Jarvis Butts, the man convicted of murdering 13-year-old Na’Ziyah Harris, submitted a truthful statement regarding the teen’s body, considered crucial evidence, prior to his death, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections.
The Detroit man was found dead in prison Thursday morning. According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, the 43-year-old died by suicide, and Michigan State Police are conducting an investigation on the matter, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
Although the statement has not been made public, prosecutors say it is expected to bring some level of closure to the victim’s family.
“Me, as well as other family members and members of the public, have been waiting for two years now to know where Na’Ziyah is,” said her adult cousin, Roxy, according to CBS News Detroit.
Roxy told the outlet she is still waiting for answers, claiming the only family members who have seen Butts’ statement are those Na’Ziyah lived with around the time she went missing.
In 2024, Butts was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and child sexually abusive activity.
He had just been sentenced on March 12 to serve 35 to 60 years in prison for Na’Ziyah’s death, along with additional time for five sexual assault cases involving minors, all to be served concurrently within the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Butts also faced additional sexual abuse charges involving multiple minors, including girls ages 13, 8, and 7 at the time, as well as a 4-year-old victim. Prosecutors allege he transmitted chlamydia to a 4-year-old victim to his then-girlfriend and sexually abused his own daughter, who was under the age of 10 at the time.
As part of his plea deal, he agreed to provide truthful information about what happened to Na’Ziyah.
Butts, who knew Harris’ family, allegedly groomed the girl in 2022. Authorities say Harris’ pregnancy led to her murder, and Butts is believed to be the father of the unborn child.
The 13-year-old disappeared after getting off a school bus near Cornwall Street and 3 Mile Drive in Detroit in January 2024. Prosecutor Kym Worthy argued that text messages showed Harris met with Butts on the day she vanished.
According to the prosecutor’s office, as reported by Fox 2 News Detroit, Butts conducted online searches related to abortions, abortion pills, and drinking antifreeze prior to Harris’ death.
Worthy also stated that Butts targeted and befriended women in order to gain access to their daughters.
As of now, there are no updates on whether Na’Ziyah’s body has been found, and the investigation remains ongoing.
