Dakota Harper, one-half of the controversial TikTok couple accused of setting fire to an abandoned West Virginia home, is speaking out from behind bars, and he has some words for his former girlfriend and co-defendant, Felicity Eatmon.
In an exclusive phone conversation with Los Angeles Magazine from the South Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility in West Virginia, Harper essentially blamed Eatmon for his run-ins with the law and suggested that distancing himself from her could be the key to staying out of trouble.
“I need to stay away from Felicity. She’s the reason I’ve been in jail… if I stayed away from her, I would not be in any trouble,” Harper told Los Angeles.
Court records reviewed by Los Angeles show that the 21-year-old Harper was the subject of a truancy complaint in 2023 for allegedly failing to attend school. In May 2026, he was charged with misdemeanor unlawful removal, injury to or destruction of property, as well as conspiracy to inflict injury to a person or property. That case remains pending, with a bench trial scheduled for February 2027.
Harper’s comments offer a glimpse into the couple’s tumultuous relationship, which has attracted thousands of followers on TikTok and, more recently, the attention of West Virginia law enforcement.
Harper, who has dwarfism, and Eatmon were arrested in late September after investigators accused them of deliberately setting fire to a vacant home on Charleston’s West Side. Both face charges of first-degree arson and conspiracy to commit arson.
According to a criminal complaint previously obtained by Los Angeles, the Charleston Fire Department responded to a blaze at 405 Maryland Avenue around 11:15 p.m. on Sept. 27.
Investigators allege that surveillance footage captured Harper and Eatmon approaching the side entrance of the property together. Eatmon allegedly handed Harper what appeared to be a piece of paper before the pair used a handheld ignition source to light it and place the burning material inside the residence.
About 30 to 45 seconds later, investigators say the couple returned to the doorway as the fire began developing. Eatmon allegedly reached inside the structure for an unknown reason while Harper remained nearby. The fire also caused more than $10,000 in damage to the neighboring Canaan United Methodist Church. Police have not publicly established a motive for the alleged arson.
https://twitter.com/KATVNews/status/2107385875130630559
During an Oct. 5 appearance in Kanawha County Magistrate Court, Judge Leslie Grace granted prosecutors’ request to double Harper’s bond from $10,000 to $20,000, with home confinement required as a condition of release. Harper appeared visibly distraught as the judge announced the decision, lowering his head and clearly distressed. His public defender, Michael Carey, had asked that Harper instead be released to a facility where he could receive care.
The couple’s relationship had already attracted considerable attention online long before their arrests. As Los Angeles previously reported, Harper and Eatmon developed a niche following by documenting their unconventional relationship, public arguments, breakups and periods of homelessness.
Their joint TikTok account, @dakotaandfelicityharper, had approximately 26,700 followers at the time of their arrests. Their videos frequently offered viewers an unfiltered look at their daily lives, including financial struggles and requests for money from followers.
During his conversation with Los Angeles, Harper described a relationship that he now believes has contributed to his legal problems. He also made allegations of mistreatment by Eatmon, including an accusation that she had choked him. Harper did not elaborate on the alleged incident, and Los Angeles has not independently verified the claims.
Harper also shared the unlikely story of how the couple first crossed paths.
According to Harper, a friend had arranged for him to stay at a hotel. While he was outside walking his dog, Eatmon approached him and seemed to take an interest. The two struck up a conversation, and Eatmon eventually asked him out.
“My dumb ass said yes,” Harper recalled.
The account provides another glimpse into a relationship that has played out publicly on social media and is now at the center of a criminal case carrying potentially lengthy prison sentences.
Under West Virginia law, first-degree arson carries a potential prison sentence of two to 20 years. Conspiracy to commit first-degree arson can carry a sentence of five to 25 years, although any sentence would depend on the charges resulting in convictions and the court’s sentencing determinations.
Harper’s comments also come after family members publicly expressed concerns about his relationship with Eatmon. Following his October court appearance, Harper’s aunt, Hope Taylor, told WCHS that she believed his troubles escalated after he became involved with Eatmon.
“He didn’t go on a downward spiral until he got with Felicity,” Taylor said, according to comments aired by Law&Crime.
During the jailhouse conversation, Harper also discussed additional personal matters with Los Angeles that are being withheld from publication at this time.
Los Angeles reached out to both Harper and Eatmon’s public defenders, Michael Carey and Matthew Victor, for comment, but neither has responded to the request for comment.
According to the court docket, it remains unclear when Harper’s next hearing will take place. Harper and Eatmon are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The post Exclusive: TikTok Arson Suspect Dakota Harper Breaks Silence on Felicity Eatmon in Jailhouse Call appeared first on LAmag.
