Survivor contestant investigated by FBI after disappearing with her teen son: report

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A former Survivor contestant is being investigated by the FBI after allegedly disappearing with her teenage son, according to a report.

​Jaime Dugan is accused of failing to return her 16 year-old son to her ex-husband Erik Huffman in August, and an Instagram account has been set up appealing for the boy’s whereabouts.

The Daily Mail claims the FBI is now involved in the case, while Dugan has insisted she is not on the run.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, an FBI spokesperson would not comment on whether an investigation was taking place. However they did urge the public to call 911 if they saw Dugan.

​“The FBI is aware of the public information regarding Jamie [sic] Dugan and her son, however, the FBI does not comment on the existence or nonexistence of any investigation,” the spokesperson said. “If the public sees Dugan, they should contact local authorities or 911.”

Dugan rocketed to fame back in 2007, when she appeared on Survivor: China. During her appearance on the show, she met her now ex-husband Huffman, with whom she now shares 16 year-old Harper. The couple eventually separated in a widely publicized split in 2024.

According to a post uploaded to an Instagram account dedicated to finding Harper, the boy was last seen August 30. Another post shared by the account said Harper has autism spectrum disorder and Huffman has primary custody after divorce.

​Court documents obtained by The Daily Mail state that, in a September 21 order, Spartanburg County Family Court Judge M. Todd Thigpen found Dugan in contempt for failing to return Harper to Huffman and for failing to appear at subsequent hearings. ​The judge authorized Dugan’s “immediate arrest”, the outlet added.

​Dugan has posted several updates about the case on her own Instagram account, which has over 70,000 followers. In one, she said Harper had a cellphone and was able to contact his father.

​Speaking to The Mail, she disputed the suggestion that she was hiding from the authorities.

​“I am absolutely not on the run,” she said. “The FBI has not contacted me whatsoever. And Harper has done wellness checks with four officers.”

Huffman told The Mail he feared for his son’s safety but insisted he “desired for Harper to have a relationship with his mother”.