Police are reportedly investigating a domestic incident involving “Mormon Wives” star Dakota Mortensen and his ex-girlfriend Taylor Frankie Paul, whose season of “The Bachelorette” begins in a week.
The Draper Police Department in northern Utah confirmed to People that a “domestic assault investigation” into Paul and Mortensen is ongoing, and both suspects have reportedly admitted to the charges. Law enforcement contacted the parties on February 24 and 25, a spokesperson told the outlet.
In response to USA TODAY, the Draper Police Department released a statement saying it “respects the rights and privacy of all citizens.”
It continued: “It is the Department’s practice not to release details related to active investigations unless there is an immediate impact on public safety.”
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for “Mormon Wives” and “The Bachelorette” for comment.
TMZ first reported the news of the incident involving Paul and Mortensen, which reported that production on season 5 of “Mormon Wives” was paused due to the incident.
Paul, the first Bachelorette star to take the helm of the series despite never appearing on The Bachelor, will date 22 men on the upcoming season 22, which premieres on Sunday, March 22. Paul, 31, is the mother of eight-year-old Indy and five-year-old Ocean from his marriage to Tate Paul, and has son Ever, almost two, with Mortensen.
The two had an on-and-off relationship, which was documented on “Mormon Wife” and was shown to be close until just before she began filming her season of “The Bachelorette.”
When the show premiered on Hulu in 2024, it began with Paul’s legal troubles stemming from his 2023 incident with Mortensen. She was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child, police said.
According to People, local news outlet KSL, and the Salt Lake Tribune, Paul has since filed a motion to suspend the aggravated assault charge. The other criminal charges were dropped, but the aggravated assault charge will reportedly remain for three years until she meets the terms of her guilty plea.
According to KSL, Paul’s case is scheduled to be heard in August. If she complies with the terms of the agreement, which include supervised probation and avoiding breaking the law for 36 months, the felony will be reduced to a Class A misdemeanor.
In a September interview on Call Her Daddy, an emotional Paul called the alleged assault “the worst night of my life.”
“I think I was very selfish, and I accepted that I was selfish at the time,” she said. “But I’ve learned from it and tried to make up for it,” she said.
Contributor: Melina Khan, USA TODAY
