Two local social media personalities face felony charges after allegedly setting fire to an abandoned residential property on Charleston’s West Side late Sunday night. The charges appear in criminal complaints filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
Dakota Harper, 21, and Felicity Eatmon, 22, both of Charleston, were arrested and arraigned on Tuesday. Authorities charged the pair with first-degree arson and conspiracy to commit arson following an investigation into the weekend blaze. Each suspect is held at the South Central Regional Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Details of the Charleston West Side Fire
Emergency response crews rushed to the scene at approximately 11:15 p.m. Sunday. They responded to reports of a structure fire in the 400 block of Maryland Avenue. The vacant structure had no active utilities. However, heavy smoke lingered over the surrounding neighborhood through Monday morning as firefighters monitored the smoldering remains.
Investigators reviewed local surveillance footage and identified the suspects near the side door of the property shortly before the fire broke out. The criminal complaint states that video evidence shows Eatmon handing a piece of paper to Harper near the building. The pair used a handheld ignition source to set the paper ablaze before placing it inside the home.
The flames quickly grew. Surveillance cameras captured the two individuals partially entering the structure before fleeing the scene. The fire destroyed the abandoned building and caused more than $10,000 in damage to the nearby Canaan United Methodist Church.
Social Media Presence and Investigation
Both defendants have built a substantial following on TikTok. They routinely share content about their daily lives and personal routines. Their combined follower count on the platform stands at approximately 26,700 users.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the incident. They aim to determine if additional charges or evidence will emerge as the case moves through the Kanawha County judicial system. A preliminary hearing has not yet been publicly scheduled.
