‘Serial child molester’ charged with murder of Detroit teen heading for trial

DETROIT – The man accused of killing a 13-year-old girl who went missing in early 2024 will stand trial for two separate cases of sexual abuse involving children.

Jarvis Butts faces multiple felony charges in the death of Na’Ziyah Harris, a J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy student who went missing in January. Although her body has not yet been recovered, police said there is an “overwhelming” amount of evidence that Butts killed Harris.

A preliminary hearing on Friday, November 1 focused on Harris and two other alleged victims. A 13-year-old and a 20-year-old testified in two separate cases of sexual abuse.

The hearing focused on Harris will continue in January. More than twenty witnesses are expected.

Background: ‘Groomer, pedophile’ charged in death of 13-year-old Detroit girl last seen in January

Prosecutors said Butts was supposed to turn himself in to authorities on weapons charges on Jan. 9, the day Na’Ziyah went missing, but that date was pushed back to February. Harris reportedly met Butts that day, and the two went to Ypsilanti before returning to Detroit, where Butts checked into a motel.

Text evidence alleges Butts knew Harris was pregnant and began searching online for abortions, abortion pills and drinking red antifreeze.

Authorities believe Butts sexually assaulted Harris since 2022 before killing her in January. Prosecutors said he had a history of targeting and befriending women to get close to their daughters and sexually abuse them.

It is not the only sexual abuse case involving Butts. He has also been charged with sexually assaulting two other young girlsas well as a 2005 sexual assault conviction. Prosecutors called Butts a “serial child molester,” who sexually assaulted an 8-year-old relative and a friend’s 4-year-old daughter, who reportedly contracted chlamydia from the attack.

He was charged on September 27 with habitual fourth offender.

Butts and Harris reportedly knew each other because he was the father of her cousins. Harris’ abuse reportedly began in 2022 when sexually explicit texts and photos were sent to the child.

He was tracked the day after her disappearance to Detroit’s Rouge River, where police would later find the clothing Harris had last worn. Authorities said there was damage to clothing, which could indicate a struggle.

Butts has been charged premeditated murder, child sexual abuse materialAnd second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13 years of age.

He was denied bail.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Detroit Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit at 313-596-2260.

Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-SPEAK-UP or go to their website.