PROVO UTAH, Shannon Marie Tufuga, a 40-year-old mother from Provo, is facing legal charges after allegedly kidnapping an 11-year-old boy she believed had been bullying her autistic son.
According to reports, Tufuga has been charged with child kidnapping and aggravated child abuse. While these charges are usually considered first-degree felonies, the Utah County Attorney’s Office has filed them as reduced second-degree felonies, stating that the decision was made in the interest of justice.
The incident reportedly took place on September 17, 2025, when Tufuga was driving around Provo searching for the boy she believed was responsible for bullying her son. The child has been identified only by his initials in official documents.
Authorities state that when Tufuga located the boy, he was riding his bicycle. She allegedly stopped her vehicle in front of him and instructed him to get inside.
Tufuga then drove the child to her home without the consent of his parents. Once there, she reportedly forced the boy to apologize to her son.
Social media posts, which have since been deleted, indicated that Tufuga’s son is on the autism spectrum.
According to the charging documents, even after the boy apologized, Tufuga allegedly threatened further harm, including stating that her husband could physically assault him. She also reportedly warned the child that he was “lucky” she had not run over his bicycle.
After the incident, Tufuga drove the boy back to his parents’ home, authorities confirmed.
Officials stated that the situation has caused the child significant emotional distress, including increased anxiety and noticeable changes in his daily routine.
Tufuga is currently not in custody, but she has been issued a summons to appear in court. She has also been ordered to report to the Utah County Jail before April 30 for processing and fingerprinting.
If convicted on the kidnapping charge, which is classified as a second-degree felony, she could face a potential sentence ranging from up to 15 years to life in prison.
