Jarvis Butts Bound Over for Trial in Na’Ziyah Harris Murder Case

Jarvis Butts, a 41-year-old man accused of murdering 13-year-old Na’Ziyah Harris, has been bound over for trial after a judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to proceed. The decision came after a four-day preliminary hearing in Detroit, where prosecutors presented a mountain of evidence, including explicit text messages, clothing, and witness testimony, linking Butts to Harris’ disappearance and alleged murder.

Harris, a student at J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy, vanished on Jan. 9, 2024, the same day Butts was supposed to turn himself in for a separate gun charge. Her body has not been found, but prosecutors say the evidence against Butts is “overwhelming.” They allege that Butts groomed Harris starting in 2022, when she was just 12 years old, and that he sexually abused her before killing her.

During the hearing, Sergeant Shannon Jones, the lead investigator, read hundreds of text messages exchanged between Butts and Harris. The messages revealed a disturbing pattern of grooming, with Butts sending sexually explicit messages and requesting nude photos. Harris, who referred to Butts as “Bae for life” in her phone, later expressed concerns about being pregnant in the messages.

Prosecutors argued that Butts’ motive for killing Harris was linked to her pregnancy. They presented evidence that Butts had searched online for information about abortions and abortion pills. Bloodstains found on Harris’ clothing, recovered near the Rouge River in Detroit, also suggested a struggle. Judge Aliyah Sabree, who presided over the hearing, called Butts a “monster” and elevated the criminal sexual conduct charge to the first degree due to Harris’ age.

Butts, who has a history of sexual assault convictions, faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, criminal sexual conduct, and child sexually abusive material. He is also accused of sexually abusing two other children, one of whom was just 4 years old at the time of the abuse. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy described Butts as a “classic and expert groomer and pedophile.”

The defense argued that without Harris’ body or direct evidence of a plan to kill her, the case should not proceed to trial. However, Judge Sabree disagreed, stating that the evidence met the threshold for probable cause. Butts is scheduled to appear in circuit court on Jan. 16, 2025, for further proceedings.