Jarvis Butts, the Detroit man convicted of murdering 13-year-old Nazia Harris and multiple sex crimes, died in custody just two weeks after being sentenced, according to officials.A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) confirmed that Potts was pronounced dead on the morning of March 26, 2026, at the Charles Egeler Reception and Orientation Center in Jackson, Michigan. Corrections staff attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. Authorities said the death is being investigated as a possible suicide, and a final cause has not yet been confirmed.Butts was sentenced on March 12, 2026, in Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court after pleading guilty to a case that combined multiple felony charges.
He was sentenced to 35 to 60 years in prison for second-degree murder in connection with Harris’ death, along with additional concurrent sentences of 10 to 15 years for five counts of criminal sexual conduct.The case against Butts has attracted widespread attention due to the circumstances surrounding Nazi Harris’ disappearance. The 13-year-old was last seen on Jan. 9, 2024, after getting off the school bus near Cornwall Avenue and Three Mile Drive in Detroit.
She never returned home, and despite extensive search efforts, her body was never recovered.Prosecutors alleged that Potts had been in contact with Harris long before she disappeared. Investigators said the contact began early in 2022 and included sexually explicit and abusive exchanges. Authorities believe this connection played a role in how he was able to get close to the teen and ultimately harm him, although specific details of the crime have not been publicly released.
Nazia Harris
Along with the murder charge, the case also revealed a broader pattern of alleged predatory behavior. Potts faced five separate counts of criminal sexual conduct involving multiple victims. According to the Public Prosecution, these cases reflect repeated incidents of sexual assault and exploitation against young women. The charges were combined into one plea agreement, resolving six cases in total.As part of that agreement, Butts was required to provide a truthful statement regarding the location of Nazi Harris’ body. Although these details were not shared in public court, Kim Worthy stated that prosecutors were satisfied with the information he provided. It remains unclear whether this information will lead to the recovery of Harris’ remains.The sentencing hearing included emotional statements from Harris’ family, who described the ongoing trauma of her disappearance and the pain of not having her body returned.
The lack of physical closure remained one of the most painful aspects of the case.With Batts now dead and Harris’ body still missing, the case leaves behind unsolved questions. Investigators may now have to rely only on the information he provided before his death, as further clarification from him is no longer possible. The investigation into his death is still ongoing.
