Utah Man Arrested for Discarding Child-Like Sex Dolls at Landfill

Police say the 54-year-old man tried to cover his tracks but was caught after a landfill worker discovered the disturbing items.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:36am

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A 54-year-old Utah man named Shane Alexander Larson has been arrested after child-like sex dolls were found discarded at a local landfill. Police say Larson had tried to cover his tracks by blacking out the shipping label on the box, but the text was still legible. A search of Larson's home uncovered more than a dozen of the life-like dolls, with five appearing to resemble pre-pubescent girls. Larson was charged with multiple felonies related to the possession and distribution of child sex dolls, which were banned in Utah in 2023.

Why it matters

The discovery of these child-like sex dolls at the landfill and in Larson's home highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating the exploitation of minors, both physically and through disturbing substitutes. This case also demonstrates the importance of Utah's recent law banning the possession and distribution of such dolls, which are intended to satisfy dangerous sexual urges.

The details

According to police, a worker at a Utah landfill called 911 after coming across a discarded box containing sex dolls that resembled children. The shipping label on the box had Larson's name and address, which he had tried to black out with a Sharpie marker. Police obtained a search warrant and found more than a dozen of the life-like dolls at Larson's home, with five appearing to be made to look like pre-pubescent girls. Larson allegedly admitted the dolls were his and that he discarded them because they 'appeared to look too young.'

  • On March 13, a landfill worker in Utah discovered the discarded box of child-like sex dolls.
  • On March 20, police arrested Shane Alexander Larson, a 54-year-old Cedar City resident, in connection with the incident.

The players

Shane Alexander Larson

A 54-year-old man from Cedar City, Utah who was arrested for possessing and distributing child-like sex dolls.

Iron County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that arrested Larson and is investigating the case.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

Larson is expected to enter pleas to the charges against him in the coming weeks. Authorities will also search the electronic devices seized from his home as part of the ongoing investigation.

The takeaway

This disturbing case highlights the urgent need to combat the exploitation of minors, both physically and through the use of child-like sex dolls. Utah's recent law banning such dolls is an important step, but more work remains to protect vulnerable children from these predatory acts.