Former 8 Passengers YouTuber Ruby Franke charged with ...

A former family vlogger who once boasted a 2.5-million-strong following has been charged with six felony counts of aggravated child abuse after police say her malnourished child escaped out a window.

Warning: This story contains details which may be distressing for some readers.

Key points:Two of Ruby Franke's children were both taken to hospital Both she and her business partner have been denied bail Ms Franke had previously come under fire for her parenting while running the 8 Passengers YouTube channel

Utah woman Ruby Franke, formerly the face of now-defunct YouTube channel 8 passengers, was arrested in the southern Utah city of Ivins.

She was taken into custody at the home of Jodi Hildebrandt, who alongside Ms Franke runs counselling business and YouTube channel ConneXions Classroom.

One of Ms Franke's children climbed out of a window in Ms Hildebrandt's residence in Ivins, ran to a neighbour's house and asked for food and water, according to an affidavit filed by the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department.

"The calling party stated the juvenile appeared to be emaciated and malnourished, with open wounds around the extremities," the department's press release said.

"The condition of the juvenile was so severe that they were seen by Santa Clara-Ivins EMS and transported to a local area hospital."

According to the affidavit, the neighbour saw duct tape on the child's ankles and wrists and called law enforcement.

The boy was taken to a hospital, where he was put on a medical hold "due to his deep lacerations from being tied up with rope and from his malnourishment," arrest records state.

Another child was later found malnourished in Hildebrandt's house and was also taken to the hospital.

"During the search of the home, evidence was located consistent with the markings found on the juvenile," the release said.

Two other of Franke's children were in the custody of child protection services, according to the affidavit.

Franke requested an attorney and did not speak with officers, the affidavit said.

Ruby Franke requested a lawyer and did not speak to police.(Image: Instagram )

A voicemail left at a phone listing for Ruby Franke's husband seeking comment on the arrest was referred to his attorney, Randy Kester.

Mr Kester said he was representing Kevin Franke's interests in keeping his children together and in his care and that he could not comment on Ruby Franke's arrest.

A judge granted the police request that Ruby Franke be denied bail.

The detective cited "the severity of the injuries of her two kids located in the home".

While the children were found at Hildebrandt's house, Franke had been seen on a YouTube video filmed at Hildebrandt's house and posted two days earlier, indicating Franke was present at the residence and had knowledge of the abuse, malnourishment and neglect, arrest records said.

Hildebrandt was also denied bail, court records said.

History of controversy surrounding YouTube channel

Ruby Franke rose to prominence in 2015 through the 8 Passengers YouTube channel, featuring her and Mr Franke, along with their six children.

The channel was removed from YouTube for unknown reasons earlier this year.

She had previously faced backlash for videos in which she detailed sending her eldest son to "wilderness camp" for troubled teens.

In other controversial videos, she revealed she had refused to bring her then six-year-old daughter lunch when the child forgot to pack food and threatened to throw away children's prized possessions.

The family's oldest daughter Shari Franke, now 20, took to social media following the arrest to post a photo of police officers on scene captioned only: "Finally."

In a later post, she wrote: "Me and my family are so glad justice is being served. We've been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this, and so glad they finally decided to step up.

"Kids are safe, but there's a long road ahead. Please keep them in your prayers and also respect their privacy."

Posts shared to Shari Franke's Instagram story following the arrest. 

She has since asked anyone with more information about ConneXions to come forward to authorities. 

Other members of the Franke family, who all have their own large social media followings, have said they were aware of the situation but would not comment further.

ABC/AP