PROVO, UT — A Utah mother faces felony charges after allegedly forcing an 11-year-old boy into her car and threatening to have her husband beat him up over claims he bullied her child.
Shannon Tufuga, 40, was formally charged Monday with child kidnapping and aggravated child abuse, both second-degree felonies, stemming from a September 17 incident in Provo. Prosecutors allege Tufuga stopped the boy while he was riding his bike, forced him into her vehicle without his parents’ knowledge, and drove him to her home where she demanded he apologize to her child. The case highlights growing concerns about parents taking matters into their own hands when dealing with perceived bullying situations.
According to court documents, Tufuga approached the boy as he rode his bike through the neighborhood and forced him into her car. The victim’s mother, Amberlee Collazo, told CBS News her son Kristopher was planning to apologize when Tufuga intercepted him. “I was gonna say, sorry that I got in your way. But when I was about to say that, she was like, ‘No, F you, get in my car, I’m taking you,'” Kristopher told CBS News. Once at Tufuga’s Provo home, she allegedly threatened to have her husband assault the boy and told him he was “lucky” she didn’t run him over while he was on his bike, according to charging documents.
The incident stemmed from ongoing tensions between the children that had escalated over two years. Collazo explained that Tufuga’s child had developed a crush on her son and had been “bothering” him about it persistently. “One day he got fed up with the fact that she doesn’t leave him alone,” Collazo said, noting that her son eventually said something rude to Tufuga’s child after years of unwanted attention. Collazo also alleged that Tufuga’s husband was brandishing a gun during the confrontation at their home. “They basically opened their door and told him to get the eff out, and he ran all the way home,” she said. “He came in, and he was just hysterical and said, ‘Mom, I just got kidnapped!'”
Initially, Collazo was hesitant to pursue criminal charges against Tufuga, but her position changed after learning about Tufuga’s attitude toward the incident. According to Collazo, Tufuga expressed that she “didn’t care what happened to him, [and] that she’d do it again.” The investigation was conducted by the Orem Police Department rather than Provo police to avoid potential conflicts of interest, as Tufuga worked as a crossing guard for Provo City at the time of the alleged incident. “To prevent any potential conflict of interest, the criminal investigation involving Shannon Tufuga was conducted by the Orem Police Department, as she was employed by Provo City as a crossing guard at the time of the allegation,” Provo police said in a statement. Tufuga is no longer employed by the city.
The charges against Tufuga were reduced from first-degree to second-degree felonies after the Utah County Attorney’s Office determined that “a reduction would be in the interests of justice,” according to court records. Court documents indicate the incident has left lasting effects on the young victim, who now suffers from “serious emotional distress” and “high anxiety and has had to alter daily routines significantly.” Collazo told CBS News that her son “is going to have trust issues with people for so long” following the traumatic experience. The psychological impact extends beyond the immediate incident, with Kristopher continuing to experience anxiety and emotional distress months later.
Tufuga’s defense team has disputed the allegations, stating in a prepared statement that the claims are “not accurate.” The defense blamed the incident on “an erosion of traditional family values” and said “It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in a position where we must defend the safety of our children.” However, prosecutors maintain that Tufuga’s actions crossed legal boundaries regardless of any underlying bullying concerns. The case has drawn attention to the proper channels for addressing school conflicts, with many observers noting that direct communication between parents or involvement of school officials might have resolved the situation without criminal charges. Collazo reflected on missed opportunities for peaceful resolution, telling reporters that “a simple conversation could have fixed this problem.”
Tufuga is not currently in custody but has been issued a summons ordering her to appear in court for her initial hearing scheduled for April 30. If convicted on both felony charges, she could face significant prison time and fines under Utah state law. The case serves as a cautionary tale for parents dealing with childhood conflicts and bullying situations, demonstrating how attempts to protect one’s child can escalate into serious criminal charges when proper procedures are bypassed.
