Prosecutors won’t file domestic abuse charges against Taylor Frankie Paul
TL;DR
Prosecutors in Utah will not file domestic abuse charges against reality star Taylor Frankie Paul due to insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations on some allegations. Paul expressed relief and gratitude on social media following the announcement.
Key points
- Prosecutors in Utah declined to press charges against Taylor Frankie Paul
- Charges were based on allegations from her former partner Dakota Mortensen
- Some incidents were outside the statute of limitations
- Prosecutors cited insufficient evidence for filing charges
- Paul expressed relief and gratitude on social media
Mentioned in this story
Prosecutors in Utah have declined to press charges against Taylor Frankie Paul, star of the reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, after she was accused of domestic violence.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Salt Lake county district attorney’s office said it would not be pursuing charges against Paul following a pair of domestic violence investigations stemming from allegations made by Paul’s former partner Dakota Mortensen.
Prosecutors said that some of the “misdemeanor offenses” occurred more than two years ago, and those fell outside of the statute of limitations. Other incidents “do not rise to the level of criminal offenses”, and the “remaining incidents lack sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges”, as “such incidents lack specificity as to when and what actually occurred or corroboration”.
The office also noted that multiple attorneys reviewed the cases “due to the high profile of the defendant”.
Paul, 31, celebrated the announcement on social media by posting a photo of a bouquet of flowers and writing: “cried when I got the call” and “THANK YOU to those that have stood with me.”
The New York Times reported that representatives for Paul and Mortensen both declined to comment on the announcement.
Paul was set to appear on ABC’s The Bachelorette before ABC pulled the season just three days before its scheduled premiere, after TMZ released leaked footage showing Paul throwing metal chairs at Mortensen in 2023, with her daughter present.
Paul was charged at the time with aggravated assault and other offenses, including domestic violence in the presence of a child. She pleaded guilty to an assault charge and is serving a three-year probation sentence. The other counts were dismissed.
The couple’s relationship was documented on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, including the 2023 altercation and Paul’s subsequent arrest. Filming for season five of the show was paused during the investigations.
Paul and Mortensen have filed temporary protective orders against each other, trading accusations of domestic violence, and are fighting in court for custody of their two-year-old son.
Q&A
Why won't prosecutors file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul?
Prosecutors declined to file charges due to insufficient evidence and some incidents being outside the statute of limitations.
What were the allegations against Taylor Frankie Paul?
The allegations involved domestic violence claims made by her former partner, Dakota Mortensen.
How did Taylor Frankie Paul react to the decision not to file charges?
Paul celebrated the decision on social media, expressing gratitude and relief after receiving the news.
