DETROIT – The man accused of killing a 13-year-old girl who disappeared in early 2024 will be tried for two different cases of sexual abuse involving children.

Jarvis Butts faces multiple felonies in the death of JE Clark Preparatory Academy student Na’Ziyah Harris who disappeared in January. While his body has not been recovered, police said there is an “overwhelming” amount of evidence that Butts murdered 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: ‘Groomer and pedophile’ charged in death of 13-year-old Detroit girl last seen in January

Prosecutors said Butts was supposed to turn himself in to authorities on a weapons 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 reportedly went to Ypsilanti before returning to Detroit, where Butts checked into a motel.

Text records allege Butts knew Harris was pregnant and began searching online about abortions, abortion pills and red antifreeze.

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

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

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

Butts and Harris reportedly knew each other because he was their cousins’ father. Harris’ abuse allegedly began in 2022 with her sending sexually explicit texts and photographs to the boy.

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

Butts has been accused of first degree premeditated murder, child sexual abuse materialand second degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13 years of age.

He was denied bail.

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

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