dailyloe.com – Utah police did not release a cellphone video of influencer Taylor Frankie Paul until after TMZ published it, according to newly obtained records. The footage was central to a 2023 domestic violence case involving Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. Paul later entered a plea in abeyance agreement related to the incident. The video’s early publication led ABC to cancel the latest season of ‘The Bachelorette,’ which starred Paul. This sequence of events has fueled online speculation about media access to evidence.
KSL Investigators acquired documents through a public records request filed with the Herriman Police Department. The request was made under Utah’s Government Records Access and Management Act, known as GRAMA. It sought all public record requests and responses related to the 2023 case and Taylor Frankie Paul. The provided records confirmed the police department did not publicly release the video until after TMZ had already broadcast it. This timeline raises questions about the flow of sensitive evidence.
A TMZ representative formally requested the footage from Herriman Police on March 17. The request asked the department to ‘please expedite the footage if possible.’ The police department did not respond to that request until March 23. By that date, TMZ had already published the video on March 19. The KSL Investigators also confirmed with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office and the Utah Court System that neither entity released the footage. This indicates the leak did not come from standard judicial or prosecutorial channels.
The case highlights tensions between public records laws and active investigations. GRAMA is designed to provide transparency in government operations. However, the handling of evidence in ongoing or sensitive legal matters can be complex. The rapid media acquisition of such material can significantly impact related legal proceedings and public perception. For an international audience, this underscores the powerful role of celebrity gossip outlets in breaking news that intersects with legal systems.
The cancellation of ‘The Bachelorette’ season demonstrates the real-world consequences of such leaks. ABC scrapped the season shortly after the video surfaced publicly. Taylor Frankie Paul is a well-known figure from the ‘Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ franchise. The incident serves as a case study in how digital evidence moves between legal, media, and entertainment spheres. It also shows the challenges law enforcement faces in controlling information in high-profile cases.[]
Source: KSL.com
