The Detroit man who admitted killing 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris is expected to learn his fate at noon today, in Wayne County Third Circuit Court. Jarvis Butts pleaded guilty on Feb. 12 to second-degree murder and multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct in a deal that bundles six separate criminal cases. Under the agreement, he faces 35 to 60 years on the murder charge, with all other prison terms stacked alongside it and served at the same time. The sentencing is scheduled for 12 p.m. before Judge Nicholas Hathaway.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Butts entered guilty pleas in six cases, including the second-degree murder count, under a sentence agreement of 35 to 60 years for the murder and 10 to 15 years on several criminal-sexual-conduct counts, all running concurrently. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office published the plea forms and a docket entry setting sentencing for today at noon, and the office notes that the agreed terms will be served in the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Prosecutors say evidence ties Butts to Harris' disappearance
Investigators were told by a source that Butts admitted he dumped Harris' body in the Rouge River near 7 Mile and Berg, although authorities have never recovered her remains. ClickOnDetroit reported that alleged admission. Search teams previously pulled clothing and a shoe from that stretch of the river, and prosecutors say they used cell-tower data, witness accounts and other evidence to track the girl's movements on Jan. 9, 2024. Prosecutors also told reporters that evidence suggested Harris was pregnant with Butts' child and described the alleged abuse as predatory, according to the AP.
Family presses for closure
For Harris' family, the plea is only a step toward closure. They have made it clear that accountability in court will not feel complete until Na'Ziyah is finally brought home. "I don't think the full relief will get there until we finally have her," her cousin Roxy told CBS Detroit. Relatives pointed to a key part of the agreement that requires Butts to give a truthful statement about where Na'Ziyah can be found, and they say they are clinging to the hope that it will lead to recovery of her remains.
Legal implications
Before the plea deal, Butts was facing a first-degree murder charge that could have meant life in prison without parole. By accepting the agreement, prosecutors secured a second-degree murder conviction with a 35-to-60-year sentence that removes the risk of an outright acquittal at trial. The AP reported on the original charges. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has posted the signed plea forms and court docket entries that spell out the concurrent terms and the March 12 sentencing date.
What to watch at sentencing
The hearing, set for 12 p.m. in the Third Judicial Circuit, is expected to include emotional victim impact statements from Harris' family and friends, along with an opportunity for Butts to address the court before the judge imposes sentence. The Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan, based in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center downtown, provides details on how the public can observe court proceedings. Information on access to courtrooms and dockets is available through the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan.
