Photo: missingkids.org
Disturbing text messages sent by a Michigan man accused of raping and killing Na'Ziyah Harris, a Black teenager who went missing after she became pregnant, have been revealed, per Click On Detroit News.
Jarvis Butts, 41, is facing charges of first-degree premeditated murder, criminal sexual conduct in the second-degree, and child sexually abusive material in connection to the death and disappearance of Harris, 13, who went missing in January 2024. Authorities haven't recovered her body but said there is "overwhelming evidence" that Butts murdered Harris.
Last week, a preliminary hearing was held to decide whether Butts will stand trial for the murder of Harris. Dozens of witnesses testified and text messages between the pair were read in court on Thursday (January 9).
Harris, a student at J. E. Clark Preparatory Academy, was reported missing last January after she failed to return home from school. Text messages reveal that Harris met up with Butts on the day of her disappearance. Butts reportedly checked into a motel later that night.
The suspect shares children with Harris' aunt, according to prosecutors. Butts and Harris started changing sexually explicit text messages in September 2022. Phone records show Butts knew Harris was pregnant and he made online searches about abortions, abortion pills, and drinking red anti-freeze.
During their text exchanges, Butts asked Harris to send him nude photos and perform oral sex.
"Send me some pictures please," Butts texted Harris in June 2023.
"Don’t you still got the other pics," the 13-year-old responded.
"No," Butts said, to which Harris wrote, "I will send some."
Days later Harris asked if Butts was "mad I didn't get naked," according to the text messages.
Other text messages show Harris revealing she was pregnant and having trouble in school due to her "baby." In their final text exchange before her disappearance on January 9, 2024, Harris said: "Don’t forget be there before 3 I will let you know when I’m leaving the school if you not there I will wait."
"Send OK if you see the message so I can delete your number," Butts responded, to which the teen said, "OK."
Read more of the text messages here.
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