2 TikTok influencers charged with arson after fire damages West Virginia church
Two TikTok influencers have been charged with first-degree arson for allegedly setting a fire to a vacant home in West Virginia that spread to a local church, causing more than $10,000 in estimated damage.
Dakota Harper, 22, and Felicity Eatmon, also 22, were arrested on Sept. 29 and charged with first-degree arson and conspiracy to commit arson in connection with a fire that happened in Charleston.
Harper appeared in court Monday for a preliminary hearing, where his bond was raised from $10,000 to $20,000 and he was required to remain confined to his home, WCHS News reported. His attorney asked that he be released to a facility where he could receive care. Eatmon, who remains held on a $10,000 bond, waived her initial hearing Tuesday before Magistrate Brent Hall.
"I've been taking care of Dakota and Felicity for the past couple months now. I've seen their struggle," said a friend of Dakota who was in court for the hearing, according to WCHS. "I have a heart at the end of the day and mental illness does matter. I'm a recovering addict myself. I've been homeless, I've been in their shoes. I understand what they go through."
On the evening of Sept. 27, a fire broke out at an abandoned home in Charleston and eventually spread to Canaan United Methodist Church, causing considerable damage.
According to authorities, surveillance footage obtained by the Charleston fire marshal showed Harper and Eatmon approaching the empty house shortly before the conflagration broke out.
Authorities allege that the footage shows the two going into an alley beside the house, according to the criminal complaint reported by Guessing Headlights, with Eatmon handing Harper what appears to be a piece of paper that was then lit on fire and placed inside the home.
The complaint says the pair could then be seen partially entering the home while the fire continued to grow. Eatmon is shown leaving the area, and Harper had already left the camera's view.
As the burning materials were placed inside the abandoned house via a side entrance to the building, the two allegedly left the area, allowing the fire to grow.
If convicted of both charges, Harper and Eatmon could face between two and 20 years in prison for first-degree arson and between five and 25 years for conspiracy to commit first-degree arson.
The two reportedly had around 26,000 TikTok followers on the eve of their arrests, and authorities said they don't believe the fire was related to their social media activity.
