8Passengers,” which portrayed their strict parenting style and generated more than 2 million followers. The channel, which was started in 2015, was eventually shut down by YouTube following her arrest.

Related: Family Vlogger Accused of Child Abuse After Malnourished Child Allegedly Asks Neighbor for Help

Controversy began around 2020, however, when a number of people signed an online petition calling on child services to investigate Ruby’s strict parenting practices. In 2022, Franke stopped posting on “8Passengers” and joined Hildebrandt’s “ConneXions” podcast.

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The pair were arrested after officers arrived at Hildebrandt’s home to check on the kids after a 911 caller reported that Ruby’s 12-year-old son had allegedly come to his house “covered in wounds” and with his arms and legs wrapped in duct tape, requesting food and water.

Kevin’s attorney Randy Kester previously told TODAY.com that his client and Ruby had been separated over a year at “Ruby’s directive.”

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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