So, this is the case of um Jarvis Buts who um has the victim of Naziah Harris. And I wanted to go back before his trial starts and I have some important dates for y'all. But first, I want to say this is a watch along of public court proceedings with live commentary and audience discussion. The footage is publicly available. Um so, here's your quick timeline. January 9th, 2024, Naziah Harris was last seen and reported missing. September 27th, 2024, Jarvis Buts was officially charged. January 6th through 9th, which is what we are going to be watching, is the preliminary exam or hearing. Um, and then multiple witness will testify. So, we'll be watching this in parts because it's it's kind of long. And of course, the judge will ultimately rule that this should go to trial. And right now, the jury trial date is scheduled for February 23rd, 2026. All right, so let's get started. by Cheryl Quick P83973. Also on behalf of Mr. Buts together with cocon Butler good morning Butler P88126 and Mr. But state your full name loud and clear please. But >> okay you have a seat. Any preliminary matters before we begin the testimony? >> No judge not for the people I do know we have I believe [clears throat] it was requested a mutual order of sequestration last time with an exception for the officer in charge Sergeant Shannon Jones who's sitting in the courtroom. I would ask that that continue today and for the rest of this hearing. >> Okay. Okay. If there's anyone in the courtroom who may testify or as a witness on this case, that means that also if you may testify at trial, if this is bound over to third circuit, you must exit the courtroom. Now, this is being streamed live also. So, if there's anyone on YouTube who is viewing this remotely who may be a witness on this case, you must exit now and not uh watch the testimony that is about to occur. And of course, that's with the exception of the officer in charge. And with that, you can call your next witness. >> Thank you, Judge. At this time, people will call Annette Harris. [clears throat] >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> way out. Mhm. state for the record. Name J R I S right hand. [clears throat] >> Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth? They're nothing but the truth. Yes. Okay. Watch your step walking up the stairs here. Uhhuh. Speak clearly in the mic. You can get up and put in your lap too if you like. >> Okay. Thank you. >> M please. >> Thank you. Could you state your name for the record? [clears throat] >> And Ned Harris. >> And Miss Harris. Um do you know someone or did you know someone by the name of Naziah Harris? >> Yes. >> And who is Naziah to you? >> My granddaughter. Um, are you her legal guardian? >> Yes, I am. >> When did you become her legal guardian? >> Um, I adopted Nziah back in um 2016. >> And that was court or paperwork filed and all that to legally adopt her? >> Yes, it it took a process. Yes. >> Um, and back in January of 2024, did Nazia live with you? >> Yes. I don't want to know the specific address, but what street did you live on? >> Bedford. >> And is that in the city of Detroit, Wayne County? >> Yes, it is. >> Okay. So, because I did not watch this when it first came out, just know I may be even more quieter than normal cuz I'm taking notes, hoping that I um can recall this later as his trial date comes up. So, yeah. So, if I'm quiet, I am taking notes, but I'm here. I'm watching. Um, how long had Nia been living with you at that address on Bad Virgin? >> Oh, wow. Um, basically, I mean, ever since I had her. I mean, >> since 2016. >> Well, we moved to another house. >> Okay. When did you move into the bedroom house? >> Um, let me see. 2019, we moved in that house and then moved in the house that I am now, which is still on. >> Okay. And did Misiah make those moves with you? >> Yes. >> And in January of 2024 at that Bedford location, who else lived there? >> Um, just [clears throat] me, the kids. Um, my other daughter lived with me at the other address. Um, but it was just basically me and and my kids and Shannon. >> And who is Shannon? >> My daughter. >> And what's her last name? >> Harris. and she lived with you and Nziah and the other kids at the Bedford location. >> At the first Bedford location. >> Okay. At that first Bedford location. Um how many other kids in addition to Nziah lived there? >> Um my other two uh my grandson and my other grandchildren. >> Okay. So, how many kids total in that house? >> Um six. Should have been six. And you and Shannon, correct? >> Well, >> living there. >> Shannon, she she was there, but she wasn't really like there all the time. >> Okay. >> She would spend most majority of her time at my house, but actually Shannon had her place out in Clinton Township. >> And when you were there um in January of 24, how old was Nisiah at that time? January um 24 um she had uh 13. She had had a birthday in September. >> And was she going to school? >> Yes, she was. >> What school did she attend? >> Uh J Clark Preparatory Academy. >> And is that also in Detroit? >> Yes, it is. [clears throat] >> Um just generally, can you tell us about your morning routine with the kids specifically as I am about getting them to school and things like that? >> Sure. Um, okay. 6:00 a.m. that's when I get the children up. Um, they usually get up, get dressed, prepare themselves. About 7:15, 7:20. Um, we're basically saying prayer and we're loading up in the car. I'm dropping them off at school at 7:30. Breakfast starts at 7:30. And they like to eat breakfast at school. >> And is that does that include Nia? you would drop her off at JD Clark >> all together. Yes. >> Now, I want to talk about um let me ask it this way. Did you know someone by the name of Jarvis Buts? >> Yes. >> And do you see Mr. Butts in the courtroom today? If you need to stand up and look around. Do >> I have no glasses on? I don't see. >> Do you need glasses, ma'am? >> Yeah, my daughter My daughter has my glasses. >> Okay, Judge, may I take a moment to go get your glasses? >> Yes. Okay, just a quick pause. I got a phone call. So, what did she say? Anything pertinent yet that y'all found uh interesting and you kind of think it should is just stand out or so far? Cuz I I heard him say, you know, just run us through your morning routine with the kids and getting them ready for school and everything. So, let me know if she said anything that stood out so far. [clears throat] >> [snorts] >> May first minister. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> And you could just stand up and take another look around. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Do you see Mr. in the courtroom today. >> Could you point to him and identify a piece of clothing that he's wearing? >> Green uniform with the blue mask. >> For the record, the witness has identified your response to the defendant in this matter. >> So reflected. >> And [clears throat] may I approach the witness again? >> Yes. >> I'm approaching with what's already been admitted as people's nine. [clears throat] >> That's fair, Jacqueline. I was sitting there cuz I was like, "Okay, what they getting their glasses for?" I'm thinking they about to give her some paper to read. And she said she need her glasses to identify him. All right, girl. All right. >> And Miss Harris, do you recognize the person in that photo? >> Yes. >> And who is that person? >> Jarvis Buts. >> And is that the same person you've identified in court here today? >> Yes. >> And Miss Harris, how did you know Mr. butts back in January of 2024. >> All right, bookmarking the fact that they're asking how does she know Jarvis? So, we'll get back there. Um, and Jarvis Butts, cuz everybody knows Naziah's name, but just just in case you're not familiar yet, and we're some of y'all are getting familiar, Jarvis Buts