Man charged with murder of 13-year-old Detroit girl whose body remains missing

By ED BLANC

Associated Press

DETROIT — A man already incarcerated for sexual assault was charged with murder Thursday in the disappearance of a 13-year-old Detroit girl who has been missing since she left school in January.

“Overwhelming evidence” shows Na’Ziyah Harris is dead, although her remains have yet to be found, prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

Investigators believe Jarvis Butts, 41, killed the girl because she was pregnant with his child, Worthy said.

In March, a law enforcement unit searched for Na’Ziyah in a pond near 14 Mile Road and Gratiot in Clinton Township, where the girl’s family lived before moving to Detroit.

On Thursday, Worthy said his “alleged actions went beyond predation,” she said. “They were vultures: he nursed and preyed on Na’Ziyah with expertise.”

Butts was charged with murder and other crimes. He has been in jail since April, unable to post $250,000 bail in another case. A message seeking comment from his attorney was not immediately returned.

Worthy said a piece of his clothing was found downstream, indicating a possible struggle.

Na’Ziyah knew Butts because he had children with his aunt. Worthy said he began sending sexually explicit messages to the girl in 2022.

On Jan. 9, the day he disappeared, Na’Ziyah used her tablet to tell Butts she would meet him after school, Worthy said.

The prosecutor spoke to reporters in front of a selfie taken by a smiling Na’Ziyah at school the same day.

“It will always be haunting,” Worthy said. “Because it was taken shortly before the evidence showed she was never seen or heard from again.” … She didn’t know she was really saying goodbye.

Originally published: September 26, 2024 at 5:05 p.m.