DETROIT – The man accused of killing a 13-year-old girl who went missing in early 2024 will stand trial on two separate counts of child sexual abuse.

Jarvis Butts faces multiple counts in the death of JE Clark Preparatory Academy student Na’Ziyah Harris who disappeared in January. Although her body was not recovered, police said there was an “overwhelming” amount of evidence that Butts killed Harris.

A preliminary hearing on Friday, Nov. 1, focused on Harris and two other alleged victims. A 13-year-old and a 20-year-old testified in two separate cases of sexual abuse.

The hearing focused on Harris will continue in January. More than 20 witnesses are expected to testify.

Background: ‘Pedophile groomer’ accused in death of 13-year-old Detroit girl last seen in January

Prosecutors said Butts was supposed to surrender to authorities on a gun charge on Jan. 9, the day Na’Ziyah disappeared, but that date was pushed back to February. Harris allegedly met with Butts that day, and the two went to Ypsilanti before returning to Detroit, where Butts stayed at a motel.

Text recordings claim Butts knew Harris was pregnant and began searching online about abortions, abortion pills and red antifreeze drink.

Authorities believe Butts sexually abused Harris in 2022 before killing her in January. Prosecutors said he had a history of targeting and befriending women to get close to their daughters and sexually abuse them.

It is not the only case of sexual abuse in which Butts is involved. He was also charged with allegedly sexually abusing two other young girlsas well as a 2005 sexual assault conviction. Prosecutors called Butts a “serial child rapist” who sexually assaulted an 8-year-old family member and a friend’s 4-year-old daughter, who allegedly contracted chlamydia from the attack. .

He was charged on September 27 as a fourth habitual offender.

Butts and Harris knew each other because he was the father of her cousins. The abuse of Harris allegedly began in 2022, with sexually explicit texts and photos sent to the child.

He was tracked to the Rouge River in Detroit the day after her disappearance, where police would later recover the clothes Harris was last seen wearing. Authorities said there was damage to clothing that could indicate a struggle.

Butts was charged first degree premeditated murder, sexually abusive material on childrenand second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under the age of 13.

He was denied the bond.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Detroit Police Department’s Major Crimes Division at 313-596-2260.

Tips can be made anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-SPEAK-UP or by going to their website.