Disturbing 911 Call and Bloody Images Shed Light on Chaotic Domestic Dispute
A harrowing 911 call and graphic photographs have emerged, revealing the tumultuous domestic altercation between Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and her former partner Dakota Mortensen. The call was placed on February 22, the same day Paul, aged 31, allegedly assaulted Mortensen, aged 33, at her residence. Both individuals, who had an on-and-off relationship from 2022 to 2024, levied domestic violence accusations against each other in February. However, authorities announced on Tuesday that neither will face criminal charges due to insufficient evidence.
Graphic Evidence and Tense Audio Recording
Photographs submitted to the Draper City Police Department depict Mortensen with a bloody nose and visible scratches on his face and neck, alongside bruises on his arm. Paul is shown with bruises on her forehead, back, and arm. Meanwhile, a 911 call obtained by TMZ captures a tense exchange between the couple, with their two-year-old son, Ever, crying in the background. Paul also has two other children from a previous marriage: daughter Indy, eight, and son Ocean, five.
In the call, Mortensen informs the dispatcher that his son is "freaking out" and had vomited, though he later states the child seems to be improving. He is heard saying, "I told you," while Paul pleads "please" repeatedly in the background. The dispatcher offers to send assistance, but Mortensen declines, indicating he will take the child for medical help himself.
Allegations and Police Investigation
The following day, a man identified as Cru Ethan made another call, alleging a pattern of domestic abuse involving Mortensen. He claimed Paul assaulted Mortensen earlier that morning, referencing visible scratches and property damage, including a broken car mirror. Cru also accused Paul of striking her children with a bar stool and attacking Mortensen, expressing concern for the safety of the three children in the home.
Police reports detail conflicting accounts from both parties. Mortensen alleged that Paul attacked him between 3am and 6am on February 22, grabbing his throat and shoving him into a window during an argument about past relationships. He claimed she convinced him to hang up a call to police. Paul, however, told officers she asked Mortensen to leave and denied any physical violence that day.
Another incident on February 23 saw Mortensen return to Paul's home after they had been intimate. Mortensen reported that Paul became angry again, mounted him, grabbed his throat, and threw items, leaving a hole in the wall. He stated she followed him to his car and continued punching him, leading to her hitting her head on the console. Paul countered that Mortensen spilled a drink, became irate, and slammed her head against the dashboard before grabbing her neck and back.
Legal Outcomes and Restraining Orders
Despite the graphic evidence, the Draper City Police Department declined to file charges against Paul, citing "insufficient corroborating evidence." The report noted that Mortensen's neck scratches in photos were inconsistent with those documented at the scene, and investigators believed he was the primary aggressor in the February 23 incident.
In March, Mortensen filed for a restraining order against Paul, resulting in her temporarily losing custody of their son. On April 8, Paul was granted her own restraining order against Mortensen, prohibiting him from contacting her or coming within 100 yards until a hearing on April 30. A judge also allowed Paul eight hours of supervised visitation with her son weekly until the next court date.
Career Fallout and Past Incidents
The controversy has impacted Paul's career significantly. ABC scrapped her season of The Bachelorette after news of the alleged domestic violence incident broke, and filming for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been paused. Additionally, a 2023 video surfaced last month showing Paul attacking Mortensen with a chair in front of her daughter, though charges from that incident were dropped after Paul claimed Mortensen threw her to the ground before filming.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Paul and Mortensen, as well as the Draper City Police Department, for further comment on this developing story.
