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Ruby Franke — once a prominent parenting influencer featured in the Netflix series Evil Influencer — continues to reach out from prison, her letters sparking fresh reactions from the family she once raised and the public who followed the saga. Her son Chad Franke recently shared how the mail still arrives for all but one sibling, reigniting conversations about accountability, forgiveness, and what life looks like after a headline-making conviction.
How the case changed a family and online audiences
Ruby Franke and coworker Jodi Hildebrandt were at the center of a high-profile case that shocked followers of the 8Passengers YouTube channel. In 2023, both were convicted of aggravated child abuse. The Netflix documentary Evil Influencer later brought the story to wider attention.
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- Charges: Multiple counts of felony aggravated child abuse.
- Public exposure: The documentary recapped years of allegations and testimonies.
- Aftermath: The Franke siblings have taken differing public paths since the arrests.
Who is still hearing from Ruby in prison?
Chad Franke posted a short social video that hinted at an uncomfortable family reality. The clip portrayed his reaction when new letters arrive from their mother behind bars. He made clear he and several siblings still receive mail, but one notable absence stood out.
Shari Franke, the eldest, confirmed the pattern in a public comment. She said she has not received letters since the arrest. Others in the family, however, continue to get correspondence sent to the family home.
What the siblings say on social media
Shari has been vocal about her experiences. Last year she published an autobiography that described growing up in the Franke household. Chad has chosen to speak through social posts rather than a book. He uses his platform to reflect on the family history and the public fallout.
- Shari: Published a memoir and speaks openly about the past.
- Chad: Shares reactions and updates on social channels.
- Other siblings: More private, but reportedly still receive letters at the family residence.
Reaction online: sympathy, skepticism and analysis
Responses to Chad’s clip were immediate and varied. Some viewers assumed the reel was satire. Others questioned whether Ruby would still know where her grown children live.
Shari stepped in to correct the speculation. She made it clear the letters are genuine, and that she is intentionally not among the recipients. Her public reply cut through the uncertainty and framed the mail as part of an ongoing family dynamic.
Why Shari might be excluded
Online commenters offered theories about why Ruby avoids writing to Shari. A common idea is that Shari represents someone who left the family home first. That distance may have been interpreted as a form of rupture by Ruby.
- Perceived threat: Leaving the household may have made Shari a target for exclusion.
- Protective stance: Shari has said she does not want communication with her mother.
- Family logistics: Many letters appear to be directed to the family home, not to the siblings individually.
Context: memoirs, media and healing
Shari’s book, The House of My Mother, maps one sibling’s attempt to reckon publicly with a painful childhood. The memoir and the Netflix series have helped shape the narrative around the Franke family.
For Chad, social media has become the way to respond to developments. His posts blend humor and hurt, offering followers a window into life after the scandal.
What experts and observers note
- Public storytelling can be therapeutic for survivors.
- High-profile cases often produce strong online reactions.
- Family members will choose different levels of engagement, from books to short posts.
Where the family stands now
More than two years after the arrests, the Franke siblings remain in the public eye. Some seek distance. Others keep parts of the story in view. The letters from prison are a tangible reminder that the past has not entirely closed.
For readers following the case: the situation continues to evolve through social posts, legal records, and new projects like memoirs and documentaries. Those channels are shaping how the family’s narrative is told and understood.
