[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
The Utah-based TikTok star and social media influencer who first rose to fame amid a soft-swinging controversy in the state’s Mormon community has more recently been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. And this weekend, that s**t show only seems to be getting worse. Oof.
As you’ll recall, we’ve been covering the story of Taylor Frankie Paul. The 28-year-old Mormon social media star was arrested last week and charged with domestic violence after an apparent incident involving her boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.
But now, new details about that arrest are coming to light. It sounds like the initial report of her incarceration on domestic abuse charges may not tell the whole story. In fact, these new allegations against her are WAY more concerning…
Related: Ex-‘Teen Mom’ Star Charged With Domestic Battery After Allegedly Attacking Girlfriend
According to a statement released on Friday afternoon by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Paul is under consideration for even worse charges in her case. The statement notes that detectives in the city of Herriman, Utah have been reviewing video footage of Taylor’s alleged domestic violence incident, which occurred back on February 17.
New video somehow supposedly shows that Paul — who was initially arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief, and domestic violence in the presence of a child — may have committed child abuse in the incident, as well.
The DA’s Office confirmed in their Friday statement that prosecutors are now considering whether to add felony assault charges to the case against the social media influencer. The organization’s statement read that one of Paul’s children “was injured by the action” of the mom on that fateful night, but does not go into further detail:
“This evidence also suggests that during the incident, Ms. Paul’s minor child was injured by an action of Ms. Paul. Subsequently, our investigators are also screening a misdemeanor charge of reckless child abuse with the District Attorney’s Office.”
OMG…
Paul shares 5-year-old daughter Indy and 2-year-old son Ocean with ex-husband Tate Paul. It is unclear which child was allegedly injured during the fracas. It also still isn’t obvious exactly what happened that led to Taylor’s arrest.
When the New York Post asked for further clarification as to the potentially new charges Paul may be facing, law enforcement officials declined to provide further comment. But in a statement released about the arrest and its aftermath, the Herriman Police Department explained:
“Ms. Paul’s status as a social media influencer has no bearing or impact on the investigation or outcome of this case. All allegations of domestic violence are investigated thoroughly and in accordance with state law and established criminal justice best practices to protect victims and ensure accountability. The Herriman City Police Department will not release the names or other information about the victims, their status or condition, or statements made by them during this investigation.”
As we reported late this past week when the domestic violence arrest news first broke, Paul’s boyfriend has been trying to keep quiet. Dakota spoke to the media following the revelation of her arrest, too. He kept tight-lipped and confirmed he is “not even allowed to speak with her,” and argued his girlfriend “never hurt anyone intentionally.”
Related: Youth Pastor Arrested After Admitting To Awful Underage Sex Crime
The 30-year-old Mortensen refused to give further details at the time, adding:
“I’m going to wait for everything to come out before I speak on it.”
Well, those details would seem to be starting to come out now. And they ain’t good…
Reactions, Perezcious readers?
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to https://www.thehotline.org/.
[Image via Taylor Frankie Paul/TikTok/Instagram]
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