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

After police showed up to arrest Shari Franke’s mother, Utah YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke for aggravated child abuse, the eldest daughter at first jumped to a terrifying conclusion. “My initial thought,” remembers Shari in an interview with PEOPLE for a story in this week’s print issue, “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 connecting with a therapist, Jodi Hildebrandt, who advocated for strict parental discipline.

Ruby, 42, later admitted in a plea agreement 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.

On Feb. 20, 2024, she and Hildebrandt, who also pleaded guilty, both received 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, is sharing her own story in her new memoir The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, which details the abuse she and her siblings suffered at Ruby’s hands. “I don’t think she’ll ever fully comprehend or understand what she’s done,” says Shari, who doesn’t have a relationship with Ruby today. She declines to talk about her siblings’ lives now to protect their privacy. “I just hope that 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.

Ruby’s face contorted with anger and hurt. “I can’t believe you called the police on me,” she began, her voice rising. “After everything 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 wasn’t 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 snapped. “They’re old enough to take care of themselves. This is 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? 

“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 what’s right.” 

Ruby’s eyes flashed dangerously. “What’s right? You have no idea what’s right. You’re just a child playing at being an adult. Your siblings are terrified of you now for calling the police on them.” 

Ruby’s face hardened, her lips twisting into a sneer. “One day, Shari, you’ll come crawling back to me. Begging for my forgiveness. And it’ll be hard for me to give it to you, but I’ll 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’ve never appreciated everything I’ve done for you, all the sacrifices I’ve made.” 

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

From The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke. Copyright © 2025 by Shari Franke. Reprinted by permission of Gallery Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC

The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke comes out Jan. 7 and is now available for preorder wherever books are sold.