Naman Shrestha
Netflix’s ‘Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story’ is a true crime documentary film that chronicles the manipulative crimes of a family therapist named Jodi Hildebrandt and a content creator named Ruby Franke, whose children suffered the consequences of the two women’s strict and physically abusive parenting measures. One of the children who experienced Ruby’s pattern of abuse was her eldest son, Chad Franke, evidence of which can be seen in multiple videos shared by Ruby on her YouTube channel, 8 Passengers.
Chad Franke Was Sent to a Wilderness Program For Weeks by His Mother
Born on February 3, 2005, Chad Franke is the oldest son of Kevin and Ruby Franke and the second-oldest among his siblings — Shari, Abby, Julie, Eve, and Russell. During his childhood, his parents ran a family vlog called “8 Passengers” on YouTube while living in Springville, Utah. What alarmed several viewers was the harsh punishments received by the children, including Chad. In a video, it was revealed that Chad was made to sleep on a beanbag for about seven months as a punishment for playing a prank on one of his siblings. As stated in a now-deleted video, Ruby also allegedly took away Chad’s privilege to eat dinner for wrestling in the house with his younger brother, Russell.
In the summer of 2019, Chad stopped featuring in the family vlogs because the then-14-year-old boy was sent to the Anasazi Foundation Wilderness Therapy Program. It involved him spending 8-10 weeks in the Anasazi Desert in Arizona. During those weeks, viewers on social media began using the hashtag #FreeChad in order to raise awareness about the situation. They put pressure on the Frankes to bring the teenager home. After 10 long weeks in the program, Chad returned to his family’s house but began working with Jodi Hildebrandt, a family counselor. In the years that followed, Jodi became increasingly involved with the Franke family and began working closely with Ruby. They subjected the children to severe physical and psychological abuse, according to court records. Later, both women were arrested for multiple counts of child abuse and ultimately, sentenced to numerous years behind bars.
Chad Franke Enjoys His Life as a Realtor and a Newly-Married Man
After Ruby Franke’s arrest, Chad Franke reportedly received various letters from his mother. Elaborating on the same, he told TODAY, “I don’t really want her to talk about spirituality anymore, because that’s something she fed me for so long in her own way. It felt like she was still trying to teach me and still trying to mother me, which really bothered me and put me on edge. The last two I received — and again, it’s been a long time — were more apologetic and she described her healing process.” In July 2024, Chad announced that he had begun attending real estate school.
The following month, he took an impromptu trip to Los Angeles, where he surfed and visited local spots. By February 2025, he began his career as a real estate agent. He had been dating Kamryn Anderson for a long time, and the two had taken multiple trips together. Having known her all that time and the memories they had created together made Chad certain he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Thus, in June 2025, he popped the question to her in the mountains. A few months later, in October, the engaged couple got married at Hobble Creek Canyon in an intimate celebration, surrounded by their loved ones. Jokingly, he stated on a post: “She’s Mrs. Franke now… pray for her.🤍” Still reveling in matrimonial bliss, the real estate agent continues to create funny and engaging content with his wife, whom he cherishes with all his heart.
Read More: Where is Kevin Franke Now? Update on Ruby Franke’s Husband
