DETROIT (Scripps News Detroit/Court TV) — A multi-day preliminary hearing is underway in the case against a man accused of murdering 13-year-old Na’Ziyah Harris.
Jarvis Butts, 41, is facing charges of murder and sex crimes after prosecutors say he groomed, sexually assaulted and impregnated the teen before killing her. Harris was last seen Jan. 9, 2024.
(L) Na’Ziyah Harris was last seen on Jan. 9, 2024. (NamUS) / (R) Jarvis Butts appears in court Jan. 8, 2025. (Court TV)
MORE | Man charged with impregnating, murdering 13-year-old Na’Ziyah Harris
Multiple witnesses have taken the stand this week, including Harris’ aunt, who was in a dating relationship with Butts and has five children with the defendant.
Shannon Harris testified that after her niece went missing, she found inappropriate Instagram messages between Na’Ziyah and Butts.
On Tuesday, Na’Ziyah’s cousin, who was 8 years old when she disappeared, recalled two separate occasions she said Butts took them and another child to the auto shop where he worked. The child said Butts had sex with Na’Ziyah on both occasions and that he had sex with another girl. She said Butts also tried to have sex with her on the second occasion, but she refused.
Law enforcement personnel have also testified about the search for Na’Ziyah, introducing evidence like her Nike gym shoes that were found discarded with some of her clothing in a wooded area.
This story was originally published on Scripps News Detroit, an E.W. Scripps Company.
