MI MI - Na'Ziyah Harris, 13, Detroit, 9 Jan 2024

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DETROIT (WWJ) -- The Wayne County Prosecutor Office has announced that Prosecutor Kym Worthy will hold a news conference on Thursday focused on the Na'Ziyah Harris case.

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The news conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16. Stat with WWJ Newsradio 950 for updates. >>LISTEN LIVE

(They must mean Sept 26)
 
This is really devastating. From the article linked he was the father of her cousins and began grooming her in 2022. He killed her because he believed she was pregnant with his child. My heart breaks for poor Na'Ziyah and the people who cared about her. So sickening what she had to endure. Glad charges have been filed and hopefully her remains can be recovered soon. Rest in paradise sweet child. MOO
 
Same article says her clothing was found (I don't think that has been mentioned before) and indicated a struggle had taken place. Sounds like they might have been ripped or cut. He's also charged with sexually abusing two other victims and police believe there might be more victims. :mad: so evil
 
SEP 26, 2024
Jarvis Butts, 41, of Detroit, was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, second-degree criminal sexual conduct and child sexually abusive activity.
  • Evidence shows that Na'Ziyah is dead, but her body has not been found.
  • Butts is also being charged for sexual abuse of two other girls who were under the age of 13 at the time.
  • One of those victims, now 20 years old, was assaulted by Butts from April 2012 to April 2014.
  • The other victim, now 13 years old, was assaulted by Butts from July 2015 to July 2017.
  • "Mr. Butts targeted and befriended women to have sexual relationships with their young daughters," said Worthy. "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 will be arraigned after 10 a.m. on Friday.
  • Na'Ziyah knew Butts through family members and met up with him after school on Jan. 9.
  • At 9:30 that night, Butts checked into a motel, which is confirmed by a receipt and by his phone.
  • Butts is the father of children with Na'Ziyah's biological aunt.
  • Butts started sending Na'Ziyah sexually explicit texts in Sep 2022.
  • In Sep 2023, she sent Butts a text that she missed her period, and in Nov 2023 Butts knew she was pregnant.
  • Phone records show Butts had been searching for abortion options online.
  • Butts was in the area of the Rouge River on Jan 10 where Na'Ziyah's clothes were later found.
 
I'm so heartbroken and angry. She could have been saved. DSS did not do their job after at least 8 reports were filed. I'm not sure if they even investigated the family...that had an extensive DSS history dating back to when NaZiyah's own mom was a child. Him being arrested is not enough. Her aunt, grandmother, DSS officials, all who did NOTHING to protect her!
 
SEP 27, 2024
Jarvis Butts, 41, was arraigned Friday in the 36th District Court on one count of murder, six counts of sexual assault and one count of child sexually abusive material ...

"His phone records show that he searches online about abortions, abortion pills, and drinking red anti-freeze," according to a Wayne County Prosecutor's office press release.

The victims include Harris, his biological daughter, and a minor who was the daughter of a former girlfriend, prosecutors said in Detroit court Friday afternoon. Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Tina Ripley referred to Butts as a "serial child rapist" and "absolutely a danger to the community."

Ripley said during the hearing Friday that Butts was due to turn himself in on Jan. 9 to serve a yearlong sentence in another case involving a weapons charge, but that date was ultimately moved to Feb. 7. During the hearing Friday, Butts was remanded to the jail without bond. Riggins said the defense was not going to object because Butts is currently serving that sentence and not eligible for release.
 
I wish they hadn't stated his relationship to the victim in his family. It seems like saying "a minor in his home" or such would suffice. She already has to live with the trauma, she shouldn't have to live with stigma as well-unless someday she chooses to come forward. JMO.
 
Press Conference

SEP 26, 2024

Man charged with murder of missing Detroit teen Na'Ziyah Harris​

I don't know what to say. I missed this case until now.
I found myself crying while watching the press conference.
It's so dam* unfair. The school police (I didn't know this was a thing.) didn't pass this on to Detroit Police until a month later??! What the heck??

And CPS ignored multiple reports from family members for a year??? What the heck?!!

This was clearly an organizational failure of a child.
This lovely young girl did not deserve to die. (Not that anyone does, of course, but this is beyond the pale.)

On the small positive side, if there can possibly be a small positive side, I am impressed by the prosecutor, Kym Worthy. She communicates clearly and confidently. She is angry about this case. When asked if things could have moved faster if the School police had notified Detroit Police sooner she said "yes". When asked if she would comment further she said (paraphrasing), "I better not. I have strong opinions there."

Hugs to you Nazayah. You didn't deserve this. You deserve to be living your life with a bright future.
 
Epic fail on this, the whole way around, reported missing from 1/9 turned over to LE in early Feb. More victims. EPIC FAIL. My prayers are with her family. She deserved better as do the other young girls. IMO
I'm editing this, I should say prayers to her grandmother who first reported her missing. I'm ill on this. Some of this family had to know something was wrong for a long time IMO. All of these girls suffering from this schmuck.
 
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