Jaime Dugan Faces Arrest After Failing to Return Son Following Custody Dispute

A South Carolina judge has ordered the arrest of former Survivor: China contestant Jaime Dugan after she allegedly failed to return her 16-year-old son, Harper, to his father Erik Huffman following a scheduled weekend visit.

According to the court's schedule, Dugan was supposed to return Harper on August 30, but she did not comply. Judge M. Todd Thigpen subsequently determined that she "failed and/or refused" to hand over her son.

At an emergency hearing on September 15, Dugan appeared remotely despite lacking permission from the court. When questioned about Harper's whereabouts, Dugan refused to provide any information. As a result, the court ordered her to appear in person with Harper on September 18, but neither party showed up, leading the judge to find Dugan in contempt.

In response to Dugan's failure to comply with the court order, her visitation rights were suspended, and Huffman was granted sole custody. Two days later, on September 21, a new court order authorized Dugan's immediate arrest.

To further protect Harper's interests, the court required Dugan to surrender her son's passport. Despite these developments, Dugan maintains that she is not trying to evade capture or harm her son. In an interview with Daily Mail, she stated, "I am absolutely not on the run."

Dugan also claimed that authorities had not properly served her for the latest hearings, saying that she remains reachable by phone and has not been contacted by the FBI, "The FBI has not contacted me whatsoever."

Huffman has expressed deep concern for Harper's well-being, stating, "Harper's safety and well-being is my top priority right now." He denies allegations made by Dugan against him, describing them as "egregious and hurtful." The family court ultimately found these claims unfounded for purposes of its custody decision.

This development adds another layer to their long-standing custody dispute. An investigation into these allegations continues, along with the case involving physical abuse accusations made by Dugan against Huffman and sexual abuse allegations involving Harper's paternal grandmother.

With Dugan facing potential arrest and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding their whereabouts, the situation appears unlikely to resolve itself anytime soon.