The investigation into Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen’s domestic violence incidents from February has been passed from the Draper Police Department to the district attorney’s office, Us Weekly can confirm.
“Following a thorough investigation by the Draper Police Department, the city prosecutor carefully reviewed the case and conducted additional interviews,” Chief Rich Ferguson of the Draper Police Department announced on Thursday, March 26, in a press release obtained by Us.
The chief explained that after “completing the review,” the city prosecutor “submitted an evaluation of the case to the Salt Lake County district attorney’s office for screening.”
According to authorities, the next step in Taylor, 31, and Dakota’s case — which stems from an alleged domestic dispute between the former couple on February 25 and 26 — is for the district attorney’s office to weigh in.
“The district attorney’s office will determine if any charges will be filed,” Ferguson said in the release. “If the district attorney’s office declines to file charges, the city prosecutor will evaluate any further action available based on that determination.”
Ferguson noted that once a determination has been made regarding charges, Draper City “will release all public information related to the Draper Police investigation.”
Us Weekly has reached out to a representative for Taylor for comment.
The February case, is one of three alleged incidents of domestic violence involving exes Taylor and Dakota, 33, making headlines.
News broke on March 16 that Taylor and Dakota, who share son Ever, 2, were allegedly part of a dispute that transpired a few weeks prior. The incident sparked a halt on production of season 5 of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which both Taylor and Dakota have appeared on since season 1.
A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department in Utah confirmed to Us at the time that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” involving the pair. Authorities added that “allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties.”
As an investigation into the February altercation continued, a video from a 2023 domestic dispute between Taylor and Dakota resurfaced. Taylor was arrested following the 2023 event and pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault as part of a plea deal to dismiss the remaining charges.
The resurfaced video — which showed Taylor throwing chairs at Dakota while her daughter cried in the background — led ABC to cancel season 22 of The Bachelorette on March 19.
Following the cancellation, Taylor thanked ABC for its support of her and her three children. (Taylor shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul, in addition to son Ever with Dakota.)
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” a rep for Taylor told Us. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
The statement continued, “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Dakota, for his part, told Us in a statement that the 2023 video speaks for itself. “As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation,” he said. “I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”
Dakota proceeded to request a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Taylor and asked a judge for temporary custody of their son. Us confirmed on Friday, March 20, that both the TRO and custody of Ever were granted.
Earlier this week, news broke that Dakota reported a third alleged domestic abuse dispute involving Taylor to Utah’s West Jordan Police Department in February.
According to NBC News, Dakota claimed the alleged incident transpired in 2024 and after speaking with the Draper Police Department, they pointed him to the West Jordan Police Department for help, as the dispute allegedly took place in their jurisdiction.
The third claim could affect Taylor’s probation following her 2023 arrest.
“We are aware of the West Jordan allegations, and since Ms. Paul is on plea in abeyance status, we would always be interested in any subsequent allegations of criminal conduct during her probationary period,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told Us in a Wednesday, March 25, statement. “If there is conduct out of West Jordan that rises to the level of a violation that would fall within our domain to file charges, then we would screen it when and if it is presented to us.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
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