A former Survivor star wanted by police over the disappearance of her son has broken her silence in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.
asserted
star → want → Mail
An arrest warrant was issued for Jaime Dugan, 41, in South Carolina after she failed to return her teenage son, Harper, to his father, Erik Huffman, in August.
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she → issue → August
Dugan and Huffman, who competed on Survivor in 2007 and later married, went through a bitter, public divorce in 2024, during which Huffman was awarded custody of Harper.
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Huffman → compete → Harper
Huffman, 45, told the Daily Mail on Sunday that he was concerned about Dugan's mental state and fears for his son's safety.
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he → tell → safety
But in an exclusive interview on Monday, Dugan insisted the pair are neither in danger nor on the run.
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pair → insist → run
'My cell phone is on, I'm not hiding my location.
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I → hide → location
There has been a lot going on, but I am definitely not on the run,' Dugan said over the phone.
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Dugan → go → phone
She told the Daily Mail she kept Harper away from his father because the teenager was afraid to return to his paternal family.
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teenager → tell → family
Dugan then handed the phone to her 16-year-old son, who said: 'I am happy and finally safe.'
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I → hand → son
The FBI has an open investigation into the whereabouts of Dugan, 41, and her son
Dugan insisted to the Daily Mail that she is protecting Harper, but refused to disclose where they were
But
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they → have → Harper
Dugan refused to say where they were located, while police have described Harper as 'missing and endangered.'
Dugan insisted over the phone that she is protecting Harper, who she described as 'traumatized' through the process.
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she → refuse → process
She also said that she will appeal the order that requires her to relinquish him to his father.
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that → say → father
I'm just doing what I can do to protect my son.'
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I → do → son
The Daily Mail has informed the police that we have spoken with Dugan and Harper.
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we → inform → Dugan
The extraordinary family drama began on August 30, when Dugan was due to return Harper following one of her scheduled weekend visits.
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Dugan → begin → visits
There was a disagreement when Dugan attempted to return Harper to his father that resulted in the police being called to the exchange, according to a Cayce Police Department report.
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police → be → report
Body camera footage showed Dugan interacting with officers at 6.30pm, which was the last time Dugan was seen by law enforcement or anyone from the Huffman family.
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Dugan → show → family
An emergency court hearing was held on September 15.
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hearing → hold → September
Dugan appeared remotely, according to court documents.
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Dugan → appear → documents
Dugan was last seen by Huffman and law enforcement on August 30 during a planned custody exchange
Dugan and Huffman competed together on 'Survivor' in 2007
Huffman (pictured) and Dugan began dating shortly after the season ended and were married two years later
Judge M Todd Thigpen ordered her to appear in person with Harper on September 18.
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Thigpen → see → September
Three days later, in an order obtained by the Daily Mail, Thigpen found Dugan in direct contempt, suspended her visitation rights and ordered her immediate arrest.
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Thigpen → obtain → arrest
The judge declared Harper 'missing and endangered' and authorized law enforcement officers across South Carolina to take Dugan into custody.
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Harper → declare → custody
The Daily Mail previously confirmed that the FBI became involved in efforts to locate mother and son.
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FBI → confirm → mother
But Dugan has fiercely disputed the characterization that she has taken Harper and disappeared, and claimed the FBI has not once reached out to her about Harper.
'My cell phone is on, I am reachable.
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I → dispute → Harper
I have not heard from the FBI on this, not even once,' Dugan said, sharing dozens of screenshots to indicate that she has been in contact with Huffman during the month of September.
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she → hear → September
While Dugan claimed she had not heard from the FBI, she also claimed Harper has had contact with law enforcement since remaining with her and claimed that the teenager has spoken with four different police officers.
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teenager → claim → officers
Harper, has not been seen by his father or other family members since August 30
Harper had a stable routine and was 'coming into his own' living with his father, according to Huffman
Dugan also disputed the circumstances surrounding the court proceedings as well, saying she had not been properly served and challenging the legal basis for the action being taken against her.
Dugan has begun publicly posting documents and allegations surrounding the custody dispute on her Instagram account, which the Daily Mail has been unable to verify.
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Mail → see → which
Central to Dugan's explanation for keeping Harper with her are serious allegations the teenager has made against his father and paternal grandmother.
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teenager → keep → father
A Beaufort Police Department report obtained by the Daily Mail detailed Harper claiming to an officer on August 30 that he had been sexually assaulted by his paternal grandmother two days earlier.
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he → obtain → grandmother
The officer directed Dugan to contact the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the alleged incident and advised her to ensure that the Department of Social Services was notified.
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Department → direct → Services
The investigation is currently ongoing, and Huffman and his family strongly deny the allegations.
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Huffman → deny → allegations
Huffman told the Daily Mail on Monday that Dugan has repeatedly made accusations against him and his family, characterizing them as attacks made during the couple's bitter custody battle.
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Dugan → tell → battle
He described his ex-wife as a 'master manipulator' and accused her of weaponizing their son against him and his family.
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He → describe → him
'She has no interest in Harper's wellbeing,' Huffman claimed.
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Huffman → have → wellbeing
'It's all about winning.'
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It → win → winning
The reality-show sweethearts married in 2009 and welcomed Harper the following year
Dugan, 41, pictured with her father and a younger Harper
Erik Huffman told the Daily Mail on Sunday that his son's safety is his top priority
The former couple's relationship began under dramatically different circumstances.
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relationship → marry → circumstances
Although they grew up just 25 miles apart in South Carolina, they did not meet until both were cast on Survivor: China in 2007.
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both → grow → 2007
They became close while competing as members of the same starting tribe and began dating after filming ended.
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filming → become → tribe
The reality-show sweethearts married in 2009 after winning an $80,000 dream wedding from the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and welcomed Harper the following year.
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sweethearts → marry → Harper
Huffman went on to work as a physician assistant while Dugan built a sizeable social-media following, at one point becoming known online as the 'Charleston Blonde.'
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Dugan → go → Blonde
…and 5 more, not listed.
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