is the one who is suspected of killing Naziah. Um, put my kids up on their Bliss says Shannon didn't live with her. She had her own place. Okay. So, she's already lying is what she's saying because she defin they said who lived with you? She said Shannon. But then when they repeated it, she kind of hesitated when they said, "Okay, so it was you, the six kids, and Shannon." And then she kind of hesitated on repeating that being her answer. But at first, she did say Shannon lived with her. So, was she is she lying? Is she going to double back down on that? >> Um, he's the father of my daughter's children. >> And is that daughter Shannon Harris? >> Yes. Okay. How many kids did they have together? >> Five. >> And would he um come around your house on Bedford in January or the months leading up to January? >> Um whenever he did come, he would always pull up in a um white truck and Shannon would go out to the car and they would sit and talk or whatever, but he would very rarely come in my house. >> Okay. And during that time when he would come around and sit in his car, um, was there any times that he would interact with Naziah >> that you saw? >> Not Not that I remember. No. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, the grandmother's claiming that she never saw him interact with Naziah. Okay. >> Now, I want to talk specifically about January 9th. You had described your morning routine with the kids. Did you follow that routine on January 9th? >> Yes, I did. >> And did that include dropping Niah off at J Clark 7:15 to 7:30? >> Yes. >> And can you tell us what she was wearing on January 9th, 2024? >> Yes. She was wearing a pair of u light powdered blue jeans with a light powdered blue jacket that had um the black uh a little fur around the collar. It was like a two-piece set. >> Okay. And did she have a sweater on or a shirt on or something? >> She had a shirt. She wore a shirt underneath it. >> And you remember did she have any other clothes with her on the 9th when you dropped her off? >> Um she had her um little uh blue um sweatshirt with the little hoodie. She had that with her. And do you know how or when she got that hoodie? >> Uh, I bought that hoodie for her. I guess it was in the fall sometime when I bought it when I first I mean it wasn't nothing new. Just one of her old hoodie jacket she used when she go to gym. >> Okay. And in terms of if you know the condition of that hoodie on the ninth, was it torn, ripped, um, damaged in any way? >> No. No. It was fairly really like kind of like still new cuz she took pretty good care of her things. >> Mhm. >> May I approach her? >> Yes. >> I'm approaching with people's proposed exhibit 12. >> Miss Harris, do you recognize what I just handed you? >> Yes. >> And is that a picture of Naziah? >> Yes. >> And do you know when that picture was taken? >> The same day, January the 9th, she took this picture. >> Oh. Move to admit people's proposed 12. Any objection? >> No objection. >> It'll be admitted as people's exhibit 12. >> And when you dropped Missiah off at J Clark, um what was the routine supposed to be after um after school is over? >> Okay. Well, um when school is over, the bell rings at 2:40. Um Naziah um was due um to come home. Um and normally when the bell ring 240 2:45, she's getting on the bus. >> And was that that's what she normally did on other days? >> Mhm. >> Is that a yes? >> Yes. I'm sorry. >> And what time would she normally arrive back at home? Um Josiah would be walking in through the door um maybe 3 3:05, no later than that. >> And on January 9th um did she walk in at 3:05? >> No, she did not. >> And were you home when she didn't come home? >> Um I was there for a little while, but I I I left out to run some errands. Um >> I want her to be specific right here. What do you mean you were there for a little while? This is the time we need times. Were you there between her for her normal time that she would be dropped off by the bus? I'm not saying she's not going to answer that. I haven't seen this. But I'm saying specifically, I'm pretty sure we want to know what time were you home. What time were you away and what time were you home? But just a while. And I know people don't actually look at the clocks if you don't expect anything bad to be happening and stuff like that. But if you know between 3 o'clock and 3:05 she was supposed to be home, you at least know if you were there for that time frame for her to be home or not. So that's what they're asking you. So I hope she answers more specifically. Um but no, when I got to the house, she was not there. >> And at that time um did you have a conversation with someone else about her not coming home? Zia not coming home? >> Yeah. Um when I got when I picked my children up from um the after school program, I went in and my daughter said >> objection to what a daughter said. >> I'll rephrase the question. >> Okay. So >> um just talking about what you saw and heard um and not asking for what anybody said, but did you talk to Shannon, your daughter? >> Shannon Shannon said she was not there. >> Okay. When you got home that day on the 9th, did was Niah there? >> No. >> And did you eventually make the police report about her missing? >> Yes, I did. Yes, sir. >> And when did you do that? >> Um uh that morning when I got to >> I'm sorry, that morning. She She hadn't been home since 300 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. her normal time. and she said she she reported her missing that morning >> to school. Uh I went up and dropped the kids off the school. Uh I talked with the uh dean uh in the >> She's 13 though. I would be losing my mind if you're not home at night cuz that's when I'm worried the most things are happening to somebody is at night. You drop the other H. Okay. >> Principal and um I told them that I was on my way um to the police station and they told me that they would call the police and the police DPS police came there. >> Um and you said DPS. Is that Detroit public schools? >> Yeah. >> And did you talk to an officer um at that time at the school? >> Yes, I did. >> And was that at J Clark physically at that location? >> Yes. >> And you said that morning. I mean, are you talking about the morning of the 10th? >> Yes. >> Was Naziah um active on social media, if you know? >> Well, as far as I know, she was. Um >> uh no, I think this is prosecution questioning. She doesn't have a lawyer because this is pre-trial. She's not the one on trial. Um this is um Yeah. So, she wouldn't need a lawyer. She's just a witness. But this is I believe prosecution that's doing their questioning first and then I think defense will get their chance. >> Um I mean there were times that she was sneaking go on it you know but yeah she was >> okay. And did you keep track of her social media pages like Tik Tok or Facebook or anything like that? Um, I tried, um, a lot of times, um, you know, I would take her phone and stuff from her, you know, so, you know, to keep her from being on there, you know. >> And after the 9th, um, did you ever see any posts made by Nisiah? >> I had seen any posts. Um most of the time um you know if there was a post or something or she posts my daughter or someone would call me and tell me. >> Oh. >> Um have you ever heard after the 9th ever heard any communication or seen as >> when is that a no? >> No. >> And when you dropped her off on the 9th at school at J Clark was the last was that the last time you saw her? >> Yes. May I have one moment? >> Yes. Um, just to follow up, I I did forget to ask this. Her bus stop, how far from your house was that in walking distance? >> 5 minutes. >> Do you know where the location that she got dropped off at was the the address or the intersection? >> Uh, right there at uh if again 300 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. 