Authorities in Utah are reportedly investigating allegations of a third domestic violence incident involving The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reality stars Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.
A spokesperson for the West Jordan police department told NBC News that Mortensen contacted the department last month with allegations of domestic violence against Paul stemming from a 2024 incident. Mortensen told them that he was directed to their department by Draper police due to the jurisdiction of the 2024 incident.
The spokesperson declined to share any further details due to the ongoing investigation, but said investigators are reviewing multiple videos connected to the alleged event to establish details and timelines. The department also told the network that they currently only have Mortensen’s account of the alleged 2024 incident and have not yet spoken with Paul directly, though they said that have spoken with her attorney.
Investigators would like Paul to either submit a written statement or come in for an interview, the spokesperson added.
A representative for Paul, 31, did not respond to a request for comment from the Guardian. Representatives for both Paul and Mortensen declined to comment to NBC News.
The latest allegation comes less than a week after ABC pulled Paul’s upcoming season of The Bachelorette just three days before its scheduled premiere. The network pulled back the season in the immediate aftermath of TMZ publishing leaked footage showing Paul throwing metal chairs at Mortensen during a 2023 altercation with her daughter present.
Paul and Mortensen’s relationship has played out publicly on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives – both the 2023 altercation and subsequent arrest were addressed during season one of the show. Paul later pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault and is serving a three-year probation sentence.
Police in Draper, Utah, confirmed last week that there is also a “domestic assault investigation” tied to another alleged incident between Paul and Mortensen in February of this year. A department spokesperson told People magazine that “allegations have been made in both directions”.
Salt Lake county’s district attorney, Sim Gill, told USA Today earlier this week that his office has “requested all the investigative material to screen the most recent allegations for charges”.
“We made the request because of the potential that if charges are filed, they could be enhanced due to a prior plea in abeyance to a domestic violence offense,” Gill added.
Filming for season five of Mormon Wives has reportedly been paused amid the investigations.
A spokesperson for Paul last week said that she is “very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security”.
“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 spokesperson said.
In a statement to People last week, Mortensen said “this is a deeply upsetting situation” and that he is “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,” he continued.