TikTok couple charged with arson after house fire causes $10K in damage
TikTok couple charged with arson after fire damages Charleston church
A 21‑year‑old TikTok influencer and his 22‑year‑old fiancée were taken into custody on Tuesday after authorities determined they set fire to an abandoned house in Charleston’s West Side, causing extensive damage to the nearby Canaan United Methodist Church.
The suspects, Dakota Harper and Felicity Eatmon, have together built a following of 28,000 on TikTok with a series of prank and lifestyle videos. The pair posted a clip of the incident that has since gone viral, partially because it reveals Harper’s notably small stature—he stands at 3 ft 9 in and weighs 43 lb, while Eatmon is 5 ft 1 in tall.
The blaze began on Sunday night at 11:15 p.m., when a fire alarm was triggered at the abandoned residence. Surveillance footage captured Eatmon handing a small, lit piece of paper to Harper, who then placed it inside the structure. Investigators noted the house was empty and had no active utilities, yet the flames spread quickly and continued to smolder into Monday morning.
CCTV from the scene also documented the couple’s movements as they entered the property. At the Kanawha County Magistrate Court, Harper was seated before a court officer when the officer approached from behind, pushing the chair closer to the desk and leaving only his head above the table—an odd detail that has drawn attention on social media.
The arson is believed to have caused more than $10,000 in damage to the adjacent Canaan United Methodist Church, which suffered significant structural harm and required extensive repairs. The church is a historic landmark in the Charleston community and the blaze has raised concerns about safety protocols for abandoned buildings in the area.
Both Harper and Eatmon now face charges of first‑degree arson and one count of conspiring to commit a felony that carries a potential life sentence. They are each held on a $10,000 bond and will be arraigned again next week.
The case has sparked a debate about the influence of social media personalities and the risks of their pranks. Local officials have urged residents to report any suspicious activity and to cooperate with ongoing investigations. The court has not yet scheduled a trial, but prosecutors say they intend to pursue the charges aggressively.