5 minutes from the bus stop. Why aren't why weren't why was 911 not called the day she was missing when she wasn't sleeping in her bed at night like a normal 13-year-old would be that has a normal routine and the adults responsible for her don't know where she is. Why was 911 not contacted then? And then the the next day you're like I'm telling the school and I'm dropping the other kids off. Where where is 911 in this? as it began to get dark, I would have been I would have I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF MY MIND. I'd have been out of my mind. There's no way it's getting dark. My child, cuz she's the legal guardian of her granddaughter, my grandchild is not home at her normal time. And then the the the the nighttime's creeping up on us and I still don't know where she is. I haven't heard anything. No, there's no way I could be acting like this. I'm worried. My my little baby, my little puppy, I call her a puppy, but she was a grown grown dog. She lived her full lifespan, 18 years. Let my dog be missing for 30 to 60 seconds more than she's normally outside or doing her thing. I'm I'm tearing up the yard like I'm looking like and that's my dog. My granddaughter is 17 and her daddy got attracted. So, you know what should be doing on this one? Wait, what? I don't know what you mean, Mary. I'm sorry. Maybe police got all that from her. Here, let me calm down. No, but seriously, um I guess they're pointing out the fact that if she already didn't check the afternoon and wait till the morning of, I guess we don't need to know the time. But I would love to know some tighter timelines just just for me. But wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Just Oh my gosh. At least call the school in the daytime, Miss Queen Liz. I like if it's reasonable if you contact the school in the daytime. For sure I'm with you. And I'm sure that's what you're talking about, too. And then when that when you don't see her, it's 911 time. Oh, I was overreacting. We found her. Great. Otherwise if my child is missing. >> Three mall Drive and Cornwall. >> And that's 5 minutes from your house. >> Yeah. >> And did Nia have any nicknames that people called her? um where her family called her um tutter, but I've always called her glamorous. I've been calling her that ever since she was born. >> Say glamour. >> Glamorous. >> Oh, we have one more objection. >> Yes. >> You said taup >> ta. >> Mhm. very >> good morning. >> Good morning. >> So, is it a a general suspicion at this time? I'm playing catchup. I don't I don't watch all the external interviews cuz I follow a lot of different legal stuff. So, is it like kind of generally suspected that she is also kind of responsible and she I saw you put earlier she possibly helped move Naziah's body and stuff like that. Does do do a lot of people suspect the grandmother and not just the negligence part but active concealment or like obstruction type stuff part of the crime type stuff? >> Now, you are Desire's maternal grandmother, correct? Correct. >> You're also her adopted parent, correct? >> Correct. >> And you said you adopted her in 2016. >> Yeah. Should have been Yeah. 16. >> Okay. Did her birth mother are still around? >> She is. >> Okay. Does she have a relationship with her? >> No. >> She doesn't have any type of relationship, no contact with her that you know of? >> Well, let me say this. I don't deal with my daughter. So, she really didn't have really no contact with Naziah like that. She only came around now and then. And this is this would be the other daughter, right? Not Shannon. This would be whoever Naziah's biological mom is. That daughter she doesn't have contact with. Is that what he that is that what she's talking about? >> And you testified that you currently stay on Bedford Street. >> Yes. Yes. And in fact, I think you justified you lived on two houses on Bethford Street, >> correct? >> Right. Um, and did not does Zia have friends on Bedford Street that you were aware of? >> She had friends, but um her friends didn't live on Bedford. >> Okay. Do you know if she ever had any friends over? >> No. >> Did she ever spend the night of any of these friends houses? >> No. >> Okay. And at your prior neighborhood, is she have friends that she may have spent the night over? >> No. >> Okay. >> You indicated that there are approximately six children in the house. >> Well, um not now. Um when he asked me about the address, >> yes, >> I lived at two houses that which is on the same street of Beford. >> Okay. >> Okay. So the house that we lived in before um it was my children and my daughter's children. >> Your um daughter being Shannon? >> No, Marquita. >> Marquita. >> Okay. >> And did Nia have a any close relationship with any of these children particularly? Um she was she was close with um u my granddaughter, one of my granddaughters. Yeah. >> Which granddaughter is that? >> Um Messiah. I mean um Janiah. >> Okay. >> All of their names are similar. And Janiah is the is Shannon's daughter. >> Yes, >> that would be and that would be Jarvis's daughter as well. Correct. >> Correct. >> And at your street address, how many adults lived there? >> Uh, just me and Shannon. >> Okay. When did Shannon move in? >> I'm sorry. >> When did Shannon move in to Bedford? [sighs] >> I guess uh back in um October, last October or something. >> That would be October of 23. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, in January of 24, she was there. Correct. Mhm. >> Sorry. Is that a yes? >> Yes. Uh yes. And you indicated that Desire participated in social media. >> She did. She did participate in social media. She was on social media a lot of times when she weren't supposed to be. >> Okay. So, did you see her post or did you follow her post? >> I didn't see her really posting anything. I mean at times when I did check I didn't there I didn't find anything. >> Okay. >> And most of the time if she did post something my daughter's name would you know let me know you know if she posted something. But >> so you don't know who her social media friends were. The only person that I know that um was one of her classmates um that um she would post little things with one of her little classmates. >> Okay. But there but it's fair to say there are some things you did not know. >> Yeah. Well, [snorts] some Yeah. Mhm. So, um, the person questioning the grandmother right now, I believe, is Jarvis But's defense attorney. So, it went from prosecution to his defense attorney. If I'm following correctly, I'm trying to follow the chat, take my notes, listen to her, and just [clears throat] um, pick up on some things. Um, one thing I will say is normal to me is that a grandmother would not be following social media as closely as if her mom had have been in her life, like because the generations are closer and stuff like that. I'm not saying all grandmothers don't know social media like that, but they don't [clears throat] lean towards it. They don't lean in on it. Um, in general, especially like the type of platforms that a 13-year-old would be using. That's the only thing right now so far that has sounded normal to me. Just so y'all know her. This waiting till the next morning to tell the school you don't know where Nazisa is is crazy to me. That's crazy to me. Where was your 911? Mm- >> Now, you indicated that you drove to school every day, correct? >> Correct. >> Um, who else went to school in Zia? >> Um, my other two children. Um, Shannon's children. >> Okay. And what type of student was Naziah? >> Nazisiah was a very good student. >> Very manable, very outgoing. She got good grades. Her attendance was good. Um, the teachers had no problem with her. They really liked Naziah. Naziah got along with just about anybody. >> She was very likable. >> Did she have any disciplinary