Charges Declined in Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Investigation

The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has announced it will not file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul following a review of multiple domestic violence reports submitted by the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department.

The decision, communicated in letters to both departments, was based on statute of limitations, insufficient criminal thresholds, and lack of evidence.

Investigation and Legal Rulings

Charges Declined

The District Attorney's Office reviewed reports of several alleged incidents. According to the office's letters:

• Some alleged misdemeanor incidents occurred more than two years ago and are barred by the statute of limitations.
• Multiple submitted incidents "do not rise to the level of criminal offenses."
• The remaining incidents "lack sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges where the State must be able to prove such allegations beyond a reasonable doubt." The office noted a lack of specificity regarding timing and events, and a lack of corroboration.

Based on these findings, the office declined to file any charges.

Prior Legal History

In 2024, Paul pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault related to a 2023 incident with her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. Paul remains under ongoing probation from that conviction. According to the District Attorney's Office, if new charges had been filed and her probation revoked, she could have faced a prison sentence of up to five years.

Television Production Impact

"The Bachelorette"

ABC removed the reality series The Bachelorette from its schedule on March 19, ahead of its planned March 22 premiere. This decision followed the emergence of a video showing Paul throwing metal stools at Mortensen, with one apparently hitting one of her children. Disney, ABC's parent company, declined to comment on the decision not to file charges.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"

Production on Season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which features Paul, was paused following a separate domestic incident involving Paul and Mortensen in late February. The Draper City Police Department confirmed an open "domestic assault investigation" involving both parties, with allegations made in both directions. Contact with the involved parties occurred on February 24 and 25. Production is expected to resume with minimal impact on the season's release timeline, according to reports.

Brand Partnership Termination

Cinnabon terminated its collaborations with both The Bachelorette and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives following the allegations. A Cinnabon spokesperson stated that recent developments led the company to reassess the collaboration, as it no longer aligned with its brand values.

Related Family Court Matters

A week prior to the District Attorney's decision, a Utah official ruled that Paul cannot have unsupervised time with her toddler son, whom she shares with Mortensen. A protective orders hearing for Paul and Mortensen is scheduled for April 30 before Third District Court Commissioner Russell Minas.

Responses

Representatives for Taylor Frankie Paul did not respond to requests for comment.

A representative for Dakota Mortensen issued a statement prioritizing the protection of their young son and expressing hope for a cooperative co-parenting relationship.