Jarvis Butts and his attorney during his remand hearing, with courtroom officials and possible jail staff present as all charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, child sexually abusive material, and second-degree criminal sexual conduct, are read to him in connection with the murder of Na'Ziyah Harris.
Na’Ziyah Harris is a case that has captured my attention ever since I came across the powerful video of Judge Aliyah Sabree ruling on Jarvis Ramon Butts’s preliminary hearing. The unfortunate tragedy, coupled with the fact that so many people failed Na’Ziyah Harris, as Judge Aliyah Sabree rightly pointed out, makes this a story that demands attention.
Following a four-day preliminary examination, on January 9, 2025, Judge Aliyah Sabree ruled that the case against Jarvis Ramon Butts would proceed to trial in the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan. However, controversy erupted during the disposition conference on January 17, 2025.
During this time, CBS Detroit erroneously reported that Jarvis Ramon Butts had pleaded guilty to the charges against him. The misinformation spread rapidly across social media, bolstered by CBS Detroit’s reputation as a credible news outlet.
Although CBS Detroit later quietly updated its article, it failed to include an editor’s note or correction, leaving the public confused and misinformed.
Judge Aliyah Sabree Highlights Systemic Failures in the Na’Ziyah Harris Case
During the preliminary hearing, Judge Aliyah Sabree addressed Jarvis Ramon Butts with these heartfelt words:
“You’re the monster in this whole picture. She (Na’Ziyah Harris) did deserve love from her parents and everyone who was in her life. She was ignored. She was neglected, and you took complete advantage of that. She wanted someone to love her, and she will never know what that feels like. I pray for the healing of all the victims and the young girls, and possibly boys, who have come into contact with you.”
Judge Aliyah Sabree also delivered a scathing critique of the individuals and institutions that failed to protect the Detroit teen. Her remarks underscored the broader systemic and community shortcomings that left Na’Ziyah Harris vulnerable to exploitation and tragedy.
Judge Aliyah Sabree began by emphasizing that “several people failed her.” She cited Na’Ziyah Harris‘ family, school officials, and even community members who witnessed troubling behavior but failed to act. Sabree pointed to the lack of parental involvement, noting that there was no evidence of her father’s presence in her life and limited involvement from her mother. This lack of support left Na’Ziyah Harris living in a household where she was not adequately protected or cared for.
Judge Aliyah Sabree also addressed the role of school officials, calling out a school counselor who failed to provide support when Na’Ziyah Harris expressed a need to speak to someone on the day she went missing. “Where was the counselor when this child clearly needed help?” Sabree questioned, highlighting a missed opportunity to intervene before the tragedy unfolded.
The judge’s critique extended to Child Protective Services (CPS), whose involvement—or lack thereof—was notably absent from the case. Sabree expressed frustration at the apparent lack of oversight, especially given the concerning environment Na’Ziyah Harris was living in.
Adding to her concerns, Judge Aliyah Sabree raised questions about testimony from Na’Ziyah Harris‘ grandmother, Annette Harris, who claimed she did not notice anything unusual about Na’Ziyah Harris‘ behavior or physical state, despite signs of pregnancy. “How could no one in the household recognize the signs? How could no one ask questions?” Judge Sabree asked, her tone reflecting disbelief and disappointment.
The judge also called out men in the community who regularly saw Jarvis Ramon Butts around young girls, including Na’Ziyah Harris, but did nothing to raise alarms. “All the men who saw him hanging out with these young girls—where were they? Why didn’t anyone step in?” she said, pointing to a pervasive culture of silence that allowed abuse to go unchecked.
Judge Aliyah Sabree concluded her remarks by stressing the collective responsibility of the community to protect its most vulnerable members. “We failed Na’Ziyah Harris,” she stated. “From her family to her school to the larger community, we all played a part in the circumstances that allowed this tragedy to happen.”
Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office Details
“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. Her adoptive mother, Annette Harris—who is also her biological grandmother—reported her missing to Detroit Public Schools on January 10 when she didn’t return home. She had never gone missing from school before. The Detroit Public Schools Police handled the case until early February 2024, when it was transferred to the Detroit Police Department’s Missing Persons/Homicide Unit.
Events of January 9, 2024
- Na’Ziyah Harris, a 13-year-old girl, disappeared on January 9, 2024, after leaving school.
- Evidence revealed that she communicated with Jarvis Butts on the day she vanished and was last seen in his company.
- Surveillance footage captured Butts picking her up from a nearby location, and phone records showed they communicated extensively on the day of her disappearance.
- Forensic evidence linked Butts to the disappearance and suggested foul play.
- 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.
- 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
- There was damage to a piece of the found clothing that could indicate a struggle.
- 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.
Charges
- First Degree Premeditated Murder – This charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- Child Sexually Abusive Activity – This felony carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
- Criminal Sexual Conduct, Second Degree – This charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Prosecutor’s Statement
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy released the following statement regarding the case:
“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. This case is a tragic reminder of the need to protect our most vulnerable from those who would harm them.”
The Problem With CBS Detroit’s Reporting
CBS Detroit’s initial report of Jarvis Ramon Butts’ alleged guilty plea was inaccurate, and their failure to issue a formal correction only added to the confusion. For a case as sensitive and impactful as Na’Ziyah Harris’s, such reporting errors undermine public trust in credible news outlets.
As of the publication of this article, the Wayne County Jail lists Jarvis Ramon Butts with a conference date of March 7, 2025, which occurs prior to a future trial date being scheduled. While CBS Detroit has updated its article, it failed to include an editorial note acknowledging the error, leaving the public still questioning the mistake on social media.
Na’Ziyah Harris: A Story That Deserves More Attention
The details of this tragedy, coupled with its national attention, make it a story worth following. Although this case broke in 2024, it has been underreported and has started to gain more traction. Na’Ziyah Harris’s story is one of so many that are often overlooked, with the media more focused on other cases. For far too long, the stories of little Black girls and African American individuals have not received the attention they deserve. It’s time that we start highlighting these cases more, to give them the justice and awareness they truly need.
In this particular case, Na’Ziyah Harris, a young girl whose tragic fate has touched so many, deserves justice. Her story is heartbreaking, and yet it is one that too often gets overshadowed or underreported in the media. This isn’t a new phenomenon—stories about Black children, especially little girls, are often neglected or misrepresented. The press might move quickly on other cases, but stories like Na’Ziyah’s should be highlighted, giving a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves. The reality is that Black women and girls often don’t get the press they deserve when tragedies like this unfold, and it’s up to us to keep pushing for change, awareness, and justice.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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