problems? >> No. >> Do you recall her ever getting into a fight? She did >> one fight, more than one fight. >> There was a young lady that she had um couple of, you know, consultations with um in school um and it was like an ongoing thing situation. >> Okay. And when did this first start? H um I'm not quite sure when it started, but it was like off and on, you know, with this particular uh schoolmate that she had. >> And this is for her current school, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. Have a desire to participate in any extra any extracurricular activities. Was she on band or anything? >> Um, she liked it. Um, gym, robotics, um, art. I mean, she liked a lot of things that she was, you know, involved in, you know. >> And would any of these things cause her to have stayed after school? Um, the only time she stayed after school is when she wanted to be enrolled in the after school program. [clears throat] >> This one I just want to step back a moment. We asked you about your um her social media. >> Um you said there were some things that you weren't aware of on social media. Correct. Um did you ever check her direct messages? >> Um like I said, I did, but when I did, I there was nothing on there. >> There was nothing? >> No. >> Okay. Um, did you monitor any of her conversations? >> Uh, yeah. I would, you know, go check, you know. >> Okay. >> But a lot of, like I said, a lot of times, you know, um, I took Naziah's tablet, you know, from her, um, at one point, you know. So, there was really nothing that I knew of that she was on unless she got somebody's cell phone or something, you know. >> Okay. So, you did mention that she had a tablet. How many devices did she have that allowed her to connect to social media? >> She only had that one tablet that I had bought her. >> I'm just curious because the fact that this is his defense attorney and I haven't seen this. I'm curious where he's going with this about if she had a phone, tablet, and all that stuff. Like, what is he trying to lead this into that would help his client? Um, Sorry. Okay. Just I think we're all familiar, but just in case someone's just coming in cuz it looks interesting, Jarvis Buts was basically like a uh he was her aunt's boyfriend. He has a horrible history with minors. He got Naziah pregnant. He was googling ways to get rid of a pregnancy without going to a doctor, basically. Um he groomed her. Um she thought she was in love with him. He obviously her evidence of what he did with her would be uh would be it would be obvious because if a baby came out of it and then of course there's a DNA test for who got this 13-year-old pregnant, you know. So they actually only found belongings of Nazia. I don't believe they ever actually found her remains to this day. You can update me if I'm off on that part, but they so highly suspect because of his searches, because of his history, because of um the messages that they will reveal that they found that they suspect enough that it could go to trial that he is the one that killed her. And apparently, I don't know what's going on with his grandmother. I just want to say I don't know what's going with this grandmother and not reporting your grand your grandchild missing the night that you don't see her when you expect her to be at home between 3 and 3:05 p.m. Also, um I try not to be too much of a looks based person, but Naziah's aunt, the one that was the girlfriend of Jarvis, Jarvis was targeting, I think, women that would would be willing to look past questionable actions of his and and and the kids are vulnerable to him because of the at least at least the aunt. I don't know for sure the other types that he was targeting, but the aunt, I feel like he did that for access to children. And like I said, I took that tablet and put that tablet up. [cough] So on January 9th, you took her to school, correct? >> Correct. >> And you said it was her and two of your other children that went. my two other children and uh my daughter's children. I dropped them all off. >> And you said that you noticed that she did not come home at her normal time. >> Correct. >> All right. You did not call the police then, correct? >> Um no. Um driving around looking for her. Um my [clears throat] daughter um reached out to some of her classmates. Um I did um nothing. And that morning I got up and like I said I went straight to the school and from there I was on my way to police station to make the report and um they called the uh police from there. DPS police came to the school. >> So the first report you made to police was the next morning. >> Yes. >> Do you know approximately what time? >> Um I got Well, school starts at 7:30. So I got there at 7:30. They got there about I don't know maybe uh 8. >> So you didn't go to the precinct. You went to the school and the school called the police. >> Yes. They called the police cuz I was running ready to leave and um the dean said no stay here. She said and we'll we'll call the police. >> Of course they they will at that point. They're mandatory reporters. You waste every minute is a waste. let alone every hour and you go to the school to wait for them to first of all just to talk to them. You still weren't really reporting anything yet. How do you let that much time go by? How do you sleep to wake up in the morning and be like, "Okay, well, let me go ahead see You you've mentioned that you are familiar with Mr. Butts. Correct. >> I know uh Mr. Butts. >> Okay. And he dated your daughter Shannon. Correct. >> Correct. >> They they did have five children. Correct. >> Correct. >> And the children did all the children stay with you and Shannon? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Now without >> I want to know why she's already defensive. He didn't even ask anything. And if anything, he's probably not going to make her too defensive on that side because, you know, he's Jarvis's lawyer. Why was she about to say, "Yeah, but like what what was the yeah, but to of did all five children stay with you?" What were you about to say? Because why are you defensive about that question? And she never can quite answer how many kids were at the house. She She stuttered over that a few times. >> I don't want to give too much detail on the kids. What were the mix boys and girls? >> Can you repeat that? >> What were the mix of the kids? Boys and girls. >> Well, um I have a boy and girl and you know Shannon has her three boys and her two girls. >> So she had three boys and the two girls. Okay. And at any time now I think you did indicate that Mr. Butts would come over and [snorts] you I think you said he would rarely come in. Correct. >> Mhm. >> But he would come in on occasion. Correct. >> Not really on occasions because most of the time when he came in he would pull up in my driveway and my daughter would go out to to you know to the truck or and a lot of times the kids would go out to the truck. So it was very rare, very rare if he ever came in my house. >> Okay. [snorts] >> And you indicated that you were close, I'm sorry, you were close with Nia. >> Yes. >> Would you Can you think of any reason that Nia would not share information with you? >> No. Um Nia would come to me and talk to me all the time. Okay. if if something was bothering her or if she had a bad day in school, you know, she'll come to me and we'll sit and talk about it. You know, I always kept the door open for communication with Nazis and with really all of my children. So, she always felt free, you know, uh to come to me and sit down and talk to me about whatever. >> So, if something was frustrating as she would come with you, >> she would that I know of. Yes. >> All right. If something was scaring Niah, she would come to you. If something was bothering her or she was frustrated about something, she'll come to you, come to me and say, "Hey, man. Can I talk to you?" >> If there was any medical condition, she would come to you regarding that. >> I believe she would. Yes. >> You you take her to the hospital, take her to the doctor. