A Detroit man already charged with murder in the disappearance of 13-year-old Na’Ziyah Harris is now heading toward a jury trial currently scheduled for February 2026, even as the young girl’s body has still not been found.
Prosecutors say 32-year-old Jarvis Butts has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder in connection with Na’Ziyah’s suspected killing, along with a series of related, serious felony counts.
Despite the absence of a recovered body, investigators believe they have enough evidence to move forward with a no-body homicide case, a step they reserve for situations where they are convinced the victim is no longer alive.
Na’Ziyah was just 13 when she disappeared, a middle-schooler whose life, family say, revolved around school, friends and time at home.
Police quickly classified her case as suspicious, and over time their focus narrowed onto Butts, who knew the girl and is now accused of planning and carrying out her killing.
Authorities have not publicly released all of the evidence they say ties him to the crime, citing the upcoming trial.
The first-degree murder charge against Butts alleges that Na’Ziyah’s death was intentional and premeditated, the most serious form of homicide under Michigan law.
The additional “slew of other horrific charges,” as described by those close to the case, are expected to be outlined in full when trial begins, and could significantly increase his potential prison exposure if he is convicted.
For Na’Ziyah’s family, the legal progress is both necessary and excruciating. They continue to live with the agony of not knowing where she is, or what exactly happened in her final moments.
Relatives have repeatedly appealed to the public for any information that could help recover her remains, stressing that they cannot begin to heal without the chance to lay her to rest.
Investigators have conducted searches at multiple locations and followed up on tips, but so far no physical trace of Na’Ziyah has been recovered.
Police have emphasized that the case remains active even as it moves through the courts, and that any new information about her whereabouts could still be crucial to both the criminal process and to giving her family some measure of closure.
As of late 2025, Butts remains in custody awaiting trial. Prosecutors are preparing to present a complex case that will rely heavily on forensic findings.
Digital evidence and witness testimony to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Na’Ziyah is dead and that Butts is responsible, despite the absence of a body.
The February 2026 jury trial is expected to draw close attention in Detroit and beyond, both because of Na’Ziyah’s young age and because no-body homicide prosecutions are still relatively rare.
For her family, however, the focus is simpler and more personal: they want justice for a 13-year-old girl they describe as loving, bright and full of potential — and they want her brought home.
