One year after the disappearance of 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris of Detroit, a judge has ruled that Jarvis Butts will stand trial for her murder. Facing charges of first-degree premeditated murder, child sexually abusive material, and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13, Butts is being tried even though Harris' body has not yet been found. The charges claim that Butts, who allegedly had a history of sexual abuse with the victim, murdered her after a sustained period of assault, according to Audacy.
In a recent development, Detroit Police Sgt. Shannon Jones testified regarding a series of concerning text message exchanges between Butts and Harris, including a request by Butts for explicit photos of the young girl, as noted by ClickOnDetroit. Notably, Harris conveyed her worries to Butts in one message about a possible pregnancy and her uncertainty about how to proceed. The prosecution alleges that at the time of her disappearance, Harris was pregnant, and Butts was the father. Furthermore, Butts' cell phone records showed his presence in the area of the Rouge River, where Harris' clothing was later discovered.
During the hearing, Judge Aliyah Sabree addressed Butts directly, saying, "You're the monster in this whole picture," and emphasized the need for the community to do more to protect children, particularly young Black girls. "She was ignored. She was neglected, and you took complete advantage of that," Sabree stated in court, as reported by CBS Detroit. The judge’s ruling allows for a jury to decide the outcome of the case, which includes additional accusations related to the suspect's alleged sexual abuse of two other girls in separate cases.
Butts' defense argued that the connections between the alleged evidence and Butts were insufficient to suggest he intended, and caused Na'Ziyah's death. However, Judge Sabree found the body of evidence compelling enough to proceed with a jury trial. Na'Ziyah's cousin Roxy expressed appreciation for the judge holding Butts accountable, including pointing out significant details and his body language. In the lead-up to the trial, cell tower tracking data, and testimony from witnesses who claimed to have seen Butts with Harris on the day she disappeared, have all contributed to the decision to move forward, CBS Detroit reports.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Detroit Police Department’s Major Crimes Division at 313-596-2260. Tips can also be made anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
