Former YouTuber Ruby Franke, known for her family vlogging channel "8 Passengers," is expected to enter a plea agreement on Monday in Washington County, Utah, after being charged with six counts of felony child abuse in September. Franke, 41, was arrested in August after her malnourished son escaped from the home of her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, and ran to a neighbor's house for food and water. Authorities discovered that Franke's 12-year-old son had deep lacerations from being tied up with rope, and her 10-year-old daughter was also found malnourished in Hildebrandt's house. Both children were taken to the hospital, and all four of Franke's children were placed in the custody of child protective services.

Franke's lawyer, Winward Law, released a statement saying that their client is working with the prosecutor's office to resolve the matter quickly through a plea agreement. The details of the agreement were not disclosed in the statement. However, the law firm alleged that Franke had been "led astray" by Hildebrandt, who had isolated her from her extended family, older children, and her husband, Kevin Franke. Hildebrandt's attorney, Douglas Terry, declined to comment on these allegations.

The child abuse case involving Franke and Hildebrandt garnered significant attention online, as Franke's YouTube channel had amassed over 2 million subscribers before it was taken down following their arrest. The couple faced criticism for their parenting decisions, including banning their oldest son from his bedroom for seven months and threatening to cut the head off a young girl's stuffed toy as punishment. The lack of legal protections for child influencers was also brought to light through this case, raising concerns about the well-being of children involved in family vlog content.

In November, Kevin Franke filed for divorce against Ruby Franke, and his attorney stated that the couple had been separated at Ruby's direction for 13 months. Franke's lawyers expressed that she is devastated by the divorce filing but understands and respects Kevin's decision. They also mentioned that Franke offered her full cooperation to help reunite their children with their father.

Prior to her arrest, Franke had faced criticism for her parenting style in her vlogs, with viewers accusing her and her husband of being abusive. In June 2020, local child protective services were called after a petition was launched, requesting an investigation into the family. The petition referenced a deleted video where Franke's teenage son revealed he had been sleeping on a bean bag for seven months as a punishment.

Franke's law firm emphasized that she is a devoted mother who was led astray by Hildebrandt's alleged influence. They expressed hope that with the right support and understanding, she can navigate a path of healing and growth for her family. The case will continue to be closely watched as Franke's plea agreement is expected to be entered on Monday.