A Highland Park man has been charged in the death of 13 year old Na’Ziyah Harris, who went missing back in January.
Harris was last seen on January 9, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan, after getting off her school bus that afternoon near Cornwall and 3 Mile Drive.
In a press conference earlier today, prosecutor Kym Worthy said there was an overwhelming amount of evidence that shows Harris has died, though her body has not been found.
41 year old Jarvis Butts has been charged with first degree murder, child sexual abuse activity, and second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Na’Ziyah’s case. He is set to be arraigned tomorrow, September 27.
Butts allegedly exploited, molested, and sexually abused Harris, who was pregnant with his child at the time of her death. If found guilty he faces life in prison.
Butts was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a child in 2004, and was charged in April with two counts of criminal sexual abuse of a person under 13.
Harris reportedly knew Butts because he is the father of one of her cousins. According to prosecutors, Butts’ abuse of Harris began in 2022.
Texts show that Na’Ziyah met up with Butts on January 9 at Butts’ auto repair shop in Detroit. They then went to Ypsilanti before returning to Detroit. Butts checked into a hotel at 9:30 pm, without Na’Ziyah.
Butts was tracked to the Rouge River in Detroit the day after, where police would later recover the clothes Harris was last seen wearing.
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Na’Ziyah Harris please contact the Detroit Police Department’s Major Crimes Division at (313) 596-2260, or Crime Stoppers at (800) SPEAK-UP.
The Disappearance of Na’Ziyah Harris
13 year old Na’Ziyah Harris was last seen on January 9, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. She disappeared after getting off her school bus that afternoon near Cornwall and 3 Mile Drive.
Background
Na’Ziyah Harris is a student at J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy on Detroit’s east side. After her mother found herself in trouble, Na’Ziyah was adopted by her grandmother, Annette Harris.
“I want my baby home and I’m asking in the name of Jesus and I stand on my faith he is going to bring her home and we can band together and find her we can make a difference,” Harris said in a press conference.
Disappearance
At approximately 2:50 pm on January 9, 2024, Na’Ziyah Harris was seen exiting her school bus in the area of Cornwall and 3 Mile Drive near Warren Avenue and Outer Drive in Detroit, Michigan.
Na’Ziyah hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
She was reported missing by her family the following day after she failed to return home.
Investigation
The Detroit Public Schools Community District started the investigation who brought in US Marshalls to help with the search. The case was officially taken over by the Detroit Police Department on February 13, 2024.
The Detroit Police Department says they’re working with local, state, and federal partners to help find Na’Ziyah.
On January 14, 2024, authorities searched the area where Na’Ziyah was last seen with the help of police dogs and volunteers, but no clues to her whereabouts were found.
In mid February helicopters, k9 units, and police searched an area in Pittsfield Township, located about 45 minutes from where she was last seen.
A search warrant was also conducted at a home on Detroit’s east side in mid February. Whether any evidence was collected during either search has not been made public.
On February 14, 2024, authorities were searching a neighborhood near Garland and Shoemaker, though police have not disclosed what led them to that location.
On February 20, 2024, police announced that they were interviewing suspects in Na’Ziyah’s disappearance, but no arrests have been made.
“We’re asking anybody with any information, any information, I don’t care who it is, please come forward, contact the police department, her life could be in danger,” Na’Ziyah’s grandmother said.
On May 7, 2024, the Detroit News reported that authorities have named a suspect in Na’Ziyah’s disappearance. The 41 year old, whose name is being withheld, is currently incarcerated at the Wayne County Jail.
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