Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Murdering 13-Year-Old Na'Ziyah Harris

Jarvis Butts also admitted to sexually assaulting four other minors, including a 4-year-old victim.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A Detroit man named Jarvis Butts has pleaded guilty to the 2024 murder of 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris, who went missing in January of that year. Butts agreed to a sentence between 35 and 60 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge. He also pleaded guilty to five other cases involving the sexual assault of four different minors, with one victim as young as 4 years old.

Why it matters

This case has deeply impacted the Detroit community, as the disappearance and presumed death of Na'Ziyah Harris sparked a widespread search and investigation. The guilty plea from Butts provides some closure, but the family is still seeking answers about the location of Na'Ziyah's body. Additionally, Butts' admission of sexually assaulting multiple minors highlights the need for stronger protections for vulnerable children in the community.

The details

Jarvis Butts agreed to plead guilty to the second-degree murder of Na'Ziyah Harris in exchange for a sentence between 35 and 60 years in prison. One of the conditions of the plea deal is that Butts must provide a truthful statement regarding the location of Na'Ziyah's body. Investigators previously found the clothes and shoes Na'Ziyah was last seen wearing during a search near the Rouge River. In addition to the murder charge, Butts also pleaded guilty to five other cases involving the sexual assault of four different minors, with one victim as young as 4 years old. He agreed to serve 10-15 years for each of those charges concurrently with the sentence in the Na'Ziyah Harris case.

  • Na'Ziyah Harris went missing on January 9, 2024.
  • Jarvis Butts pleaded guilty to the charges on February 12, 2026.
  • Butts' sentencing is scheduled for March 12, 2026.

The players

Jarvis Butts

A Detroit man who pleaded guilty to the murder of 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris and the sexual assault of four other minors, including a 4-year-old.

Na'Ziyah Harris

A 13-year-old girl who went missing in Detroit in January 2024 and was later found to have been murdered by Jarvis Butts.

Roxy

Na'Ziyah Harris's cousin, who spoke to CBS News Detroit about the case and the family's desire to find Na'Ziyah's body.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think the full relief will get there until we finally have her.”

— Roxy, Na'Ziyah Harris's cousin (CBS News Detroit)

“I'm happy that he is finally willing to tell where she is. I'm also happy that the rest of the victims that he has victimized are also getting justice.”

— Roxy, Na'Ziyah Harris's cousin (CBS News Detroit)

“We all want her to be found. Not just me, but as a community, we all want her to be found, and today, we're closer to that.”

— Roxy, Na'Ziyah Harris's cousin (CBS News Detroit)

What’s next

Jarvis Butts' sentencing is scheduled for March 12, 2026, where he will receive a sentence between 35 and 60 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Na'Ziyah Harris. The family is hoping that as part of the plea deal, Butts will provide information about the location of Na'Ziyah's body, which would provide some closure for the community.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the need for stronger protections and support systems for vulnerable children in the Detroit community. While the guilty plea provides some justice, the family and community are still grappling with the loss of Na'Ziyah Harris and the horrific details of her murder and the other sexual assaults committed by Jarvis Butts. Moving forward, there must be a renewed focus on addressing the root causes of such crimes and ensuring that no other families have to endure such unimaginable pain.