The question that has kept Detroit on edge for over two years is heartbreakingly simple: did they find Naziyah Harris body? If you’ve been following the news, you know the name. Na’Ziyah was just 13 years old when she stepped off a school bus at Cornwall and Three Mile Drive on January 9, 2024. She vanished into the cold Detroit air, leaving behind a family in agony and a community demanding answers.
Honestly, the short answer is no. As of early 2026, authorities have not recovered Na’Ziyah’s remains. But that doesn’t mean the case is cold. Far from it. Prosecutors have moved forward with a first-degree murder trial against Jarvis Butts, the man they believe killed her. It’s a "no-body" homicide case, which is notoriously difficult to prosecute, but the mountain of digital and physical evidence is, in the words of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, "overwhelming."
The search at the Rouge River
One of the biggest misconceptions in this case is that nothing was ever found. While her body remains missing, investigators did find something chilling near the Rouge River. Police tracked Jarvis Butts’ phone to an area around 7 Mile and Berg Road the day after Na’Ziyah disappeared.
When U.S. Border Patrol agents and Detroit Police combed that riverbank, they didn't find the girl, but they found her identity. They discovered:
- An inside-out pink jumpsuit.
- A black jacket.
- A red and black Nike shoe.
- Na’Ziyah’s school ID, which a neighbor actually stepped over for two weeks before realizing what it was.
The clothing was described by officers as looking "fresh," meaning it hadn't been sitting in the elements for months. Even more disturbing? There was visible damage to the clothes that suggested a violent struggle. Blood tests later confirmed stains on both a sweatshirt belonging to Butts and the pink jumpsuit worn by Na’Ziyah.
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Who is Jarvis Butts?
You've probably heard him described as a "family friend" or a relative by marriage. In reality, prosecutors have painted a much darker picture. They call him an "expert groomer." Butts, who was 41 at the time of the disappearance, allegedly began targeting Na’Ziyah when she was just 11 or 12 years old.
The digital footprint left behind is stomach-turning. Thousands of text messages were recovered. They weren't just "inappropriate"—they were evidence of systemic sexual abuse. By late 2023, the texts show that Na’Ziyah told Butts she had missed her period. She was pregnant.
Instead of helping her, Butts allegedly began a frantic search for a way out. His Google history from December 2023 revealed searches for:
- Abortions and abortion pills.
- Planned Parenthood locations.
- "Drinking red anti-freeze" as a way to terminate a pregnancy.
Basically, the theory presented by Judge Aliyah Sabree is that Butts tried to perform a "do-it-yourself" abortion that went "south." Rather than getting her medical help, he is accused of killing her and attempting to hide the body so effectively that it hasn't been seen since.
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The "no-body" murder trial of 2026
It is a rare thing to see a murder charge stick without a body. Usually, the defense argues that the person could have simply run away. But in Na’Ziyah’s case, the evidence makes that argument almost impossible to believe.
She hasn't touched her social media. Not once. She hasn't contacted a single friend. She had no history of running away, and her school records were spotless. On the day she vanished, video shows her getting off the bus. Cell tower mapping then places her with Butts at an auto repair shop and a motel. After 9:30 p.m. that night, she was never seen again.
The trial was originally set for late 2025 but was pushed to February 23, 2026. Prosecutors plan to call upwards of 40 witnesses. They’re building a case based on "circumstantial" evidence that feels a lot more like a direct map to a crime. They have the DNA, they have the blood-stained clothes, and they have the motive.
Why the body hasn't been found
Detroit is a big city with plenty of places to hide something if you're determined. The Rouge River area was searched extensively, but as any search and rescue expert will tell you, water and dense brush make recovery incredibly difficult.
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There's also the motel. Investigators know Butts checked in, but what happened inside those walls—and where he went afterward—is still partially shrouded in mystery. The sheer volume of data (over 500 GB of phone extractions) suggests he was moving around quite a bit in those first 36 hours.
What happens next?
If you are looking for ways to support the family or stay updated, the focus is now entirely on the February 2026 trial. The judicial system is trying to provide the closure that a physical recovery hasn't yet offered.
Actionable Steps for the Public:
- Keep the name alive: Share Na’Ziyah’s story. In many cases, bodies are found years later because a new witness comes forward or a piece of evidence is spotted by a hiker or worker.
- Report New Information: If you lived or worked near the 7 Mile and Berg area or the auto shop on Connor in January 2024 and saw anything—even something that seemed small at the time—contact the Detroit Police Homicide Unit.
- Monitor the Trial: The jury selection beginning in February 2026 will be a pivotal moment for Detroit justice.
The fact that they haven't found Naziyah Harris body is a tragedy that continues to haunt the city. However, the legal system is proving that a lack of a body does not mean a lack of accountability. Justice is slow, but in this case, it is moving forward with a grim, determined momentum.
Check local Detroit news outlets like ClickOnDetroit or FOX 2 for live updates once the jury selection begins this February.