Missing Na'Ziyah Harris: Suspect's search history, how police found his phone

DETROIT (FOX 2) - The preliminary exam for Jarvis Butts, the man accused of kidnapping and killing 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris, continues Wednesday.

The judge dismissed everyone after wrapping up a recorded interview between the defendant and the police. Closing arguments about whether the case should go to trial will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday. 

Jarvis Butts searched "abortion"

Shannon Jones, the police sergeant that oversaw the investigation into Na'Ziyah Harris's disappearance gave an overarching perspective into how police narrowed down Jarvis Butts as a suspect, including a text message that he would be picking her up from school.

That was the last day she was seen, which helped point police toward Butts, later helping them dig up phones he used and locations he visited around the time she went missing.

They used phone mapping of Butts' phone to canvass the 7 Mile and Berg area, later identifying clothing from Na'Ziyah Harris at the scene. 

Investigators tracked down Butts' phone after listening to a jail call between him and his coworker Cordell Wright, who worked at the same auto shop that the defendant was employed at.

It was later found hidden in a Cadillac that police had impounded. 

Jones also testified that police used a data extraction to find Google searches Butts had made in mid-December. He searched for various ways to administer an abortion, including a herbal tea and drinking red anti-freeze.

More police take the stand after lunch break

The next witness called to the stand Wednesday is Christopher James, an officer with Detroit Police. He's worked with the department for 10 years. 

He answered questions about a data extraction of an Amazon tablet given to him by Detroit Public Schools. An Instagram account associated with Jarvis Butts was found. 

Sergeant Shannon Jones, the officer in charge of the case, took the stand next. She works in the homicide division of Detroit Police, working in the missing persons unit.

Blood testing takes center stage

During a lengthy interview with an expert in body fluid identification, Rionne Greene discussed various forms of blood tests she conducted on articles of clothing worn by both Na'Ziyah Harris and Jarvis Butts.

Greene, who works with the Michigan State Police crime lab, pointed to multiple stains that tested positive for blood on both a black sweatshirt worn by Butts, and a pink bodysuit worn by Harris. 

Several other articles of clothing were also tested, according to a summary shown to the court, but the prosecutor did not ask about them. 

During cross examination from the defense, an attorney did ask about the other tests. Greene testified that no other tests confirmed the presence of blood, including in parts of a vehicle that she received swabs for. 

Two police witnesses testify + medical examiner

Two police officers started testimony for Wednesday's hearing, with brief remarks from Lisa Johnson, who works as a detective with Detroit police's cold case division, and Sarah Markel, who specializes in phone extraction.

Johnson testified that she visited the Parkcrest motel in Harper Woods, which Jarvis Butts reportedly visited on Jan. 9, confirming he checked into a room that night around 9:30 p.m.

He checked out after 12 p.m. the next day. 

Johnson answered questions from the defense, telling them the person working at the motel that night did not recall Butts coming to the room. Others may have seen him, she added.

Markel testified next, explaining the process of extracting phone data from a device. She found multiple accounts associated with Jarvis Butts, including an email and Instagram page. 

The third witness called by the prosecution was Dr. Omar Rayes, who works in a director role at the Wayne County Medical Examiner. He reviewed the medical records of Na'Ziyah Harris, adding that her vaccinations were up to date and "her medical history reveals no life threatening conditions."

The defense objected to the testimony because while Na'Ziyah Harris has not been found, her cause of death remains "unknown," adding it is unconfirmed that she is deceased. 

The preliminary hearing so far

It will be day three of the prelim after two days full of witnesses involved in the investigation, as well as testimony from people who knew both Butts and Harris.

Some witnesses who have testified include Butts' former fiancée, a digital forensic specialist, the person who found Harris' school ID, and Harris' grandmother.

Read a recap of previous testimony here.

What happened to Na'Ziyah Harris?

Harris was last seen getting off a bus in Detroit last January.

Her disappearance led to police searching areas around Southeast Michigan.

While Harris's body was never found, prosecutors charged Butts with murder and rape in September. 

When announcing charges against the 41-year-old, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said evidence shows that Butts, who knew Harris' family members, allegedly groomed the girl starting in 2022. Harris was pregnant when she was killed, and Butts was allegedly the unborn child's father.

Na'Ziyah Harris disappearance timeline

The prosecutor's office provided a rough timeline of the day Harris disappeared.

• Na’Ziyah took the school bus to school.
• She had her hair in two braided puff balls, clear framed glasses, a white sweater with a black jacket over it, a colorful Rugrats puffy jacket, with a fur lined hood, with light blue jeans and Nike shoes.
• There is video of Na’Ziyah getting on the school bus.
• Na’Ziyah used a DPS issued tablet that she used to communicate and communicated with an app.
• She took one last picture of herself on the tablet.
• Using her tablet, she sent a message to a device associated with Butts, indicating that they would be meeting up after she got out of school that day.
• There is video of her getting out of school at the end of the day in the same clothes.
• She meets up with Butts and a co-worker and goes back to their auto repair shop on Connor in Detroit.
• Na’Ziyah is seen by Butts’s sister at the shop.
• Butts, the co-worker, and Na’Ziyah were together in the co-worker’s car when they went to Ypsilanti and then returned to the shop on Connor. Butts’s phone places him at these locations.
• At 9:30 p.m. to 12:20 p.m. Butts checked in to a motel. There is a receipt confirming this as well as his phone placing him at that location.
• Na’Ziyah is never seen again after January 9, 2024.

What is Jarvis Butts charged with?

Butts, of Highland Park, was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and child sexually abusive material for the alleged murder of Harris.

Other charges against Butts

In addition to announcing charges in the Harris case, Worthy has also charged Butts with sexually abusing two other children who were under 13 at the time. Worthy said one of the victims, who is now 20, was allegedly abused between April 2012 and April 14, while the other victim, who is now 11, was abused from July 2015 until July 2017.

He has been charged with five counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for those assaults.

Court records show that Butts also previously served time in prison for sexually assaulting a child in 2004.

"Mr. Butts targeted and befriended women to have sexual relationships with their young daughters," Worthy said. "He was a classic and expert groomer and pedophile."

He was bound over for trial in those two cases last November.

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