He’s married again. Honestly, that’s the big update everyone is buzzing about right now. After the world watched the 8 Passengers YouTube empire collapse into a nightmare of criminal abuse and "demonic possession" theories, Kevin Franke has somehow managed to flip the script and build a new life in 2026.
It hasn't been a quiet transition. Not even a little bit.
If you’re wondering where is Kevin Franke now, he is currently living in Springville, Utah. But he isn't alone in that massive $1.3 million house anymore. In December 2025, Kevin married a woman named Becca Bevan. The wedding was a major family milestone, with his eldest daughter Shari Franke sharing photos of the ceremony on social media. She basically said she’d never seen her dad this happy and that he finally found someone he deserved. It’s a sharp contrast to the guy we saw in those harrowing police bodycam clips a few years ago.
The Divorce Terms and the Big House
The legal dust settled on his marriage to Ruby Franke in March 2025. That was the official "end" of the 8 Passengers era. As part of the divorce decree, a Utah judge handed Kevin the keys to the family’s seven-bedroom home in Springville. He also walked away with a 2.8-acre plot of land in Scofield.
What’s interesting is the money side of things. Kevin actually agreed to waive any child support Ruby would have owed him. Instead, Ruby got to keep the $85,000 she pulled from their accounts right before they split. Everything else? It went to Kevin. He needed it, too, considering he’s been paying for the intensive physical and mental health treatments his younger children require after what they went through at the hands of Jodi Hildebrandt.
Life as a Single Dad (And Now a Step-Dad)
Kevin has full custody of the four minor children. This was a long road. After Ruby and Jodi were arrested in August 2023, the kids were initially in state custody. It took a while for Kevin to prove to the courts that he wasn't the one holding the duct tape. He spent 2024 and 2025 working through a reunification process that most people can't even imagine.
His lawyer, Randy Kester, has been vocal about the fact that Kevin isn't trying to "sling mud." He's just trying to be a dad. But that hasn't stopped him from going after the person he blames for the family's destruction.
Why Kevin Franke is Still in Court (The Lawsuit Update)
While his personal life is looking up, Kevin is still locked in a massive legal battle with Jodi Hildebrandt. He isn't just letting her sit in prison. In mid-2025, Kevin re-filed a lawsuit against the former therapist, this time specifically for medical malpractice.
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He's asking for more than $300,000 in damages.
- The BYU Job: Kevin claims Hildebrandt actually caused him to lose his job as an engineering professor at Brigham Young University. He says she told him that getting fired would be "the best outcome" for his spiritual growth.
- The Isolation: The lawsuit alleges Jodi used "improper mental health techniques" to brainwash him. She reportedly told him he was narcissistic and lustful, eventually forcing him to live in a small apartment away from his kids for over a year.
- The "Solitude" Mandate: In July 2023, just weeks before the kids were found emaciated, Jodi allegedly told Kevin he needed "absolute solitude" for six months to heal his marriage.
Essentially, Kevin's legal team is arguing that while the abuse was happening, he was being systematically cut off by a "professional" he trusted. Hildebrandt, for her part, is currently serving her sentence at the Utah State Correctional Facility and isn't exactly in a position to pay out $300,000 easily, especially with her assets frozen for victim restitution.
Advocacy and Utah Law
Kevin hasn't just been hiding at home. He’s actually become a bit of an advocate. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, he appeared before Utah’s Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel. He’s been pushing for changes to state laws so that child protective services can intervene more easily when neighbors report red flags. He pointed out that police visited the Franke home 15 times before the final arrest, but they couldn't do much because they couldn't get inside.
He's trying to turn a tragedy into some kind of policy change. It's a weird spot to be in—the guy who was once part of the "strict" parenting videos is now the one telling lawmakers the system failed his kids.
Misconceptions About the Reunion
A lot of people think the whole family is back together in a big happy circle. It’s more complicated than that. While Shari and Chad (the two oldest) are very close with their dad now, the trauma for the younger kids is deep. Kevin has been attending professional therapy to "coordinate with the children’s treatment providers." This isn't just about making dinner and doing homework; it's about deprogramming children who were told their parents were "evil."
Ruby, meanwhile, is still in the Utah State Prison. Her first parole hearing is scheduled for December 2026. Kevin is reportedly not responding to any of her letters.
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What's Next for the Franke Family?
Honestly, the focus for Kevin right now is just stability. Marrying Becca Bevan seems to be his attempt at a "normal" restart. He’s no longer vlogging—thankfully—and seems to be staying as far away from the "influencer" life as possible.
If you want to keep tabs on this case, the next big dates won't be about Kevin, but about Ruby’s parole. Until then, Kevin is likely to stay in Springville, raising the kids and waiting for the malpractice lawsuit to move through the system.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Stay Informed on Local Laws: If you're following this because of child welfare concerns, look up the "8 Passengers" impact on Utah House Bill 272 (or similar pending legislation) regarding child welfare interventions.
- Check Court Dockets: The medical malpractice suit against Hildebrandt is public record in Utah’s 3rd District Court; you can track the "Franke v. Hildebrandt" filings for updates on the $300,000 claim.
- Support Child Advocacy: Look into organizations like the Children’s Justice Center, which Kevin has referenced as a resource that was instrumental in his children's recovery.