It’s been nearly a year since 13-year-old Na’Ziyah Harris went missing in Detroit’s east side.
Dozens of searches have been conducted since then, but she has never been found. Her case almost went cold until later in the year when Jarvis Butts was arrested in connection to Na’Ziyah’s disappearance. Police began investigating her case as a homicide.
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Piece by piece, police have been trying to understand what happened to Na’Ziyah and how Butts is connected to her murder.
Background
Prosecutors said Butts was supposed to turn himself in to authorities on a gun charge on Jan. 9, 2024, the day Na’Ziyah went missing, but that date was pushed back to February. Harris allegedly met up with Butts that day, and the two reportedly went to Ypsilanti before returning back to Detroit, where Butts checked into a motel.
Text records allege that Butts knew Harris was pregnant and that he began searching online about abortions, abortion pills, and drinking red anti-freeze.
Authorities believe Butts had been sexually abusing Harris since 2022 before killing her in January. Prosecutors said he had a history of targeting and befriending women to get close to and sexually abuse their daughters.
It’s not the only sexual abuse case Butts is involved with. He also has been charged for reportedly sexually abusing two other young girls, as well as a conviction for sexual assault in 2005. Prosecutors called Butts a “serial child rapist,” who sexually assaulted an 8-year-old family member and a girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter, who reportedly caught chlamydia from the assault.
He was charged on Sept. 27, 2024, as a habitual fourth-time offender.
Butts and Harris had reportedly known each other because he was the father of her cousins. The abuse of Harris allegedly began in 2022 with sexually explicit texts and photos being sent to the child.
He was tracked to the Rouge River in Detroit the day after her disappearance, where police would later recover the clothes Harris was last seen wearing. Authorities said there was damage to the clothing that could indicate a struggle.
Butts has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder, child sexually abusive material, and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13.
Timeline
Jan. 9, 2024
Na’Ziyah Harris got off a school bus at Cornwall Street and 3 Mile Drive, which is near the intersection of Warren Avenue and Outer Drive on Detroit’s east side. She was never seen again.
Jarvis Butts was scheduled to turn himself to authorities on a gun charge. However, this was pushed back to February.
Jan. 10, 2024
Detroit Public Schools Community District launched an investigation after Anette Harris, Na’Ziyah’s grandmother and guardian, reported her disappearance.
Feb. 14, 2024
After Officials with the Detroit Public Schools Community District hit a roadblock, they brought the case to the Detroit Police Department. Leading to police canvassing the area and investigating the case on Feb. 14.
Feb. 15, 2024
Detective Jason Mays and his partner interview Jarvis Butts in connection to Na’Ziyah’s case.
Butts claimed he was dealing with a legal issue on the day Na’Ziyah went missing. He also told Mays and Johnson that Na’Ziyah, who’s related to one of his daughters, would occasionally come to his auto shop to work with his daughter.
March 6, 2024
Police begin searching a pond near the intersection of Gratiot Avenue and Quinn Road in Clinton Township, relating to Na’Ziyah’s disappearance.
March 7, 2024
A woman reports to police she found Na’Ziyah’s school ID. She said she stepped over it multiple times for over two weeks before deciding to pick it up. Once she picked up the ID that was face down, she recognized Na’Ziyah’s photo and called police.
March 12, 2024
Two months after Na’Ziyah’s disappearance, her family told Local 4 they’re holding onto hope of finding her. At this point, there have been over a dozen searches for her.
Authorities search the area of 7 Mile and Berg near the river in relation to Na’Ziyah’s case. There, they found pink overalls, a black hoodie with headphones in the pocket and a shoe.
Aug. 15, 2024
Detroit police submit a warrant request relating to Na’Ziyah’s disappearance.
Sept. 26, 2024
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced Jarvis Butts was charged in connection to her disappearance. Authorities announced the case will be treated as a homicide, even though a body has not been found.
Sept. 27, 2024
Jarvis Butts is arraigned and faces multiple charges in Na’Ziyah’s murder.
Nov. 1, 2024
Jarvis Butts’ preliminary examination begins. It not only focused on Na’Ziyah’s case, but also two other victims Butts allegedly sexually assaulted. A 13-year-old and a 20-year-old testified in two separate sexual abuse cases.
Jan. 6, 2025
Jarvis Butts’ preliminary examination continues. Dozens of witnesses have testified so far. More are expected to testify on Jan. 8, 2025.
