What Happened to Oakley Middleton and Where Is She Now?
Following the end of her family's popular vlogging channel, learn about the current circumstances of Oakley Middleton and her life away from the public eye.
Oakley Middleton is the youngest child of Kevin and Ruby Franke, introduced to the public through her family’s YouTube channel. The channel focused on the family’s daily activities, and Oakley was a frequent subject in the videos. This exposure placed her in the public eye from a very young age.
The Franke Family and “8 Passengers”
Oakley has five older siblings: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, and Russell. In 2015, the family began documenting their lives on their YouTube channel, “8 Passengers,” which amassed a large following. The channel presented a look into their daily routines, homeschooling, and family life in Utah.
The content centered on parenting methods and the children’s activities. Over time, the channel grew to have over 2.5 million subscribers. The constant filming meant that many of Oakley’s earliest years and developmental milestones were shared publicly.
Ruby Franke’s Arrest and Aftermath
In August 2023, Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested. The arrests followed Franke’s son escaping from Hildebrandt’s home and seeking help from a neighbor, appearing malnourished and with wounds. Authorities then found another of Franke’s children in a similar condition inside the house. Both children were taken for medical treatment.
Franke and Hildebrandt were charged with multiple counts of felony aggravated child abuse. The case revealed a pattern of disciplinary measures framed as parenting advice through a joint venture called ConneXions. Following the arrests, the four minor children, including Oakley, were taken into the custody of child protective services. Ruby Franke later pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse and was sentenced to prison.
Where Is Oakley Middleton Now?
After her mother’s arrest, Oakley and her three minor siblings were placed in the care of Utah’s child protective services. Custody of the four minor children was transferred to their father, Kevin Franke. He had been separated from Ruby Franke prior to the arrest and has since taken steps to remove the children from the public sphere.
The family is no longer involved in public vlogging or social media content creation. Oakley is now living a private life with her father and siblings, which removes her from the public scrutiny that characterized her early childhood.