A man has been charged with the murder of a 13-year-old girl he allegedly impregnated.
Jarvis Ramon Butts, 41, was charged Thursday with first-degree murder and second-degree criminal sexual conduct following the Jan. 9 disappearance of Na’Ziyah Harris.
The little girl was last seen getting off a school bus on Detroit’s east side. Her body has not been found.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy revealed Thursday that Butts knew Na’Ziyah because he had children with her aunt.
“He was a classic and expert groomer and pedophile,” Worthy said.
Police allege Butts sent multiple sexually explicit text messages to Na’Ziyah beginning in September 2022.
Na’Ziyah Harris was last seen getting off a school bus on Detroit’s east side. Her body has not been found
Jarvis Ramon Butts, 41, was charged Thursday with first-degree murder and second-degree criminal sexual conduct following the Jan. 9 disappearance of Na’Ziyah Harris.
In September 2023, she allegedly texted Butts to let him know she had missed her period, and in November 2023, “evidence shows Butts knows she is pregnant.”
Worthy said: ‘His phone records show he is searching online for abortions, abortion pills and drinking red antifreeze.’
She accused Butts of targeting and befriending women with the intention of having sexual contact with their young daughters.
As part of the investigation, police reportedly tracked Butts’ movements to Detroit’s Rouge River the day after Na’Ziyah disappeared.
In September 2023, Na’Ziyah allegedly texted Butts to let him know she had missed her period, and in November 2023, “evidence shows Butts knows she is pregnant.”
Police later recovered the clothing Na’Ziyah had last seen in the area.
“We will prove that he killed young Na’Ziyah after finding out she was pregnant with his child at the age of 13,” Worthy said.
In 2005, he was convicted of criminal sexual conduct with a child between the ages of 13 and 15.
Butts is also charged with sexually assaulting two other girls who were under the age of 13 at the time of the alleged abuse.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy held a press conference Thursday in front of a photo of Na’Ziyah in which she revealed Butts knew Na’Ziyah because he had children with her aunt
One of the alleged victims, now 20, was abused between April 2012 and April 2014, Worthy said.
The second victim is now 13 years old. She was allegedly abused between July 2015 and July 2017.
Butts is already in custody and charged with another case.
He will be arraigned on Friday.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about this case, or other potential victims of Butts, to come forward.