Where Is Na'Ziyah?

Published on 27 September 2024 at 23:17

Jarvis Butts, Na'Ziyah Harris. Photo: Michigan Department of Corrections, Detroit Police Department


A 13-year-old Michigan girl vanished after getting off the bus in January. Now, authorities arrested a man they allege raped her and killed her after she became pregnant.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced that Jarvis Butts, 41, of Highland Park, was arrested in connection with the death and disappearance of Na’Ziyah Harris.“Today we are charging Jarvis Butts with one count of first-degree premeditated murder, one count of criminal sexual conduct in the second-degree and one count of child sexually abusive material,” Worthy said at a press conference aired by Fox2 Detroit and viewed by PEOPLE.

 

“We are also charging Mr. Butts with more counts of criminal sex conduct on two more girls — yes girls — in two other separate cases,” she said. 

 

The alleged victims are now 20 and 13 years old, respectively, but both were under 13 when the alleged crimes took place, Worthy said.

 

"Mr. Butts targeted and befriended women to have sexual relationships with their young daughters," Worthy said. "He would have relationships with their mothers, but his true desire was to have sex with their young daughters. That’s what the evidence will show.

“He was a classic and expert groomer and pedophile,” she continued. "It’s incredibly sad and incredibly unspeakable, and we want to bring justice to her and her family."

The young girl’s remains have not yet been found, but Worthy said, "The evidence shows overwhelmingly in this case that she is deceased."

Na’Ziyah was last seen on Jan. 9 about a quarter mile from her home, according to a bulletin from the Detroit Police Department. Her grandmother reported her missing that day when she failed to return home from school, Worthy said.

The young girl’s remains have not yet been found, but Worthy said, "The evidence shows overwhelmingly in this case that she is deceased."Butts is being held in the Wayne County Jail on a $250,000 bond, where he has been held since April on other charges

 


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