Jarvis Butts, a 43-year-old man convicted of murdering 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris and sexually assaulting minors, has died in prison. He was sentenced to 35 to 50 years in prison for the crimes, which included second-degree murder and multiple counts of sexual assault.
Butts' death is being investigated as a suicide, and his body was found at the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson, Michigan. Despite his confession, Na'Ziyah's body has not been recovered in years, and the investigation has taken a significant hit with his death.
Na'Ziyah was last seen getting off her school bus on January 9, 2024, and her disappearance led to a massive search effort. Investigators focused on cell phone data, which placed Butts near a key search location hours after Na'Ziyah disappeared.
Butts' phone was tracked to various locations, including his shop, a hotel, and a location near the search site. He eventually confessed to dumping Na'Ziyah's body in the Rouge River area, but her remains have not been found.
