Jarvis Butts, a 43-year-old Detroit resident, on Thursday pleaded guilty to the murder of 13-year-old Na’Ziyah Harris and multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct in what prosecutors described as a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning several years.
Butts entered his guilty pleas in Wayne County Third Circuit Court as part of a broad plea agreement reached just weeks before his trial was scheduled to begin. The deal covers six separate criminal cases, including the death of Harris — a seventh-grader from Detroit who vanished in January 2024 and has still not been found.
Plea Deal and Sentencing
Under the agreement, Butts pleaded guilty to:
- Second-degree murder — carrying a 35-to-60-year prison term
- Four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct — 10-to-15 years each
- One count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct — 10-to-15 years
All sentences will be served concurrently, meaning the murder sentence — 35 to 60 years — will effectively control. Butts is scheduled to be formally sentenced on March 12, 2026.
Prosecutors said the plea deal also includes a provision requiring Butts to provide truthful information about the location of Harris’ body, though authorities have not confirmed whether that has produced results. Her remains have not been recovered to date.
Details of the Case
Na’Ziyah Harris was last seen on January 9, 2024, getting off her school bus on Detroit’s east side. Her sudden disappearance sparked widespread concern and a months-long search.
Prosecutors allege Butts began an improper sexual relationship with Harris in 2022. Evidence presented during the investigation included text messages, cellphone data and witness testimony. Investigators tracked Butts’ phone to areas where Harris’ clothing was later found near the Rouge River shortly after her disappearance.
Authorities also allege that Harris had become pregnant with Butts’ child before her disappearance. Prosecutors suggested that Butts killed her to conceal the situation — a motive that emerged from evidence gathered during the investigation.
Broader Pattern of Abuse
The plea covers several other disturbing sexual assault cases involving young victims. Charges in these cases stem from allegations that Butts sexually assaulted girls ranging from toddlers to teens over a span of more than a decade.
Family members and community advocates have argued that multiple warning signs were missed prior to Harris’ disappearance. Relatives say they raised concerns with Child Protective Services and police about Butts’ behavior years before the murder — allegations that were not fully investigated at the time.
Family Reaction and Ongoing Pain
While the guilty pleas represent a measure of legal accountability, Harris’ family has said they will continue to press for answers and broader systemic accountability. “It’s a different type of pain knowing something, feeling something, and then having it confirmed,” Harris’ cousin told 7 News Detroit.
Family members have emphasized that true closure will not come until Na’Ziyah’s remains are recovered and those who failed to protect her are held responsible.
