Where Is Ruby Franke's Husband Now? All About Kevin Franke's Life 2 Years After His Wife’s Arrest — and Why He Says He ‘Still’ Loves Her

Mar. 15, 2025

On Aug. 30, 2023,Kevin Franke’s life was turned upside down.

Moms of Truth/ Instagram

“I’m not ashamed to say that after being married over 20 years to that woman, I truly did andstill do love her,” he said. “But that doesn’t excuse what she did, and it doesn’t excuse how she hurt our children and how she hurt me … I’m going to do what’s best for my children, for my family, and for myself, and that’s not going to include her.”

Who is Kevin Franke?

8 Passengers / YouTube

As a result of the petition, and some 911 calls, Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services did visit the Franke’s home in June 2020 and interviewed the children for two hours — but the case was dropped due to lack of evidence for the allegations, perInsider. Kevin said that the case workers were supposedly “embarrassed” they had to conduct the visit and apologized for inflicting stress on the family.

Kevin Franke is interviewed on ‘Devil in the Family’.Disney/Kai Pfaffenbach

Disney/Kai Pfaffenbach

“Kevin did not want to be separated,” Kester claimed toTodayin September 2023. “He wanted to work through concerns as a family.”

“I was completely cut off,” Kevin later told authorities, per Salt Lake City’sABC4.

In February 2025, Kevin told PEOPLE that he understands onlookers who have never experienced what he went through questioning why he didn’t try harder to see his children. The dad of six cited alleged “indoctrination, coercion and gaslighting” from Hildebrant as reasoning for his gradual belief that he was the problem in their family.

What happened to Kevin Franke’s children?

In 2025, Kevin told PEOPLE that Hildebrant’s therapy often “insisted that we subject ourselves to pain and discomfort which would change us and make us stronger.”

Kevin was initially considered a suspect in the child abuse case involving his youngest children, according toABC News. When he arrived at the Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department on Aug. 30, 2023, looking for his children, police questioned him about his involvement.

Where is Kevin Franke now?

Kevin Franke leaves a child welfare hearing for their four children on September 18, 2023 at the Fourth District courthouse in Provo.Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune

“[Kevin] is making an effort to rebuild and bridge these relationships rather thansling mud and point fingers” at his estranged wife, Kester toldTodayin September 2023.

He is, however, seeking restitution from Hildebrant. Kevinfiled a lawsuit against the disgraced therapistin April 2024, citing “intentional infliction of emotional distress,” “negligent infliction of emotional distress” and “negligence.” According to Kester, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of the children in order to “preserve Hildebrandt’s wealth and assets until appropriate action can be taken to make the kids whole.”

In July 2024, he appeared in front of Utah state legislators and proposed that the state laws be amended to allow child welfare workers to take temporary custody of children when they receive “reported red flags” from friends, family members or neighbors. Kevin pushed for these reforms again in October 2024 and called for an independent investigation of Utah’s DCFS.

Despite the divorce filing, Kevinattended his estranged wife’s sentencing hearingin February 2024.

“One of the biggest fears of any family content creator is that the raw footage somehow leaks so people can see what really goes on behind the camera,” Kevin said. “These individuals want people to believe that their content is uplifting and wholesome and pure and sure the final product appears that way, but the making of the sausage? That is ugly.”

Does Kevin Franke have custody of his children?

Kevin has been fighting for full custody of the children in juvenile court, but as of April 2024,they were still with the state, Kester told PEOPLE.

“He just wants to do what’s best for his kids and get them back, get them under his tutelage and his fathership and protect them,” the lawyer said.

As for his two eldest children, Shari and Chad, Kevin told PEOPLE in February 2025 that he has started his own family tradition of having his kids over for Sunday dinners.

source: people.com