A Utah mother has launched legal action, furiously claiming that another parent abducted her young son, leaving him severely traumatised over accusations that he bullied her daughter. Amberlee Collazo, from Provo, is pressing criminal charges against Shannon Marie Tufuga, aged 40, after she allegedly kidnapped her 11-year-old son and nearly ran him over with a vehicle in September, according to court documents reviewed by ABC 4.
Alleged Kidnapping Incident Details
Collazo told the outlet that Tufuga had been searching for her son in the neighbourhood, asking other children about his whereabouts. The incident escalated when Tufuga allegedly nearly ran the boy off the road as he was riding his bicycle. She then grabbed his arm and forcibly took him to her home, declaring he was going with her. The apparent goal was to compel the boy to apologise to her daughter, with Tufuga reportedly threatening to have her husband physically assault the child if he refused.
Mother Claims Son Was the Victim of Harassment
However, Collazo asserts that her son was actually the victim of persistent harassment. She explained that Tufuga's daughter, who is in the same grade as Collazo's son, had been relentlessly pursuing him romantically for over a year, despite his repeated requests for her to stop. "He explained to [Tufuga] that it was her daughter… who was the one who wouldn’t leave him alone after the numerous times over the last year and a half or two years that he had asked her to please stop," Collazo stated.
The boy admitted to calling the girl a "fat torta" in frustration, a name-calling incident that both he and his mother acknowledge was inappropriate. Collazo said, "I don’t blame him for how he acted, but he shouldn’t have called her any type of name like that. That’s demeaning because she is a girl, and he has sisters, and he knows better. But at the same time, like I said, I don’t blame him because he was pushed to his limit."
Defendant Denies Allegations Through Attorney
Tufuga has denied all accusations through her legal representation. Her attorney stated, "These allegations stem from a troubled child and are not accurate," as reported by ABC 4. In a further statement, her lawyers commented, "It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in a position where we must defend the safety of our children and well-being. The filing of these allegations are a symptom of our society’s failings and an erosion of traditional family values, where children were once held accountable by their own parents."
Traumatic Aftermath for the Young Boy
Collazo described her son returning home in tears, barely able to speak from fear, telling her, "Mom, I was kidnapped." He was too terrified to retrieve his bicycle, requiring his father to collect it later. The mother noted that her son now suffers from significant anxiety, altering his route to school to avoid Tufuga's daughter and steering clear of their property. "He goes the complete opposite direction to school now, and he tries really hard to avoid [Tufuga’s daughter]," Collazo said. "She’s scared him to the point where it’s affected him pretty significantly, and it’s not right."
Legal Proceedings and Charges Filed
After the boy returned to school, officials contacted the police, initiating an investigation. Initially, Collazo hesitated to press charges, not wanting to separate a child from their mother, but she changed her mind upon perceiving Tufuga's lack of remorse. "I hope that she gets whatever she deserves because this is wrong, and my son’s traumatised," Collazo expressed.
Tufuga has been issued a summons to appear at hearings but was not taken into custody. She faces felony charges of child kidnapping and intentional or knowing aggravated child abuse. Collazo lamented that Tufuga did not attempt a peaceful resolution, saying, "I would have gladly welcomed her in, and we could have spoken, but she didn’t even try. So that’s kind of like another thing that I’m frustrated by."
