Current:Home > MarketsLawyer for Influencer Ruby Franke's Husband Denies Involvement in Alleged Child Abuse Case-InfoLens
Lawyer for Influencer Ruby Franke's Husband Denies Involvement in Alleged Child Abuse Case
View Date:2024-12-23 19:01:37
After Ruby Franke was charged with six felony counts of child abuse, her husband is speaking out.
Kevin Franke, via his lawyer Randy Kester, claimed he and his wife—who was arrested Aug. 30 alongside business partner Jodi Hildebrandt—have been living apart for 13 months and defended parenting his and Ruby's six kids.
"He is a good person, he's very gentle," Randy shared on Good Morning America Sept. 6. "He's a very gentle guy. And no one has ever made any allegations that he's physically abused those kids or anyone else."
Randy also shared that in the light of the influencer's arrest, Kevin's priority is their children. "He just wants to do what's best for his kids," he shared, "get them back, get them under his tutelage and his fathership and protect them."
Additionally, Kevin, according to his lawyer, is "distraught" over how the allegations are affecting his family.
E! has attempted to reach legal representation for both Ruby and Jodi for comment but has been unable to find contact information and previous attempts to reach the two directly have been unsuccessful.
Ruby, 41, and Jodi, 54, have each been charged with six counts of felony child abuse by the Washington County Attorney in Utah, per legal documents obtained by E! News. Each count carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NBC News, the two women were arrested after Ruby's 12-year-old son was found by law enforcement climbing out of a window of Jodi's home. He was emaciated, with open wounds and duct tape on his wrists and ankles, according to an Aug. 31 press release shared by the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department. The release also noted he went to a neighbor's home for help, "asking for food and water."
Ruby's 10-year-old daughter was then found at Jodi's home in a similarly malnourished condition, per the affidavit, with officials saying the children were taken to a local hospital for treatment. In addition to the 12 and 10-year-old, Ruby's other two minor children still living at home were taken into the care of Utah's Division of Child and Family Services. She also has two adult children, who no longer live with her.
Ruby's three sisters Ellie Mecham, Bonnie Hoellein and Julie Deru shared a statement in support of her arrest.
"For the last 3 years we have kept quiet on the subject of Ruby Franke for the sake of her children," they wrote in joint statement shared to their respective Instagram accounts on Aug. 31. "Behind the public scene, we have done everything to try and make sure the kids were safe. We wouldn't feel right about moving forward with regular content without addressing the most recent events. Once we do, we will not be commenting on it any further."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (27328)
Related
- What is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 13-0 record
- Judge agrees to allow football player Matt Araiza to ask rape accuser about her sexual history
- Topical steroid withdrawal is controversial. Patients say it's real and feels 'like I'm on fire.'
- Tire on Delta flight pops while landing in Atlanta, 1 person injured, airline says
- Colts' Kenny Moore II ridicules team's effort in loss to Bills
- Woman, toddler son among 4 people shot standing on sidewalk on Chicago’s South Side
- Meet the megalodon: What you need to know about the shark star of 'Meg 2: The Trench'
- World Cup schedule for knockout stage: USA gets Sweden first round, Morocco faces France
- Fantasy football waiver wire: 10 players to add for NFL Week 11
- Doritos recall: Frito-Lay recalls Nacho Cheese chips sold in Pennsylvania for allergy concerns
Ranking
- Tony Todd, star of 'Candyman,' 'Final Destination,' dies at 69
- Botched's Dr. Terry Dubrow & Dr. Paul Nassif Tease Show's Most Life-Changing Surgery Yet
- As charges mount, here's a look at Trump's legal and political calendar
- DNA leads to true identity of woman at center of bizarre Mom-In-The-Box cold case in California
- Utah AD Mark Harlan fined $40,000 for ripping referees and the Big 12 after loss to BYU
- Texas Medicaid dropped more than 500,000 enrollees in one month
- Mortgage rates tick higher: 30-year, fixed home loan is at 6.90%; 15-year at 6.25%
- Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian Shares Glimpse Into Beachside Getaway With Travis Barker
Recommendation
-
Voyager 2 is the only craft to visit Uranus. Its findings may have misled us for 40 years.
-
Maine lighthouse featured in 'Forrest Gump' struck by lightning; light damaged
-
Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon announces retirement after 28-year career
-
Should Trump go to jail? The 2024 election could become a referendum on that question
-
Love Is Blind’s Chelsea Blackwell Reacts to Megan Fox’s Baby News
-
Biden calls for immediate release of Niger's president amid apparent coup
-
Police step up security, patrol courthouse ahead of Trump appearance. Follow live updates
-
Meet the megalodon: What you need to know about the shark star of 'Meg 2: The Trench'