Ruby Franke's Arrest Follows a Year of Neighbor Reports To CPS, Utah Child Services

The arrest of Ruby Franke, known for her family YouTube channel "8 Passengers," has ignited a firestorm in her Springville, Utah, community.

Neighbors reveal that concerns for the safety of Franke's children led to multiple neighbor reports to Utah Child Services and CPS, raising questions about how this situation was allowed to fester for over a year.

Multiple Reports of Child Abuse, Minimal Action

Utah Child Services and CPS are now under scrutiny as Springville neighbors disclose that they have voiced their concerns to authorities on multiple occasions. "We thought they would come out of that house with body bags," confessed a male neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous.

He and others revealed that the neighborhood had been on high alert for quite some time, deeply concerned for the wellbeing of Franke's children.

Despite these neighbor reports to CPS and Utah Child Services, little seemed to change in the Franke household, according to community members.

Residents were shocked to see law enforcement officials surrounding Franke's home with guns drawn, which intensified their concerns about what had been happening behind closed doors.

Troubling Signs Overlooked by Utah Child Services, CPS 

Ruby Franke's arrest has cast a spotlight on her highly criticized social media persona, where she often portrayed her family life. Neighbors claim that Franke engaged in troubling behavior, such as withholding food from her children as a form of punishment.

These actions, many of which were broadcast to millions on her YouTube channel, were among the issues cited in neighbor reports to Utah Child Services and CPS.

In addition to concerns about child treatment, the male neighbor revealed that Franke's youngest daughter would frequently roam the neighborhood unsupervised.

"She would just knock on your door and say, 'Hi, can your kids play?' and then willingly wait for hours," he said. This raised red flags among the community members, as it appeared that Franke was not fulfilling her responsibilities as a parent.

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Utah Community Left in Frustration and Fear

Many are asking why Utah Child Services and CPS failed to act on the neighbor reports that were filed over the course of the year. "I'm really angry because I spoke up. Other people spoke up.

And nothing happened," expressed a female neighbor. According to a neighbor, the mood around the neighborhood shifted dramatically," in early 2022. Ruby Franke abruptly stopped all her YouTube activities, raising concerns among many.

She began covering her windows with paper and would vanish for extended periods, leaving her small children alone in the residence. Despite multiple police visits, no one would answer the door, added the neighbor.

Ruby Franke's siblings, Ellie Mecham, Julie Deru, and Bonnie Hoellein, who also create family-focused content, indicated that Ruby Franke's arrest was an essential development. They underscored that the children's well-being has been their highest priority.

For the past three years, they have refrained from speaking publicly about Ruby Franke to protect the children, they explained in an Instagram post. Ruby's sister, Ellie Mecham, also stated that, away from the public eye, they have taken all possible steps to ensure the children's safety.

They asserted that it would be inappropriate to proceed with regular content without addressing this pressing issue.

But questions remain about why Utah Child Services and CPS did not intervene sooner despite multiple neighbor reports, and what steps will be taken to ensure the safety of the Franke children and other at-risk youth in the community moving forward.

With Ruby Franke's arrest generating significant media attention, and numerous neighbor reports to CPS and Utah Child Services finally coming to light, the Springville community and beyond are watching closely to see how authorities will handle this deeply troubling case.

Related Article: YouTube's 8 Passengers Matriarch Ruby Franke Arrested Alongside Jodi Hildebrandt for Child Abuse