'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star was the subject of a pair of domestic violence investigations involving her ex Dakota Mortensen
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NEED TO KNOW
- Taylor Frankie Paul will not face domestic violence charges related to two investigations by Utah police departments earlier this year following alleged incidents with her ex Dakota Mortensen
- The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced the news on Tuesday, April 14
- Paul said on Instagram she “cried when she got the call” and thanked those who have supported her
Taylor Frankie Paul has revealed that she got emotional when she received the news that she won't be facing charges. following two domestic violence investigations earlier this year.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 31, was the subject of a pair of domestic violence investigations by Utah police departments earlier this year following alleged altercations between her and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. Paul and Mortensen, 33, are parents to son Ever, 2.
In an April 14, press release, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office said it would not be pursuing charges against Paul.
“Cried when I got the call 🙏THANK YOU to those that have stood with me,” the mom of three wrote on her Instagram Stories alongside a bouquet of flowers hours after the news was announced.
Credit: Taylor Frankie Paul/Instagram
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The district attorney's office said that the cases were reviewed by “multiple attorneys” because of the “high profile of the defendant,” per the release.
In February 2026, two Utah police departments opened separate domestic violence investigations into alleged altercations between Paul and Mortensen.
According to letters sent to both departments dated April 14, which were obtained by PEOPLE. the district attorney's office said that several of the alleged incidents investigated by police took place more than two years ago, meaning they fall outside of the statute of limitations. The letters added that other alleged incidents "do not rise to the level of criminal offenses” or lack "sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges.”
Credit: Fred Hayes/Disney
Prosecutors went on to state that some of the incidents lack "specificity as to when and what actually occurred or corroboration." The letter concluded, "We would be happy to revisit this matter if additional information is developed which supports the prosecution of the suspect."
Per the release, the district attorney's office said the investigations would not affect Paul's probation status, which come from a previous 2023 arrest and indictment.
“No additional individuals were screened for charges” in connection with these investigations, the release added.
The Draper City Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE on March 16 that there was an open "domestic assault investigation" involving Paul and Mortensen, with a spokesperson saying that "allegations have been made in both directions".
Authorities opened an investigation on Feb. 23 after Mortensen's friend called to report that he had "been the victim of a domestic violence assault by an ex-girlfriend at her Draper residence,” according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE on March 30.
It said that Mortensen described "two incidents of physical assault involving 'grabbing, scratching, shoving, and striking,' " that he was initially "apprehensive" to report the incidents due to the reality TV star's "high public profile," and that police had obtained photographs of Mortensen's "neck scratches."
On March 25, the West Jordan Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that there was a separate “active domestic violence case” involving Paul and Mortensen.
A spokesperson said that Mortensen had contacted them at the end of February and had submitted a video, which police believed was dated to “early-to-mid 2024,” but declined to comment further.
Credit: Araya Doheny/Getty
Mortensen filed for a protective order against Paul on March 19 and Paul filed for a protective order of her own against Mortensen on April 7.
A judge granted Mortensen custody of their son Ever in an April 7 hearing, with Paul allowed up to eight hours per week of visitation supervised by a paid supervisor or someone vetted by the guardian ad litem.
The arrangement is in effect until the pair's next hearing on April 30, where the judge will review their protective orders.
Paul was previously arrested in 2023 for an alleged domestic violence incident with Mortensen and was accused of throwing metal chairs at him while her then-5-year-old daughter Indy was in the room.
A video of the altercation — showing her yelling, putting Mortensen in a headlock and throwing chairs at him while a child could be heard crying — was released by TMZ in March, putting the case came under new scrutiny.
After the clip was released, ABC canceled Paul's already-filmed season of The Bachelorette just days before its scheduled premiere.
A rep for Paul previously told PEOPLE that the video "conveniently omits context" and called its release a "reprehensible attempt [by Mortensen] to distract from his own behavior."
Mortensen pushed back in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, "I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny."
For the 2023 incident, Paul pleaded guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault and the other charges were dropped.
PEOPLE reached out to a rep for Paul on Wednesday, April 15, and Tuesday, April 14. PEOPLE has contacted the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Officer for further information.
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