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Now, obviously, I understand why he asked that question because again, um the text messages are going to show she was saying she was pregnant. Just a moment. >> Mhm. >> Can you redirect? >> Miss Harris, I just have a couple more questions for you. >> Um, when Mr. Reggins was asked you questions, you said that Mr. butts would come and sit in his car, right? Outside your house. >> Yes. >> And he said that the kids would go and out to the car. >> Yes. >> Which kids would go out to the car? >> His kids. >> Would Naziah ever go with his kids out to the car? >> If Shannon was out there, she would. >> Oh. And Mr. Ring also asked you about the tablet that you bought with Messiah. Remember those questions? >> Yes. And when, if you can remember, narrow that down. When did you buy that tablet for her? [sighs] >> I bought that tablet for her one Christmas. Um, I think it was the Chris I think it was in 22 when I bought that tablet. At the end of 22 when I bought that tablet for her. >> So, December of 22. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, uh, put my kicks up says, "Now, I thought Naziah's brother left. He didn't live there. That's why she's confused about how many kids, right?" Because first, she kept saying it was six kids. It was Naziah and Shannon's five kids. I thought I had missed something cuz I'm like, "Well, where bonus kid number seven come from when you said, "Well, I had a boy and a He was like, "What's the mix of kids that you had?" And she was like, "I had the boy and the girl and then the five were uh Shannon's kids." So, I'm like, "That's seven." I'm sitting here. I thought I was missing something. So, I'm glad you said that. >> I think that when I bought that tablet, >> so she would have had that tablet for roughly just over a year then. Correct. >> Correct. Mhm. >> Um, and did Nia also have access to a cell phone? >> The only cell phone she had access to was uh one of the cell phones when my oldest daughter came to visit me um she gave to Nazire, but um she could only use it by Wi-Fi. You said your oldest. >> Oh lord. Wi-Fi is all you need. It's grown people walking around that don't even have a phone line anymore connected to their phone. She said she can only use it by Wi-Fi. I promise you the kids don't care that there's no line attached. Wi-Fi is the thing. You can call, you can do whatever you want to with Wi-Fi. That's that's full access. She only had access through Wi-Fi. >> Daughter. Is that Isaiah's mother? Yes. >> Okay. And through what's your what's your oldest daughter's name? >> Kinyatta Harris. >> Through Kinetta Harris, Nia got access to a poem. >> Mhm. >> Is that a Yes. >> Yes. [snorts] [snorts] Mr. Reagan's also asked you about um Nazis staying after school. You said that there was an after school program she was involved in. >> Yes. >> On January 9th and in January of 24. Was she still involved in that program? >> No, I took her out of it because uh she was having uh problems with one of her schoolmates at that time. The same person that he asked me about before that she didn't get along with. >> The same person Mr. Rigs asked her. >> Absolutely. And so on the 9th, she was not supposed to stay after school for >> No, she No, she was supposed to come straight home. >> Okay. So why didn't you contact the authorities when she was off schedule? How did you wait till the next morning to tell the school and still not the actual authorities? And when she didn't come home, you said that you were um driving around looking for her, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Can you tell us a little bit more about what efforts you made on the night to locate her? >> When I went to the to the um school to go pick my son and daughter up because they were also in the after school program. Picked them up, went back to the house. Um, I thought she was there and when I got to the house and I found out that she wasn't there, I got back in the car and I went back up to the school and by that time nobody was there. Nobody was at the school. So now I mean I'm kind of like I'm I'm frustrated now. I'm going like, you know, because she whenever she wants to stay after school or do something, she would always call me. Well, hey Nana, can I stay out of school? Well, she would call one of her TTs. Hey TT, can I stay after school? So that wasn't wouldn't like her. So I'm really frustrated now. So now I go back to the house and I'm talking to my daughter Shannon. >> Frustrated but not worried apparently. >> I want to stop you right there cuz I don't want to go into what anybody else said. >> Okay. >> Um but you went back to the school. Nobody was at the school. You went back to the house. Mia is still not there. Correct. >> Correct. >> Did you go back out looking for her after that? I did. >> Okay. Where did you go with her? >> I was driving around in the neighborhood everywhere. Just I'm just looking just like hoping I'll see her, you know. >> Okay. And I I'm not there yet. One day, possibly a future law student here, but I'm not there yet. But I do want to say this on the phone triangulation and all that. It's not We don't know if they did or didn't do that with her phone. as us that's watching this in real time and didn't watch this ahead of time. Most of that evidence may be presented at actual trial. This is to justify having a trial to try to prosecute Jarvis Butts. So, we don't know for sure what they did or didn't do. So, that's the only reason I'm saying that. Unless you've already looked ahead, Miss Queen Liz, we don't know that they didn't do that and what timeline they did it at once they realized she was missing. So, we kind of have to wait on that stuff. just we have no idea the efforts of the investigation yet um from from our standpoint. >> Yes. Um in on the 9th when you were looking for her. Well, let me ask [snorts] it this way. Did you notice Desiah to go to Mr. Buts's place of work to assist him with anything there? >> Uh, yes. There was a couple of times that um she went with his daughter and they went up there to go um clean up at his shop. >> And how would they get there if you remember? >> Um he would come and pick them up. >> And was that in that white truck that you talked about? >> Yes. Mhm. And um did you know you yourself know where Mr. Butts worked at? >> Uh yes. >> Okay. Do you know where is that? >> Uh it was uh Frank's um shop located on um Warren East War. >> And is that the last place that you knew him to work or did you know him to work somewhere else? >> Um I knew him to work there and then um he the shop moved to a different location. Did you know where that new location was? >> Um, personally, no. >> Okay. And did you ever on the 9th, did you ever try and go to Mr. Buds's place of work to look for Nazis? >> On the 9th? No. >> Did you go on the 10th? Cuz I mean, you got to be real specific with her. Uh-uh. Did you go on any date to his shop to look for Naziah? Not just the ninth. I need her to be ask her cuz I don't trust how she answering these questions. And he did own a um some kind of car repair shop or whatever. So when they say shop, that's what they're talking about. >> Nothing further. Thank you. >> We're done testifying. Watch your step. >> Okay. Now, yes. Now, why cows? I'm with you on they probably would have said wait 24 hours, but I'm just saying she didn't initiate a 911 call, which is weird to me. You don't pre-weight the 24 hours. You you start that clock as the person that's worried about your child missing. In my opinion, it is weird that she didn't even