The case surrounding convicted rapist and child killer Jarvis Butts has taken another turn, just weeks after a courtroom decision brought some closure.
Butts, the Detroit man convicted of killing his 13-year-old niece Na’Ziyah Harris and assaulting multiple young women, has died while in prison, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. Officials confirmed he was pronounced dead Thursday morning at the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson. Staff attempted life-saving measures, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
Authorities say his death is being investigated as a suicide.
Butts had just been sentenced on March 12 after pleading guilty in a deal that covered six separate cases. The court ordered him to serve 35 to 60 years for second-degree murder, along with 10 to 15 years for five criminal sexual conduct charges, all to run concurrently. As part of that agreement, he also agreed to “provide truthful statement regarding the body of Na’Ziyah Harris,” though that information was not shared publicly during sentencing.
The case has left a lasting impact, especially since Na’Ziyah’s body has never been found. She was last seen on January 9, 2024, getting off a school bus in Detroit.
So while the sentencing marked one chapter, this latest development adds another layer to a case that continues to weigh heavily on the community.
