Jarvis Butts, Convicted Killer of Na’Ziyah Harris, Dies in Prison Two Weeks After Sentencing

Jarvis Butts, the Detroit man convicted in the murder of 13-year-old Na’Ziyah Harris and multiple sexual assault cases, has died in prison just two weeks after being sentenced, according to officials.

A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections confirmed that Butts was pronounced dead Thursday morning at the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson, Michigan. Corrections staff attempted life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful. Authorities say his death is being investigated as a possible suicide.

Butts had been sentenced on March 12 in Wayne County Third Circuit Court to 35 to 60 years in prison for second-degree murder in connection with Harris’ death. He also received an additional 10 to 15 years for five criminal sexual conduct charges, with all sentences set to run concurrently under a plea agreement.

The sentencing hearing included emotional statements from Na’Ziyah Harris’ family, who continue to seek justice and closure in the case. As part of his plea deal, Butts agreed to provide a truthful statement regarding the location of Harris’ body. While that information was not disclosed publicly during the hearing, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy indicated she was satisfied with his cooperation.

Na’Ziyah Harris was last seen on January 9, 2024, after getting off a school bus near Cornwall and Three Mile Drive in Detroit. Her body has never been found. Prosecutors previously stated that Butts had allegedly been exchanging sexually explicit messages with Harris as early as 2022.

Butts pleaded guilty on February 12 as part of an agreement that resolved six separate cases.

Data from the U.S. Department of Justice shows that in 2024, the most recent year available, there were 132 deaths in Michigan prisons, including six ruled as suicides. Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding Butts’ death.