contact them till the next day. They they may say, "Hey, we don't do a actual search until then." But then what are Amber alerts for and everything else when it comes to kids? I feel I don't know if they changed some things. I don't know when certain things apply, but for her, she should have been picking up that phone or driving straight to that station and reporting that child missing when she realized out of the routine. I don't know where the I don't know where Naziah is. >> Okay. >> [clears throat] >> All right, I'll start trying to skip ahead to see when they call the next witness and when they get on the stand. So, all right, here we go. >> Judges 15 and 16 uh pursuant to M 8036. They are certified records uh of text messages. Uh, exhibit 15 is messages from September 24th, 2022 through November 7th of 2022. And exhibit 16 uh is messages from March 4th, 2023 through January 9th of 2024. >> Any objection? >> No objection for exam purposes. Um, pending um analysis under 403 assuming that they're only >> Okay, it'll be a minute. That's people live at 15 and 16. You said >> yes. >> Okay. I just heard her mention the text messages. So, we may get to see it on this day. We're on uh January 6th, 2025 when this uh was first streamed. Um and it went the 6th through the 9th. And at this time, people would call Shannon Harris. First step right here. Raise your right hand. >> Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes. Watch your step, please. Have a seat. >> You want to speak into this mic? You also pick it up and hold in your laptop. Everybody. >> Thank you, Judge. Good morning. Could you please uh state your name for the record? >> Shannon Harris. >> And Miss Harris, how old are you? >> 31. >> And um back on January uh or in January 2024, um where did you live? >> Um with uh my mom resides with my mother. >> With your mother. Okay. Who's your mom? Annette Harris. >> Okay, we're back to them saying so Shannon saying she did live with Annette Harris who we just saw on the stand and Annette kind of wavered back and forth. If Shannon did or did not live with them and now it's now I'm thinking that Annette waver back and forth because if Shannon resided with Annette, it is more than likely Jarvis would actually come into the house. And I'm pretty sure um I feel like there was some things that happened in a basement or something. I don't know where I'm we were reading all the articles keeping up with it that way. Um we'll see if any of if they talk about that in any of these trial pre-trial dates. But yeah, cuz there's no way the kids and her only go outside to see him and he never came in the house. Like that just doesn't seem practical unless they had like I mean at that point they probably have to meet up at a McDonald's to exchange the kids if it was that bad and I don't I don't believe that's what was happening. >> And without telling me the exact address, what street did you live on? >> That's right. [snorts] >> And um do you have any children? >> Yes. >> How many kids do you have? >> Five. >> And do all your kids have the same dad? >> Yes. >> Who's their dad? >> Jervis Buts. And do you see um Jarvis spots in the courtroom today? >> Yes. >> And can you point to him and tell me a color of the clothing that he's wearing? >> Green. Well, whatever. >> Green. >> Green. Your honor, would the record of the witnesses identify the defendant in this case? >> So reflected. >> Thank you, Judge. And you said your mom's name is in that. Do you have any sisters? >> Yes, two. >> What are their names? >> Kinetta Harris and Marquita Harris. Are they older, younger, or something else? >> Oh, they're uh Marquita is a twin. She's my twin. Same age. >> Okay. And Kat is older? >> Yes. >> Okay. Do you have any nieces or nephews? >> Yes. >> Okay. [snorts] >> Um, do you know someone named Nia Harris? >> Yes. >> What's your relationship to her? >> My relationship to her, uh, she is my niece. I'm her aunt. >> Okay. And whose daughter is she? My oldest sister is Kenyatta Harris. >> Okay. And did you have any nicknames for Nia? >> Yes. Uh we all call her T. >> And is that T u D E A? >> Yes. [snorts] >> And um did Desiah ever know Jarvis through you? >> Uh yes. >> Okay. And when did Naziah and Jarvis first meet? Well, when and she was a little like age two. [snorts] >> Um, and can you kind of describe the relationship between Desiah and Darvis? >> Um, she'll be just the uncle and the niece relationship. No more than that. >> How often would Jarvis be around um like at your house with you? um he will call or and say can he come see the kids or the kids will ask can he see their dad and he will come pull up either to my house where I used to live or at my mother's house. >> Okay. Um would Nia ever be around? >> Uh all the kids would be around. >> Okay. >> So yes. Yes. Because obviously this is about Nazia. So the answer is yes. Um to your knowledge would does I ever text Jarvis? >> Um from my knowledge um no unless I will have her to text. [snorts] >> Okay. But to your knowledge you didn't know of any kind of separate outside relationship? >> No. >> Okay. >> Um would there ever be times where um did you where did you know uh Jarvis Watts to work? Pardon? >> Where did you know Jarvis Bots to work? >> Where did I know him to work at? >> Yes. >> Uh, he worked at two different locations. The first location will be on East Warren and the other location would be on Grassford and Connor. >> And what were those locations? >> Um, those are the auto repair shop. >> Okay. Um, would you ever know desire to help Jarvis at his shop? >> Uh, yes. He will uh call me and say, "Hey, if I can get our daughter and Naziah to come and work up at the shop." All right, here we go. So, he would ask for one of his kids at least and Desiah cuz he she said our daughter. She didn't say the kids and the Ziah. Okay. So, this is cuz um as we'll see from the articles I read, there will be people testifying that they had seen Nziah at his shop before with him. >> And I would say, let me ask my mom first of regarding Naziah. >> Okay. And [snorts] uh which daughter of yours would that be? >> My that would be my oldest, Janiah. >> Okay. Um would you ever know Desiah to go to Jarvis's shop alone? >> No. whose birthday um is honor around September 26th? >> Um that's my oldest I'm sorry, my fourth oldest birthday. [clears throat] >> Okay. Um do you recall a birthday party on September 26th of 2022? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um and was Jarvis there? >> No. >> Okay. Okay. And that would have been his son's birthday party. >> Yes. >> Were there ever times that you would text Jarvis off of a text now number? >> The only time I would text Jarvis off a text now number is if my phone is off. Other than that, no. >> So, the answer is yes. She says, "Were there times you would text them on a text now?" So, yes, there were times cuz other than that, of course, there's a no. But you did. See, this is where I just feel like people are trying to avoid the just in case they they don't want to answer wrong because the answer is yes, there were times you did text him on the text now. >> And do you recall um the numbers that you would text Jarvis from? >> Uh yes. >> Okay. And would does a 586-510-5161 sound familiar? >> Yes. >> And how does it what's it what number is that? >> That used to be my old number. >> And is that number that you would text Jarvis from? >> Yes. >> Okay. And what about a 5868424504? >> That was the number before this number. >> Before the 510 number. >> Correct. >> Okay. And is that a number you would also touch Jarvis from? >> Correct. >> And [snorts] what number did you have for Jarvis box? >> Uh the 313 5858719. >> And did you have any numbers for Nisiah? >> It was a funny looking area code. The area code was a 231. >> Okay. >> [snorts] >> I