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Charges Issue in the Homicide of Na'Ziyah Harris
Today, Jarvis Ramon Butts AKA Jaris Ramon Butts, 41, of Detroit has been charged with the homicide of Na'Ziyah Harris, who was 13 years old, also of Detroit, at the time of her disappearance on January 9, 2024. The body of Na'Ziyah has not been found.
The Detroit Police Department conducted a comprehensive investigation, which included witness statements, surveillance video, numerous documents, phone extractions, police reports, and medical records. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office reviewed 111 gigabytes (GB) of video, 506 GB of phone extractions and 19 GB of documents. The overwhelming evidence in this case leads to the tragic conclusion that Na'Ziyah was murdered by Defendant Butts.
Summary of the Case
On January 9, 2024, Na'Ziyah went missing. She was reported missing on that date by Annette Harris, her adoptive mother, who is her biological grandmother, when she did not come home from school. She had never gone missing from school before. The Detroit Public Schools Police Department investigated the case until early February 2024, when it was turned over to the Detroit Police Department's Missing Persons/Homicide Unit.
Events of January 9, 2024
- Na'Ziyah took the school bus to school.
- She had her hair in two braided puff balls, clear framed glasses, a white sweater with a black jacket over it, a colorful Rugrats puffy jacket, with a fur lined hood, with light blue jeans and Nike shoes.
- There is video of Na'ziyah getting on the school bus.
- Na'Ziyah used a DPS issued tablet that she used to communicate and communicated with an app.
- She took one last picture of herself on the tablet. (See photo attached.)
- Using her tablet, she sent a message to a device associated with Butts, indicating that they would be meeting up after she got out of school that day.
- There is video of her getting out of school
at the end of the day in the same clothes. - She meets up with Butts and a co-worker and goes back to their auto repair shop on Connor in Detroit.
- Na'Ziyah is seen by Butts's sister at the shop.
- Butts, the co-worker, and Na'Ziyah were together in the co-worker's car when they went to Ypsilanti and then returned to the shop on Connor. Butts's phone places him at these locations.
- At 9:30 p.m. to 12:20 p.m. Butts checked in to a motel. There is a receipt confirming this as well as his phone placing him at that location.
- Na'Ziyah is never seen again after January 9, 2024.
- More complete facts and evidence in the case will be introduced on the record in court.
Butts's Inappropriate Relationship with Na'Ziyah Prior to January 9, 2024
The DPD investigation revealed that Jarvis Butts was well known to Na'Ziyah because he is the father of children with Na'Ziyah's biological aunt. It is alleged that Butts sent Na'Ziyah multiple texts of a sexually explicit nature beginning in September 2022. In return she sent him sexually explicit photographs of herself. It is alleged that in September 2023 she texted Butts that she has not had her period, and in November 2023 the evidence shows that Butts knows that she is pregnant. His phone records show that he searches online about abortions, abortion pills, and drinking red anti-freeze. On January 10, 2024, it is alleged that Butts was in the Rouge River area in Detroit. The clothing Na'Ziyah's was last seen wearing was found in this same area. More complete facts and evidence in the case will be introduced on the record in court.
Factors Supporting that Na'Ziyah is Deceased
- Na'Ziyah's school records show no previous record of unexcused or unexplained absences.
- She was active on social media before January 9, 2024. There is no new activity after January 9, 2024.
- She has had no contact with any family or friends since January 2024.
- She did not have any medical issues that would cause a life-threatening medical emergency.
- An area known to Butts near the Rouge River around 7 Mile and Berg Rd. in Detroit was searched by DPD, the Michigan State Police, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals and other law enforcement agencies. As a result, clothing was found and identified that is consistent with the clothing Na'Ziyah was wearing on the day she went missing.
- There was damage to a piece of the found clothing that could indicate a struggle.
More complete facts and evidence in the case will be introduced on the record in court.
Charges for Jarvis Ramon Butts AKA Jaris Ramon Butts
Butts has been charged with First Degree Premeditated Murder (Maximum Penalty - Life in Prison Without Parole) Child Sexually Abusive Activity (Maximum Penalty - 20 years), and Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree - Person under 13, Defendant 17 or older (Maximum Penalty - 15 years)
Statement of Prosecutor Kym Worthy
"The evidence in this case will clearly show that the defendant's alleged actions were beyond predatory. They were vulturous - he groomed and preyed upon Na'Ziyah with expertise. We will prove that he killed young Na'Ziyah after he found out she was pregnant at 13 with his child, "said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
Arraignment Information
Defendant Butts was remanded to jail. The next Probable Cause Conference is on October 4, 2024, and the Preliminary Examination is on October 10, 2024, before Judge Aliyah Sebree. Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Detroit Police Department.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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