Taylor Frankie Paul, a prominent figure from the TV shows “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and the recently canceled season of “The Bachelorette,” will not face charges following recent altercations with her former partner, as confirmed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday.
Authorities in Draper City and West Jordan, suburbs of Salt Lake City, have been looking into allegations of domestic violence made by Paul’s ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen, spanning from 2024 to February this year. While both parties have made accusations against each other, the focus of the investigation has been on Mortensen’s claims.
The decision not to press charges against Paul was based on the lack of sufficient evidence and incidents that did not meet the criteria for criminal offenses, according to Breanne Miller from the district attorney’s Family Protection Unit.
The duo has each sought protective orders against the other, which will be addressed in an upcoming court session. The incidents reported, some dating back more than three years, were deemed beyond the legal time frame for review.
Although the absence of new charges does not directly impact Mortensen’s existing protective order against Paul, which is currently temporary pending a hearing on April 30, it could potentially support Paul’s case for unsupervised visits with her son.
During a recent hearing, Paul’s lawyer, Eric Swinyard, argued that Mortensen was the aggressor in a recent altercation dubbed “the truck tussle.” Mortensen alleged that Paul threw a drink at him during an argument inside a truck, while Swinyard countered with claims that Mortensen physically assaulted Paul, providing photographic evidence of her injuries.
ABC decided to halt an already-filmed season of “The Bachelorette” following a previous violent incident involving the couple in 2023, where Paul was charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence. She pleaded guilty to assault charges, with the possibility of a reduced sentence if she maintains good behavior during her probationary period.
The couple’s tumultuous relationship, which has been showcased on TV, has attracted public attention, with their ongoing legal battles and protective order requests involving their son being a focal point of concern.