want to show you some messages from people's exhibit 16. and ask you some questions about them. Okay. >> Okay. >> May I approach? >> Yes. [snorts] There was a time that there were some other family members outside of Shannon and outside of that grandmother that they were concerned about some treatment or or of a I think it's a different kid, not Nazisa and I don't even think this was a four-year-old. There's I think there was another kid and they tried to notify CPS and CPS uh found that there wasn't enough to pursue a complaint against Jarvis. So there was times that other adults did step in and try to report him for some things. Um, he also, I think, had a prior conviction and if not conviction, a prior charge outside of the separate case he has going on now. And then outside of this Naziah case, he had a prior I feel like it was a conviction of, you know, um, unfortunately violating minors and stuff like that. Uh, but yeah, I just want to say that although these adults failed Naziah, there were some that were trying to report him. I and I remember CPS didn't do to me what they needed to do. And I'm sorry and and let me not put that all on CPS. I think CPS may have then reported to the police and the police said there wasn't enough. It was something in there with the authorities, but adults did report his actions. [snorts] >> I'm going to direct you to messages on or about uh June 27th of 2023. Um, do you recall those messages? Um, did you send any of those messages to Jarvis Butts? >> No. >> Okay. Um, and do you know I believe there's a phone number here that's highlighted. Whose phone number do you know that to be? >> Jarvis Butts. >> Okay. And you don't recall ever sending any of those messages? >> No. >> Okay. And now I want to direct you to [snorts] messages from June 28th of 2023. Um, how about any of these? Did you send any of these to Jarvis box? [snorts] >> No. Okay. What about any messages from July 2nd of 2023? [snorts] Did you send any of those messages? >> No. [snorts] What about messages from August 26, 2023? Did you send any of those to Jarvis Buds? >> I'm sorry. 26. >> August 26th. >> [snorts] >> No, these aren't my messages. Did [clears throat] >> Jarvis Bugs ever tell you that Nazisiah texted him to meet up on January 9th, 2024? >> No. >> Did you tell Jarvis Buts about not being able to locate Nessiah on January 9th, 2024? >> Yes. Okay. And tell me, how did you tell him that? >> Um, I called him. Um, he didn't answer. I sent him a message asking him, "Have you he seen Ta whereabouts?" And I said, "No." And he responded back. >> Okay. So, you thought enough that he's around her enough that he would be someone you would call to ask if he's seen her? That means he's around her really frequently with the knowledge of the adults. >> I heard what you said the last part. Last part I had uh I text him. Well, first I called him. He didn't answer. The second time I sent him a message. Still no ta. >> He replied back a while. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Okay. And May I approach? >> Yes. >> And just for record references, I'm showing her what's going to be proposed people's exhibit 48. [snorts] Um, Miss Harris, that those text messages that you just referenced, um, do you see those on this page? Yes. >> Okay. And so it's fair to say you stated to Mr. Buts Well, first of all, whose phone number uh is this at the top? >> The [snorts] phone number is my old telephone number. >> Okay. And who is the phone number uh below that? >> Uh Jarvis Bloods. >> Okay. Um, and is this I guess is these fairly inaccurately represent these two messages? Three, four, five. Six messages sent between you and Mr. Butts on January 9th, 2024 through January 11th, 2024. >> [snorts] >> The first page is yes is correct. Second page is correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. And so in January 9th like you had indicated before um you had stated uh that you told them that there was still no tuta. >> Correct. Okay. And you said he responded, "Oh, wow." >> Correct. >> Okay. And on January 11th, um, was Nia still missing? >> Yes. >> Okay. And did you ask Mr. Butts to do something? >> Um, at this point, I just asked that if she's going to read from the text message, just admit the exhibit. >> I move to admit. >> No, judge. Okay. Do these fairly inaccurately represent text messages uh between you and your phone uh to Jarvis and his phone between [snorts] they start back earlier? Uh some from December 3rd, 2023 through January 21st of 2024. These fairly accurately represent text messages between you and your phone to Mr. Butts and his phone. >> Yes. >> Okay. You're I move for the admission of people's proposed exhibit 48. [snorts] >> Okay. Be admitted. >> Thank you, judge. Um so on January 11th, um did you ask Mr. Buts to do something? >> Yes. >> And what is it that you asked him to do? >> I asked him, can he share of the missing flyer on his Facebook page? >> Okay. And did you send him a copy of that missing flyer? >> Yes. >> Okay. [snorts] And just one second. to backtrack uh just a little bit on December 3rd, 2023, >> [snorts] >> um do you recall uh sending messages asking uh Mr. Butts if he needed Naziah for anything? >> Oh, yes, I do remember. >> Okay. [snorts] Um, so do you remember this text on the first page of people's exhibit 48? >> Yes, I do remember this message. >> Okay. And did you send that message? >> Yes. >> Okay. And what did what did the message say? >> Um, Ta said, "Do you still need her too?" >> Okay. And do you know what is that referring to? >> It was um Ta had asked me to contact Jarvis and see if he still needed them to clean up. Okay. And [sighs and gasps] >> this is where you just have to be overzealous as a parent. And she's not Naziah's parent. She's the parent with Jarvis of their own kids. But I just wish adults were more uh zealous. So I'm going to say for the grandmother, for somebody, the grandmother had legal custody. So I'm say for the grandmother, like, hey, she's not going to be going over there alone. I I don't there's no one from the family able to watch over her or whatever because you know the the thing is kids can want to make the little allowance and extra money. So it's not that but it's like you just have to almost close off every opportunity and avenue within your control of a child being harmed around a predatory adult. >> That would be to clean up his shop. >> Yes. >> Okay. And to fast forward, uh, on January 21st, 2024, um, you sent some messages to Mr. Butts. Is that fair to say? >> Yes. >> Okay. And can you read these last three messages? [snorts] >> These last three messages is um, to be honest, these messages are seen into the inbox to you. I really don't know what to believe anymore. Stay away Ramon. I mean it. Um the next message is I don't know what to say or to. Who is Ramon? Stay away Ramon. I mean it. So is she going back in her own old phone history to see the messages that Naziah was sending instead of her using that same number? I need to know what did she see? Um and who is Raone >> is on since this [ __ ] doesn't sit right with me. Call it what you want. I'm good. Period. And says, um, this is the life, [ __ ] I thought about it. Um, and you can pass it. Did you report him to the police after you saw the messages? Because that would be a little bit of something. Did she report the messages that she found to the police? Cuz it's all, you know, cuz here's the thing. Just cuz she's mad doesn't mean she's mad on behalf of a child. You could be mad that because because you know some women do this. They'll be like they'll just think that the teenager was fast and that that you're cheating on me and and not oh this is a predator to a child victim like you know what I mean? So I wonder I'm asking these out loud. I know this is