A 40-year-old mother, Shannon Tufuga, has been charged after allegedly abducting an 11-year-old boy accused of bullying her autistic son and forcing him to apologize.
According to charging documents, Tufuga reportedly went looking for the boy in early September 2025 and found him riding his bike around his neighborhood. Authorities allege that she confronted the child and forced him into her car without the knowledge or consent of his parents.
She then drove him to her home in Provo, Utah, where she allegedly kept him until he apologized to her son.
Although the boy reportedly apologized, the situation did not end there. Police say Tufuga allegedly threatened to have her husband beat the child and told him he was “lucky” she hadn’t run over his bike.
The boy was later driven back home, but the incident is said to have had lasting effects. According to investigators, he has since experienced serious emotional distress, including heightened anxiety and significant changes to his daily routine.
Tufuga was charged on Monday, March 23, with child kidnapping and aggravated child abuse, both classified as second-degree felonies. Prosecutors initially considered more severe charges but later reduced them, stating that the decision was made in the interest of justice.
Reports also indicate that Tufuga’s son is on the autism spectrum.
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