Kevin Franke Wikipedia, Age, Wife, Kids, Net Worth, Family & BIO of Ruby Franke’s Husband

Kevin Franke is an American engineer, university professor, and former YouTuber, who is best known as the husband of Ruby Franke, the creator of the 8 Passengers YouTube channel. The channel, which had more than 2.5 million subscribers, featured the daily life of the Franke family, consisting of Kevin, Ruby, and their six children: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve.
However, the channel was deleted in 2022, after Kevin was arrested for child abuse charges, following a series of controversies and allegations against the couple. In this article, we will explore the life and career of Kevin, his relationship with Ruby Franke, and the events that led to the downfall of their YouTube fame.
Early Life and Education
Kevin W. Franke was born on October 9, 1978, in the United States. He grew up in a Mormon family, and served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil. He graduated magna cum laude from Utah State University in 2004, with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering.
He then moved to Seattle, Washington, with his family, where he obtained his master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from the University of Washington in 2005. He returned to Utah and earned his doctor of philosophy degree in civil engineering from Brigham Young University in 2011.
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Kevin Franke Wiki | BIO
Name | Kevin W. Franke |
---|---|
Birth date | October 9, 1978 |
Birthplace | United States |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Engineer, professor, former YouTuber |
Spouse | Ruby Franke (separated in 2022) |
Children | 6 |
Education | B.S. in Civil Engineering from Utah State University (2004) |
M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering from University of Washington (2005) | |
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University (2011) | |
Notable works | Developing a self-flying drone algorithm for 3D mapping of earthquake-damaged cities |
YouTube channel | 8 Passengers (deleted in 2022) |
Controversies | Accused of child abuse and neglect by viewers and authorities |
Net Worth | 1 Million (approx) |
Career and Achievements
Kevin Franke is a professional engineer and an assistant professor of civil engineering at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He specializes in geotechnical and earthquake engineering, and has worked as a consultant for several projects around the world. He has also published numerous papers and articles in prestigious journals and conferences, and has received several awards and grants for his research and teaching.

One of his notable achievements was developing a program that allowed drones to map their own routes and create 3D images of cities, making them self-flying. He collaborated with John Hedengren, a chemical engineering professor at BYU, and tested the algorithm on a drone that flew over Italian cities that were destroyed by earthquakes in 2016. He shared the 3D models with the engineering community, to help with the reconstruction and preservation of the historical sites.
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YouTube Fame and Controversies
Kevin Franke was also involved in the YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which was created by his wife Ruby Franke in early 2015. The channel documented the daily life of the Franke family, showing their activities, challenges, travels, and celebrations. The channel gained popularity among the viewers, who enjoyed watching the family’s wholesome and fun content. The channel also collaborated with other famous YouTube families, such as the Griffiths, the Mechams, the Derus, and the Hollins, who are all related to Ruby Franke.
However, the channel also faced a lot of criticism and backlash, especially from the viewers who were concerned about the welfare and privacy of the children. Some of the controversies that the channel faced were:
In 2019, Ruby Franke revealed that she had locked her son Chad in the basement for two days, as a punishment for his bad behavior. She also said that she had taken away his phone, his bed, and his door and that he had to sleep on a bean bag. Many viewers were outraged by this and accused her of being abusive and neglectful. Ruby Franke later apologized and said that she had made a mistake, and that she had consulted a therapist to help her with parenting.
In 2020, Ruby Franke announced that she had sent her son Chad to a boarding school in Idaho, without his consent. She said that he had been struggling with his mental health and that she wanted him to have a fresh start. However, many viewers were skeptical and suspicious of her motives and wondered if she had done it to get rid of him or to exploit him for his views. Chad later confirmed that he had not wanted to go to the boarding school and that he had felt betrayed and abandoned by his parents.
In 2021, Ruby Franke was accused of faking a pregnancy and a miscarriage, for attention and sympathy. She had posted a video in January, claiming that she was pregnant with her seventh child, and that she was due in August. However, in March, she posted another video, saying that she had lost the baby, and that she was heartbroken. Many viewers expressed their condolences and support, but some also noticed that there were inconsistencies and discrepancies in her story, and that she had never shown any proof of her pregnancy or miscarriage.
Arrest and Channel Deletion
The final blow to the 8 Passengers channel came in 2022, when Kevin Franke was arrested for child abuse charges, following an investigation by the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. According to the reports, Kevin had physically and emotionally abused his children, and had failed to provide them with adequate food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. He had also exposed them to inappropriate and harmful content, and had coerced them to participate in the YouTube videos against their will. He was booked into the Utah County Jail, and was later released on bail.

The arrest of Kevin Franke sparked a massive outrage and backlash from the public, who demanded justice for the children, and accountability for Ruby Franke, who was also complicit in the abuse. The YouTube community also condemned the couple, and called for the removal of their channel. YouTube eventually deleted the 8 Passengers channel, along with all of its videos, in June 2022, citing violations of its terms of service and community guidelines.
Current Status and Future Plans
Kevin Franke is currently awaiting trial, and faces up to 15 years in prison, if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and has hired a lawyer to defend him. He has also issued a statement, saying that he is innocent, and that he loves his children and wants the best for them. He has also asked for privacy and respect, during this difficult time.
Ruby Franke is also facing legal troubles, as she is being sued by several former sponsors and partners, who claim that she had breached their contracts and damaged their reputation, by being involved in the abuse scandal. She has also lost her social media presence, as her Instagram and Facebook accounts have been deactivated, and her website has been taken down. She has not made any public statements, since the deletion of her channel.
The children of the Franke family are currently in the custody of their relatives, who are taking care of them and providing them with therapy and counseling. They have also been enrolled in new schools, and are trying to rebuild their lives and heal from their trauma. They have expressed their gratitude to the people who have supported them and helped them, and have asked for privacy and peace, as they move on from their past.
Kevin Franke is a man who had a successful career as an engineer and a professor, but also a dark side as an abusive and manipulative father and husband. He was once a part of the 8 Passengers YouTube channel, which was one of the most popular family vlogs on the platform, but also one of the most controversial and criticized. He is now facing serious charges of child abuse, and has lost his YouTube fame and fortune. He is a prime example of how fame and money can corrupt and destroy a person, and how the internet can expose and reveal the truth behind the facade.
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Content Source:- Wikipedia.org