Mom accused of kidnapping autistic son’s 11-year-old bully until he apologized

A Utah woman faces criminal charges after allegedly abducting the boy who had been bullying her autistic son, keeping him at her home until he offered an apology, and threatening further violence.

Shannon Tufuga, 40, was formally charged with kidnapping on Monday. Court records say the incident occurred in early September when Tufuga spotted the 11-year-old boy riding his bicycle in his neighborhood. According to the documents obtained by KSL.com, she “drove around looking” for him, confronted him, and forced him into her vehicle without notifying his parents.

Shannon Tufuga allegedly kidnapped her son's bully and kept him at her home until he apologized — then threatened to have her husband beat him up. — Shannon Tufuga allegedly kidnapped her son’s bully and kept him at her home until he apologized — then threatened to have her husband beat him up. Facebook

Authorities say she transported the boy to her home in Provo, Utah, and detained him until he apologized to her son. Although the boy complied, the records indicate that Tufuga continued to intimidate him, allegedly warning that her husband could physically harm him and remarking that he “was lucky she did not run over his bike.” Eventually, she returned the boy to his residence.

The alleged abduction reportedly caused the child “serious emotional distress” over subsequent months, with ongoing high anxiety and significant disruption to his daily routines, according to police documents. Tufuga now faces charges of child kidnapping and aggravated child abuse, both second-degree felonies. The charges were reduced from first-degree felonies after the Utah County Attorney’s Office decided the adjustment was “in the interests of justice.”