A West Virginia couple who built a following on TikTok are facing felony charges after surveillance footage allegedly placed them near an abandoned home shortly before it caught fire. Dakota Harper, 21, and Felicity Eatmon, 22, are each charged with first-degree arson and conspiracy to commit arson, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
A caller reported the fire at about 11.15pm on Sunday 27 September at an abandoned home in the 400 block of Maryland Avenue on Charleston's West Side. The remains continued to smoulder into Monday morning, while the adjacent Canaan United Methodist Church sustained more than $10,000 in estimated damage, according to the complaint.
Both were arrested and arraigned on Tuesday, 29 September. Neither has been convicted of the charges, and both remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What the Surveillance Footage Allegedly Shows
According to the complaint, investigators obtained surveillance footage showing Harper and Eatmon in an alley beside the home before the fire. The property was abandoned and had no active utilities.
The footage allegedly shows Eatmon giving Harper what appears to be a piece of paper. The complaint says the paper was then set alight and placed inside the home. Shortly afterwards, the pair allegedly partially entered the property while the fire continued to grow. Eatmon was later seen leaving the area, while Harper had already moved outside the camera's field of view.
Firefighters were alerted at around 11.15pm on Sunday, and smoke was still drifting across the neighbourhood the next morning as the remains continued to smoulder.
The details come from the criminal complaint and remain allegations that have yet to be tested in court.
Couple Shared Their Daily Life on TikTok
Harper and Eatmon are familiar to many viewers through a joint TikTok account that follows their relationship and everyday routines. The account had gathered more than 25,000 followers by the time of their arrest.
The pair were being held at the South Central Regional Jail on $10,000 (£7,500) bonds.
The booking photos of TikTok influencers Dakota Harper and Felicity Eatmon, charged with conspiracy to commit arson and first-degree arson: pic.twitter.com/T5XN7F9xyZ
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 30, 2026
Booking Photos Circulate on X
Their booking photographs were also shared on X. One post from Andy Ngo displayed the photographs alongside information from the jail records, while another post discussed the charges and included footage of the case.
The booking records show both were booked at South Central Regional Jail at 2pm on 29 September 2026. The records list separate Kanawha County case numbers and a $10,000 cash-only bond for each defendant.
What First-Degree Arson Carries in West Virginia
Under West Virginia Code §61-3-1, first-degree arson applies to the burning of a dwelling whether it is occupied, unoccupied or vacant. The law defines a dwelling as a building intended for habitation or lodging.
A conviction under the provision carries a prison term of between two and 20 years. A person imprisoned under the section is generally not eligible for parole before serving at least two years, or the applicable minimum period under another specified provision, whichever is greater.
The case remains at the charging stage. The allegations in the complaint, including what investigators say the surveillance footage shows, the legal process will test.
