Two Charged With Arson After Abandoned Home Fire in Charleston, WV
- Dakota Harper, 21, and Felicity Eatmon, 22, were arrested and arraigned on Tuesday following a late-night fire that destroyed an abandoned home in Charleston, West Virginia, according to...
- During the investigation into the origin of the fire, authorities obtained surveillance video from an adjacent alleyway.
- Harper and Eatmon have amassed a large following on TikTok, where they and other platform users frequently shared videos documenting their daily lives.
Dakota Harper, 21, and Felicity Eatmon, 22, were arrested and arraigned on Tuesday following a late-night fire that destroyed an abandoned home in Charleston, West Virginia, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court. The blaze on Charleston’s West Side was reported around 11:15 p.m. on Sunday in the 400 block of Maryland Avenue. Smoke lingered through Monday morning as the remains of the building continued to smolder. Investigators determined that the home was abandoned and had no active utilities at the time of the incident.
Surveillance Footage and Arson Charges
During the investigation into the origin of the fire, authorities obtained surveillance video from an adjacent alleyway. The footage shows both Harper and Eatmon in the area prior to the start of the blaze, according to court documents. The criminal complaint states that Eatmon handed Harper what appeared to be a piece of paper, which was subsequently lit on fire and placed inside the home. The video shows the pair partially entering the structure as the flames grew. Investigators noted that Eatmon subsequently left the area, while Harper had already moved out of the camera’s field of view. As a result of the investigation, Harper and Eatmon are each charged with first-degree arson and conspiracy to commit arson in connection with the destruction of the vacant property.
Public Profile and Court Proceedings
Harper and Eatmon have amassed a large following on TikTok, where they and other platform users frequently shared videos documenting their daily lives. Following their arrests on Tuesday, the pair appeared in court for arraignment. Both defendants are currently being held on a $10,000 bond each in connection with the charges. In addition to destroying the vacant residence, the fire caused damage to neighboring property. The adjacent Canaan United Methodist Church sustained more than $10,000 in estimated damage as a result of the blaze, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case.