Shari Franke Confronted Mom Ruby Franke After Calling Child Protective Services (Exclusive)

On January 7, 2025By Littum

After the police showed up to arrest Shari Franke’s mother, YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke in Utah for aggravated child abuse, the oldest daughter jumped head first to a scary conclusion. “My first thought,” Shari recalls in an interview with PEOPLE for a story in this week’s print edition, “is that my siblings are dead.”

A year earlier, Ruby, a devout Mormon, had disowned Shari and asked her husband and older son Chad to move out after hooking up with a therapist, Jodi Hildebrandt, who advocated strict parental discipline.

Ruby, 42, later admitted in a plea deal to abusing her two youngest children, telling them they were “evil and possessed,” denying them food and water, handcuffing her son’s wrists and ankles and holding his head underwater.

Ruby and Kevin Franke and their children.

On February 20, 2024, she and Hildebrandt, who also pleaded guilty, were both given four consecutive sentences of one to 15 years in prison.

For more on Shari Franke and her story, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here.

Franke, now 21, shares her own story in her new memoir The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedomwhich describes the abuse she and her siblings suffered at Ruby’s hands. “I don’t think she’ll ever fully understand or understand what she’s done,” says Shari, who is not in a relationship with Ruby today. She refuses to talk about her siblings’ lives now to protect their privacy. “I just hope she can get the help she needs.”

Below, in an exclusive excerpt shared with PEOPLE, Shari recounts what happened when she called child protective services in an attempt to protect her siblings.

‘The House of My Mother’ by Shari Franke.

Ruby’s face contorted with anger and hurt. “I can’t believe you called the police,” she began, her voice rising. “After all I’ve done for you, after all the sacrifices I’ve made. How could you betray me like that, Shari? How could you be so selfish?”

The words hit me like physical blows, but I stood my ground. (I reminded myself) that I was not alone, that I had support beyond the toxic web of my family.

“Selfish?” I repeated, finding strength in my voice. “I was worried about the kids. They were alone for five days, Mom. Five days!”

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“They’re fine,” Ruby fumed. “They’re old enough to take care of themselves. It’s about you, Shari. Your jealousy, your need for attention.”

I felt a bubble of hysterical laughter rise in my throat. How could she twist this around, make it about me? But then, wasn’t that always her way?

Shari Franke today.

MANIC PROJECT

“This isn’t about me,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “It’s about the safety of my siblings. It’s about doing the right thing.”

Ruby’s eyes flashed dangerously. “What’s right? You have no idea what’s right. You’re just a kid playing grown-up. Your siblings are afraid you’re going to call the police.”

Ruby’s face hardened, her lips curling into a sneer. “One day, Shari, you’ll come crawling back to me. Asking for my forgiveness. And it will be hard for me to give it to you, but I will be gracious.”

“I’m not going to apologize for telling the truth,” I said, my voice quiet but firm.

I could feel the tears streaming down my face, hot and sticky on my cheeks.

“You’ve always hated me,” she whispered. “Ever since you were five years old, I could see it in your eyes. The way you looked at me, the way you judged me. You never appreciated everything I’ve done for you, all the sacrifices I’ve made.”

“That’s not true,” I choked out. “I never hated you, Mom. I was just afraid of you.”

The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke will be published on January 7 and can now be pre-ordered wherever books are sold.