Taylor Frankie Paul, Dakota Mortensen share conflicting assault claims

KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY Thu, April 16, 2026 at 10:59 PM UTC

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Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions and video that some readers may find disturbing.

More details are emerging about dueling accusations from "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" stars Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen about alleged domestic violence over a 24-hour period earlier this year.

The exes describe an altercation in Mortensen's car in the early morning of Feb. 23, but their respective reports differ about the specifics of the alleged incidents on Feb. 22 and 23, detailed in Draper City, Utah, police records obtained by USA TODAY on April 16.

Mortensen, 33, alleged to a Draper City Police Department officer that 31-year-old Paul threw a drink at him, while Paul said in her statement that his drink spilled, causing him to get upset. While she alleges that he grabbed her head and slammed it against the dashboard, Mortensen wrote in his police report that "she began to kick my screen and punch my rearview mirror" before "trying to hit me and squeezing my face."

He then alleged he "shoved her off me," which caused her to "hit her head on the screen of my truck."

Lacking 'sufficient evidence': Taylor Frankie Paul not charged after domestic violence probe

1 / 0See 'Mormon Wives' star Taylor Frankie Paul's life in the spotlight

Taylor Frankie Paul took the reality TV world by storm in 2024 when "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" became a cultural phenomenon. The "MomTok" influencer and most recent "Bachelorette" spoke candidly about her infamous "swinging scandal" and has faced legal troubles throughout the show. See her career in the spotlight, beginning here backstage during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California.

Weeks later, on March 19, police followed up at Mortensen's house and inspected his car, determining the rearview mirror and display screen were "working with no signs of damage."

Photos of their respective injuries from the alleged altercation, including scratches on Mortensen's neck and a hematoma on Paul's forehead, as well as wounds from past alleged incidents, were provided to police as evidence.

The investigation began when Mortensen's friend, Crew Eaton, called the police department the evening of Feb. 23 to express concern about Mortensen allegedly being assaulted by Paul earlier that day. That night, an officer arrived at Eaton and Mortensen's home to speak with Mortensen about the alleged incidents, which also include Mortensen's claim Paul assaulted him the morning of Feb. 22.

Why prosecutors aren't charging Taylor Frankie Paul or Dakota Mortensen

Dakota Mortensen and Taylor Frankie Paul participate in "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" Season 2 reunion.

On April 14, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office announced it was declining to pursue charges in this case due to lack of sufficient evidence. The following day, Draper's city prosecutor also said the office would not file charges due to "likelihood of success at trial," the Draper police department detective wrote in the report.

The officer noted that on March 20, the city's prosecutor "advised that neither Taylor or Dakota are credible witnesses, with both their statements being fraught with inconsistencies."

"After a thorough investigation by Draper Police, the City Prosecutor has determined that there is insufficient corroborating evidence to support filing criminal charges against either party, as the City must prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt," an April 16 statement from the Draper City Justice Court said.

This legal development comes amid competing requests for protective orders from both parties.

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Paul filed a petition for a protective order against Mortensen, who currently has his own temporary protective order against Paul. In her filing, Paul alleged a "high number of instances of abuse and domestic violence" that include four incidents involving assault, harassment and stalking from March 2025 to Feb. 23, 2026.

"As the Court will note from our competing requests for protective orders, our accounts as to what happened in his truck differ wildly," Paul acknowledged in her filing. "Essentially, we each allege that we were physically assaulted by the other."

Mortensen provided Draper police with several photos and videos of confrontations with Paul and his alleged injuries, which date back to August 2024.

Paul and Mortensen's son is in the middle of their competing claims

According to Mortensen's temporary protective order against Paul, issued by the judge April 7 and obtained by USA TODAY, Mortensen retains temporary custody of their son, while Paul has been granted "up to eight hours" of supervised parent time each week.

Mortensen and Paul share 2-year-old son, Ever. Paul and her ex-husband, Tate Paul, have two children together: Indy, 8, and Ocean, 5.

In the Draper detective's report, he noted a Child Protective Services investigation into both parties was ongoing, noting a 2025 incident in which, according to the officer, Paul allegedly gave Mortensen a "constant push" to the door of her house as he was holding their son.

Dakota Mortensen, Taylor Frankie Paul's other investigations

On March 24, NBC News reported police in West Jordan, Utah, were investigating Mortensen's new allegations against Paul of a domestic violence incident in 2024, which he'd contacted police about in February. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office also declined to pursue charges based on unspecified evidence submitted for screening by the West Jordan Police Department.

Some reported incidents "occurred more than three years ago" and are barred by the two-year statute of limitations. More recent alleged incidents "do not rise to the level of criminal offenses," the office said in its April 14 statement.

In February 2023, Paul was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief, and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, according to police. Paul entered a plea of abeyance to a felony aggravated assault charge following an alleged domestic violence incident involving Mortensen.

People, KSL.com, and the Salt Lake Tribune reported that while the other criminal charges were dropped, the aggravated assault charge will reportedly remain for a three-year probationary period until Paul meets the conditions of her agreement with the court.

(This story was to include new information.)

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and Spanish via chat and at 800-656-4673.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taylor Frankie Paul, Dakota Mortensen police reports detail fight

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