Jarvis Butts, murder of a 13-year-old child Nazia HarrisHe was found dead Thursday in his cell at the Charles Eger Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson. Two weeks ago, the 43-year-old was sentenced to 35 to 60 years in prison for the murder of a Detroit teen. He pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge and faced years in prison for sexually assaulting other minors.
Police said prison staff “provided life-saving measures but were unsuccessful” early in the morning. According to reports, Butts’ cause of death was suicide. Prosecutors said Butts admitted to murdering Harris and impregnating her in 2024. That’s when text messages between him and the victim came to light.
Nazia’s body has not yet been found.
Last news before disappearance
One of the most critical pieces of evidence presented in court was the last text message exchange between Butts and 13-year-old Harris on January 9, 2024, the day she disappeared.
January 9, 2024
Harris: Don’t forget to arrive before 3 o’clock. I will let you know when I leave school. If you are not there, I will wait.
Harris: If you see this message, please text OK so I can delete your number
Butt: OK
Authorities believe this was the last communication the two men had before Harris disappeared.
The timeline leading up to the disappearance
Prosecutors told the court Harris met Butts on the same day she disappeared. The two allegedly traveled to Ypsilanti and then returned to Detroit, where Butts checked into a motel.
At the time, Butts was expected to turn himself in on another gun charge, but that date has been postponed.
Investigators then tracked him to the Rouge River area, where they found clothing believed to belong to Harris.
grooming and abuse charges
According to prosecutors, the relationship between Butts and Harris began several years ago. Authorities said he had been grooming and sexually abusing her since 2022.
The court heard Butts knew Harris through family connections and used that familiarity to gain access to her.
Prosecutors said he was a repeat offender who targeted young girls, including other victims between the ages of 4 and 13.
Explicit messages read out in court
During the preliminary hearing, Sergeant Shannon Jones read out a series of text messages exchanged between Butts and Harris dating from 2022.
September 27, 2022
Harris: Come on
HARRIS: Are you okay?
Harris: Where we do it is your choice
Buzz: You tell me
Harris: Basement
HARRIS: Are you sure?
HARRIS: Or work.
Butts: Can you suck my ass?
Butts: And make sure you delete the messages
Harris: That’s what I plan to do
June 5, 2022
Buzz: I’m at your house
Harris: Damn, we were right there.
Harris: You bet you wouldn’t be in my room.
Harris: I need another phone
Harris: I miss you.
Butt: I stole your underwear
June 24, 2023
Buzz: Please send me some pictures
HARRIS: Do you have any other photos?
Butt: none
Harris: I’ll send some
June 27, 2023
Butt: Are you naked?
Harris: No, I don’t want to be naked
Harris: Are you angry that I’m not naked?
Butts: I’m used to you saying “no” to me
Harris: Please, I’m sorry, I’m not in the mood right now, I’m sorry.
Pregnancy news
Text messages from late 2023 show Harris expressing concern about a possible pregnancy, which prosecutors say Butts also knew.
September 26, 2023
HARRIS: Please, are you up? ? ?
Harris:? ? ?
Harris: Yes
Harris: My period never came
HARRIS: Hello? ? ?
butt: you mean
Harris: Not yet.
Butt: since when?
Harris: Since I was hospitalized
Butts: That was last month
Harris: I’m scared, I don’t know what to do, I have to go see a doctor tm
Butts: You said you took a pregnancy test and it came back negative.
Harris: Indeed.
Butts: So go buy another one.
Harris: I can’t, I don’t have the money
Harris: You go buy one.
HARRIS: You’re not afraid to have a backup plan, take a pregnancy test and bring it in later today, like you have to use the restroom
Harris: Please
HARRIS: Would you do that? ? ?
Harris: Hello? ? ? ?
Butt: OK
November 27, 2023
Harris: I just want to talk about how I really don’t want to lose you.
HARRIS: Can we talk about that later? yes or no
Harris: I don’t understand what your question is, but I need you to bring me what I need tonight, it’s hard to go to the gym with this kid, and if I don’t do it, I’m going to get an F.
The case suffered a huge blow
The murder investigation has suffered a major blow as Butts is dead and Harris’ body has still not been found. The preliminary review began in January 2025 and included testimony from dozens of witnesses. Prosecutors relied heavily on digital evidence, including text messages, phone records and search histories.
