5 Shocking Updates On The Ruby Franke House: What Happened To The '8 Passengers' Home And The $5 Million Mansion?
The legacy of Ruby Franke’s horrific child abuse case continues to haunt two distinct Utah properties, both of which have become morbidly famous in the world of true crime and real estate, with new details emerging as recently as December 18, 2025. The public's fascination with the former '8 Passengers' YouTube star has fixated on the physical spaces where her family life was documented and, ultimately, where the abuse was exposed. These two "Ruby Franke houses"—her family's Springville residence and the Ivins mansion where the arrest occurred—have seen massive shifts in ownership and status, reflecting the dramatic collapse of Franke's public and private life.
The latest updates confirm that the future of both homes is intertwined with the legal and financial fallout from the conviction, specifically the divorce proceedings with Kevin Franke and the court-ordered restitution for the victimized children. Understanding the current status of each property requires a clear distinction between the Franke family's long-time filming location and the desert dwelling that became known as the "House of Horrors."
The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke: A Biographical Snapshot
Ruby Franke, born on January 18, 1982, rose to prominence as an American family vlogger who ran the highly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers from 2015 until its eventual shutdown. The channel chronicled the lives of her husband, Kevin Franke, and their six children, often generating controversy for her strict and often harsh parenting methods.
- Full Name: Ruby Franke (née Griffiths)
- Date of Birth: January 18, 1982
- Husband: Kevin Franke (divorced)
- Children: Six (Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell, Eve)
- YouTube Channel: 8 Passengers (defunct)
- Business Partner/Accomplice: Jodi Hildebrandt (ran the controversial counseling service, ConneXions)
- Arrest Date: August 30, 2023, in Ivins, Utah
- Conviction: Four counts of second-degree felony child abuse (pleaded guilty in December 2023)
- Sentence: Four consecutive prison terms, with a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, which she began serving in February 2024.
- Current Status: Incarcerated in a Utah prison facility.
The arrest followed a dramatic escape by her 12-year-old son, Russell, who fled to a neighbor's house seeking food and water. The subsequent police investigation exposed a pattern of severe abuse, including starvation, physical injury, and emotional trauma, leading to her conviction alongside her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt.
The Original '8 Passengers' Home: What Happened to the Springville House?
The house most viewers recognize as the backdrop for the 8 Passengers channel is the Franke family's primary residence in Springville, Utah. This home was the setting for years of vlogging and the initial location of the family's seemingly perfect life, making its current status a point of intense public interest.
Ownership Transferred to Kevin Franke in Divorce Settlement
The most significant update regarding the Springville property, located at 1164 S Brookwood Dr, is its transfer of ownership. Following Ruby Franke's arrest and subsequent incarceration, her husband, Kevin Franke, filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized, and property records confirm that Kevin Franke took sole ownership of the Springville home.
This transfer means the house is no longer jointly owned by the convicted child abuser. As of the latest public records, Kevin Franke maintains ownership of the property, which is estimated to be valued at over $1.2 million. While the property was briefly rumored to be listed for sale following the scandal, there is no current, active listing. The home remains a private residence under Kevin’s name, who has been working to rebuild his life and care for the remaining children.
The Search of the Springville Residence
The Springville home was a key location in the initial investigation. Newly obtained body camera footage released by the authorities shows the police search of the Springville residence on August 30, 2023, the same day Ruby Franke was arrested at Jodi Hildebrandt's Ivins mansion. The footage provided a chilling look inside the home that was once meticulously curated for public consumption on YouTube.
The Springville house, despite its association with the Franke family’s downfall, has not been the focus of the real estate curiosity that has plagued the other property. Its status as a former family home, now solely owned by the non-incarcerated parent, contrasts sharply with the notorious desert dwelling in Ivins.
The Ivins 'House of Horrors': Sale Status and Legal Mandates
The house that has truly captured the public's attention and been dubbed the "House of Horrors" is the sprawling, luxury mansion in Ivins, Utah, owned by Ruby Franke's accomplice, Jodi Hildebrandt. This is the property where the abuse took place and where the 12-year-old son escaped, leading to the arrests of both Franke and Hildebrandt.
A Notorious $5 Million Listing
The Ivins mansion, a luxurious desert dwelling valued at approximately $5 million, has become one of the most infamous properties in recent real estate history. It was listed for sale shortly after the arrests and garnered massive, unprecedented attention on real estate platforms like Realtor.com, often becoming the most-viewed property in the country.
The 10,000+ square-foot home, with its high-end finishes and desert views, has been repeatedly taken on and off the market, reflecting the difficulty of selling a property so deeply connected to a high-profile criminal case. Its notoriety has created a unique challenge for realtors, as the property's history overshadows its luxury features, which include a five-car garage and custom architecture.
Court Order Mandates Restitution Funds from Sale
In a crucial legal development, a Utah judge has issued an order regarding the sale of the Ivins mansion. The court ruled that Jodi Hildebrandt is permitted to move forward with selling the multimillion-dollar home. However, the order stipulates a significant condition: $100,000 of the sale proceeds must be placed into an escrow account.
This escrow amount is intended to be used for potential restitution payments to the children who were victimized at the property. The legal mandate ensures that a portion of the asset directly tied to the crime will be reserved to financially support the victims' recovery and future needs. This update is the most current and definitive status on the future of the Ivins property, confirming that while the sale can proceed, it is under strict legal oversight.
The Future of the Franke Properties and Topical Authority
The two houses serve as stark physical reminders of the Franke family's public facade and private tragedy. The Springville home, now under the sole ownership of Kevin Franke, represents the effort to establish a new, stable life for the children away from the shadow of the 8 Passengers channel. Its absence from the market suggests a desire for privacy and stability rather than a quick sale.
The Ivins mansion, conversely, remains a highly visible and controversial asset. Its sale is not merely a real estate transaction but a legal mechanism for justice, with the court ensuring that a portion of its value is directed toward the victims. The continued public fascination with the "Ruby Franke house" and the Hildebrandt mansion underscores a broader societal interest in the ethics of "momfluencing," the dangers of unchecked influence, and the pursuit of justice in high-profile child abuse cases. The final sale of the Ivins property, whenever it occurs, will mark a definitive, though somber, closing chapter on the Franke-Hildebrandt scandal.
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