Jarvis Butts Dies in Prison Just Weeks After Sentencing for Murder of 13-Year-Old Na'Ziyah Harris

BREAKING · DETROIT MURDER CASE

Jarvis Butts Dies in Prison
Just 2 Weeks After Sentencing

13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris was murdered and multiple young girls sexually assaulted —
43-year-old Jarvis Butts sentenced to 35-60 years, found dead on March 26, 2026

🕯️ Na'Ziyah Harris Case 🔴 Prison Death ⚖️ 35-60 Year Sentence

Jarvis Butts, 43, was found dead in a Michigan prison on March 26, 2026 — just two weeks after being sentenced for the murder of 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris and the sexual assault of five other girls. Michigan Department of Corrections officials confirmed that Butts died at the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson. Life-saving measures were attempted but unsuccessful. The Michigan State Police are investigating the death as an apparent suicide.

📅 Key Timeline of Events

January 9, 2024

13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris, a student at J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy in Detroit, goes missing after getting off her school bus. Text messages later show she met with Jarvis Butts that day.

February 12, 2026

Jarvis Butts pleads guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Na'Ziyah Harris and to criminal sexual conduct involving five girls aged 4 to 13. As part of the plea deal, he provided the location where he disposed of Harris’s body.

March 12, 2026

Wayne County Circuit Court sentences Butts to 35–60 years for second-degree murder and five concurrent 10–15 year sentences for the sexual assaults. Earliest possible release: September 2059.

March 26, 2026

Just 14 days after sentencing, Butts is found unresponsive at the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center. He is pronounced dead despite immediate medical intervention.

🕯️ The Murder of Na'Ziyah Harris

What Happened to Na'Ziyah

Na'Ziyah Harris was a 13-year-old girl from Detroit who disappeared on January 9, 2024. Prosecutors say Jarvis Butts, a family acquaintance, had been grooming her since 2022. At the time of her death, Harris was pregnant with Butts’ child. Court records show Butts searched online for abortion methods, abortion pills, and even toxic substances like antifreeze.

Harris’s body has never been recovered. Under the plea agreement, Butts disclosed that he dumped her remains in the Rouge River near the intersection of 7 Mile and Berg in Detroit. Search teams previously recovered clothing items believed to belong to her, including a pink jumpsuit, black jacket, and a shoe.

Additional Sexual Assault Charges

In addition to the murder charge, Butts pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting five other girls between the ages of 4 and 13. These incidents occurred prior to Harris’s disappearance. Butts also had a prior conviction for sexually assaulting a child. Several other charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

⚖️ Sentencing Details

Charge	Sentence
Second-Degree Murder (Na'Ziyah Harris)	35–60 years
Criminal Sexual Conduct (5 victims, ages 4–13)	10–15 years each (concurrent)
Earliest Release Date	September 26, 2059
Additional Requirements	Sex offender registration, no contact with victims’ families

🔍 Circumstances of Death in Prison

Butts was being held at the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center, a reception facility for newly sentenced inmates. On the morning of March 26, 2026, prison staff discovered him unresponsive. Immediate life-saving efforts were made but failed. The Michigan State Police have launched an investigation, and the death is currently being treated as an apparent suicide. Official cause of death will be determined by autopsy results.

📋 Key Summary

• Death: March 26, 2026 — just 2 weeks after sentencing at a Michigan prison
• Victim: 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris, missing since January 2024
• Sentence: 35–60 years for second-degree murder + concurrent sentences for 5 sexual assaults
• Background: Butts had a prior child sexual assault conviction and provided body disposal location
• Investigation: Michigan State Police investigating apparent suicide

⚠️ This article is for informational purposes only, based on official court records and public statements from Michigan authorities. The case involves the tragic death of a child and sexual violence. Reader discretion is advised. Please respect the privacy of the victim’s family.