DETROIT (WWJ) -- A Detroit man accused of murdering a missing 13-year-old girl and sexually assaulting two more children has been ordered held without bond.
Jarvis Ramon Butts, 41, was remanded to the Wayne County Jail following his arraignment in 36th District Court on Friday.
In the case of Na'Ziyah Harris — who disappeared after getting off a school bus on January 9 of this year — Butts is charged with First Degree Premeditated Murder, Child Sexually Abusive Activity, and Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree - Person under 13, Defendant 17 or older.
It's allegedly, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, the evidence will show that Butts groomed and raped Harris, and that the child rendezvoused with Butts after getting off that bus on the day of her death.
"We will prove that he killed young Na'Ziyah after he found out she was pregnant at 13 with his child," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy, who said her officer has reviewed more than 100 gigabytes of video, more than 500 GB of phone data and 19 GB of documents in this case.
While Harris body has not been found, it's alleged that Butts was in the Rouge River area in Detroit on January 10, 2024, near where the clothing Harris' clothing was discovered.
Searches of the river have come up empty.
Speaking to reporters, Detroit Police Chief James White addressed the challenge of a murder case without a body.
"What the digital world has brought us is new opportunities to find additional information in the cadence in which people communicate," White said. "And we are talking about 111 gigabytes of information and text messages and dumping phones."
"So, it takes a lot more time," the chief added. "But when you get it right, and you pull all the things together, you become as confident as we are now with this case."
Separately, Butts is charged with the sexual assaults of a now 20-year-old Highland Park woman, who was a child at the time of the alleged abuse from April 2012 to April 2014; and a now 13-year-old Detroit girl, allegedly abused from July 2015 to July 2017.
Chief White expressed relief that a "longtime groomer and pedophile" is off the streets.
"I'm very happy that this predator, this child predator will not be able to hurt anymore children, and frankly any more women," White said. "Because we know that the women were a pathway to the children. Period."
Butts was able to get close to Harris due to his relationship with her aunt, prosecutors said.
It's not yet clear how Butts gained access to the other two young victims, whom were allegedly sexually assaulted by the defendant at homes on LaSalle Blvd. and Stout Street in Detroit.
The prosecutors office said further facts and evidence will be placed on the record at Butts' preliminary examination scheduled for October 10.
In light of the disturbing allegations in this case, Worthy offered a word of warning to all families.
"I have to take this moment to say something to you: We all must, we must be very careful who we let into our hearts and our homes and our lives — especially if you have children, Worthy said. "We must always ask ourselves at the end of each and every day: 'Did I do right by my children?'"
Butts' next court appearances is a Probable Cause Conference set for Oct. 5.
