Jaime Dugan, a former Survivor contestant, is wanted by the FBI after failing to return her son Harper, 16, to his father Erik Huffman as ordered by a court in South Carolina on August 30. The custody dispute between Dugan and Huffman, who met during their time on Survivor: China and divorced earlier this year with bitter public allegations, has escalated into a legal battle following Dugan's non-compliance with the custody agreement. Judge M. Todd Thigpen ordered Dugan’s immediate arrest for contempt of court, citing Harper as "missing and endangered." Huffman expresses concern for his son's safety and describes the situation as stressful and difficult to manage logistically.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
A former reality TV star is facing arrest after disappearing with her 16-year-old son, the Daily Mail can reveal.
asserted
Mail → face → son
A judge has ordered the arrest of Survivor: China contestant Jaime Dugan, 41, after she failed to return her son Harper to his father following a weekend visit on August 30.
asserted
she → order → August
Harper's father is her former Survivor co-star Erik Huffman, 45, who was granted custody after the couple's bitter divorce this year.
asserted
who → grant → divorce
The Daily Mail has confirmed that the FBI has an open investigation into the whereabouts of both mother and son.
asserted
FBI → confirm → mother
Huffman, 45, told the Daily Mail: 'Harper's safety and wellbeing is my top priority right now, and getting him back safely is extremely important.'
'We have such a good relationship.
asserted
We → get → relationship
I had set up a good routine for him at my home, with school, and therapists, and tutors, and church youth groups.
asserted
I → set → school
'He was really coming into his own and had a very stable life with me.
asserted
He → come → me
I hate that he's been ripped away.
asserted
he → hate → ?
The case has sparked growing concern in the town of Cayce in South Carolina and on social media, where a Facebook page called Hope for Harper has been set up.
asserted
page → spark → Harper
In his September 21 order, obtained by the Daily Mail, Spartanburg County Family Court Judge M. Todd Thigpen found Dugan in direct contempt for failing to return Harper to his father and failing to show at subsequent hearings.
asserted
Dugan → obtain → hearings
He categorized Harper as 'missing and endangered'.
asserted
He → categorize → Harper
Harper Huffman is approximately 6 feet tall and 120 lbs, with green eyes and brown hair
Erik Huffman says that he has been searching for his son for weeks
Huffman and Harper's mother, Jaime Dugan, met while filming Survivor, and married two years after the show aired
The judge called for Dugan's 'immediate arrest' and authorized law enforcement across South Carolina to take Dugan into custody.
asserted
judge → say → custody
Huffman said: 'I do fear for his safety.
asserted
I → say → safety
Throughout my separation and divorce, I've desired for Harper to have a relationship with his mother.
asserted
Harper → desire → mother
I feel like I've been working night and day on this.
asserted
I → feel → this
I've made it my own investigation to try to get answers, driving across South Carolina, speaking to various law enforcement.
asserted
it → make → enforcement
Dugan and Huffman met as contestants on Survivor: China, which aired in 2007.
asserted
which → meet → 2007
They began dating after the show, married in 2009 and had Harper the following year.
asserted
They → begin → Harper
Huffman went on to be a doctor's assistant while Dugan is an online influencer with more than 70,000 followers on Instagram.
asserted
Dugan → go → Instagram
But their breakup in 2024 divulged into an ugly public battle with allegations of physical and sexual abuse which were never proven.
asserted
which → divulge → abuse
Under the custody arrangements set out in their eight-day divorce trial, Huffman was given custody of Harper and Dugan had him every other weekend.
asserted
Dugan → set → him
She was due to return him to his father on August 30.
asserted
She → return → August
The judge found she 'failed and/or refused' to do so.
asserted
she → find → ?
Dugan joined an emergency hearing about the matter on September 15 remotely, although the judge said she had not been given permission to appear virtually.
asserted
she → join → permission
While a South Carolina Department of Social Services caseworker was giving evidence, the judge ordered Dugan to reveal where she and Harper were.
asserted
she → give → Dugan
She refused, according to the order.
uncertain
She → refuse → order
The judge adjourned the hearing until September 18 and ordered her to appear in person with Harper.
asserted
judge → adjourn → Harper
Neither turned up.
asserted
Neither → turn → ?
The court found her absence was willful.
asserted
absence → find → ?
The order also sets out the historic allegations which were at the heart of the couple’s original custody fight.
asserted
which → set → fight
The FBI has an open investigation into the whereabouts of Dugan and her son
Huffman is now a doctor's assistant, while Dugan made her living as a social media influencer
Dugan had reported allegations of physical abuse by Huffman and sexual abuse by Harper's paternal grandmother, to several law enforcement agencies and to the Department of Social Services.
Authorities asked to interview Harper about the allegations but say Dugan refused to cooperate or make him available, according to the order.
The judge found the allegations to be unfounded, saying the court did not share her concerns, and ruled that her allegations did not permit her to disregard its custody orders.
uncertain
allegations → have → orders
Even if Dugan believed Harper was at risk, the judge said, she had legal avenues to raise her concerns rather than hiding where he was.
asserted
he → believe → concerns
Huffman denied all the allegations, describing them tonight as 'egregious and hurtful'.
asserted
Huffman → deny → them
After failing to show on September 18, the judge found Dugan in contempt.
asserted
Dugan → fail → contempt
Her visitation was suspended, Huffman was given sole custody and Dugan was ordered to surrender Harper's passport.
asserted
Dugan → suspend → passport
The court directed that she be held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center once arrested.
asserted
she → direct → Center
The Daily Mail has confirmed that the FBI has an active investigation into the pair's whereabouts.
asserted
FBI → confirm → whereabouts
Dugan did not return a request for comment.
asserted
Dugan → return → comment
Attorney Jonathan Lewis, who represented Dugan during her divorce hearings, said: 'Ms Dugan is considered innocent if or until she is proven guilty of a criminal offense, or liable of a civil offense, following proper proceedings in a court of law,' says
'I join in praying for Harper’s safe return and that this matter will quickly and decisively resolve itself in the best interests of Harper.'
asserted
matter → represent → Harper
Dugan appeared at an emergency hearing last month but refused to reveal where Harper was
Dugan's troubles go beyond the custody fight.
asserted
troubles → appear → fight
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