from the past but I haven't seen it yet. Did she report the horrible messages that she found when she found them? And don't call me. No need to explain [ __ ] I already see it. >> Okay. So, you were referencing some messages that you saw in Tata's inbox. >> Correct. >> Um tell me how did you see some messages? Well, first of all, where did where these messages where were they at? >> Um the day of um Officer Gardner came to pick up Naziah's tablet. My mom asked me to put it on the charger. I put it on the charger. Um, Officer Gardner [snorts] while you know after that officer Gardner called and said she's on her way >> without saying what? >> Okay. I'm sorry. Um, the officer had uh had called and said that they was on their way to come pick up >> the tablet. >> Okay. >> Seem comprehension skills just here. Okay. My thing is with the simple things when they don't click and I know this is a high stress situation as well but I feel like your logic and reasoning will be lacking in for instance critical thinking to protect children. They just said can you just tell us about the messages you found or when you got her tablet? You don't have to say what officer Gardner said or whoever. And then she got an attitude when they were like without saying what she said. She was like tablet tablet. But you literally just said again what the officer said. They were like, "We can't take that cuz it's hearsay." But you Why do you have an attitude? I understand you might struggle a little bit um with forming a thing without trying to say what someone else said, but why are you mad? Like they they're asking you the wrong question. Like they just said, you can't tell us what she told you. >> Okay. So >> sustain as far as you're saying. >> Yes. Thank you, judge. Okay. Continue. So [snorts] the tablet before the tablet was picked up, I uh looked inside to this tablet. She has two passwords that I normally know. So one of them is referenced for her brother's birthday and the other one is referenced from my password. So I put the first password in. It didn't work. So I put the second password in. So, the first thing I went to was Instagram, which I was scrolling, scrolling, and I seen uh Jarvis's books Instagram page. I clicked on his page and I seen two messages. >> Okay. And what were the messages that you saw? Who were they between? Let's let's try to um I'm I'm speculating on the timeline, but I just want to be clear as we're watching this, as long as I can try to follow this along, this is this is her knowing after Naziah is missing, I think. Cuz cuz if the officers are already involved enough to say, "Hey, we're going to come uh pick up Naziah's tablet." To me, that means Naziah is already missing at that point. So, it's not going off of her seeing the messages at that time. If that's when she saw them, she didn't know about those messages before Nazisa went missing. If we just go by how she's answering these questions so far, >> Nia, my niece, and Jarvis. >> Okay. And what were the messages that you seen? >> Uh, it was roughly two messages that I have seen that I can recall in states. Um, >> I'm going to object to this as hearsay. They have not been admitted. And the messages themselves would be the evidence. >> Were they of any were the messages of a sexual nature? >> Okay. Now, let me clarify. I'm not saying she manipulated the information even though she could have because they they asked for the tablet. Um, you know, and then she had access to the tablet, knew the password, and got in. But that's not where I'm going. I'm just saying that because Mary said, "Oh, so the auntie knew cuz she saw those messages." What I'm saying is she didn't see those messages by her testimony until after Naziah went missing because there's no officer involved until Naziah's missing. That's what I'm saying. So, for her to be mad at him about the messages right now, the timeline is she did not see those messages until Naziah went missing. Cuz now there's an officer requesting Naziah's tablet. There's no officer involved until Nia goes missing in my opinion. So that's where I'm getting the timeline from. So I'm not I'm not saying she did or didn't manipulate something. But I'm just saying she did not she possibly did not know about these messages until she did start angry texting him or angry messaging him like I saw all I needed to see blah blah blah all that stuff. >> Um no. >> Okay. And um you said you saw two messages? >> Yes. >> Okay. Did you see anything else? Uh, it was two. It was two sent pictures, but you can't really make anything out. It wasn't nothing there, but you know, it was a picture was sent. >> Okay. Um, what did those seeing those messages, what did they cause you to do? >> Well, when I seen no messages, I called him >> and Jarvis Butts. >> Okay. >> Called him while he was at work. I asked him, "What are these messages I've seen between you and my niece?" And he said, "What the messages?" Said, "There's two particular messages that states out in there a picture." And he stated that I don't know on these messages. I told him what the messages were and he said it was probably our children was messaging him and I stated no cuz I know how our children will text. >> Okay. And reading those messages, is that what caused you to text >> Mr. Butts? Yes, >> Mr. Butts. In that you've seen the messages in the inbox and you don't really know what to believe anymore. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> One second. So, Sharon, I want to take you back to January 9th. Um, >> were you home that day? >> Yes. >> Okay. And did you see Niah that day? >> I seen her uh that morning. Correct. >> Okay. And do you remember what she was wearing at all? >> Um, her coat and her uniform at the time. She had on some blue jeans. I don't really recall the outfit. I just know the coat she had on. >> And what was the coat that she had on? >> She had on it was a '9s coat with all the characters on it. >> Okay. And you recall seeing her wearing that the morning of January 9th? >> Correct. >> And your honor, may I approve people's already admitted exhibit two? >> Yes. I'm going to show you people's exhibit too. Um, can you tell me, do you recognize a coat in this photo? >> Yes. >> And whose coat do you recognize that to be? >> Nas. >> Okay. Now, after you when you saw Missia that morning, um, what did you do the rest of the morning? Nothing. I was at home with my mom and my two children. >> And um do you ever leave the house at any point that day? >> Um no. I I was at the house the whole entire day. >> Okay. And um do you know what time I would normally get home from school? >> Um on certain days she will stay for um for after school and then on certain days she will come home. Um, the days she will stay for after school is 6:00 and the days that she don't is at 3. >> Uh-oh. Okay. Sound check. Sound check. Let me know uh if y'all can hear that if they were still talking and if you can hear me because I put my kicks up so there's no sound. And I know how my little streaming stuff goes sometimes. So, let me know. Could y'all still hear them? I'm waiting to see. Okay. Okay. Veronica, you were still hearing her speak on the stand. Okay. Hopefully y'all you were hearing her, too, not just me. Okay. All right. Okay. All right. And y'all could hear her too, right? Testifying. Y'all could hear her. Okay. All right. I'll keep going. Okay. And on January 9th, do you know if Nia had the after school program? >> Uh, yes. Um, sorry, this is a very important question, Mary. Yes, he unalived her because she he got her pregnant. Yes. Yes. That is that is why that is what the prosecution is trying to prove that he killed her because he got her pregnant. Mhm. >> On at that time, my mom took her out of the after school program. So, she will come home directly at 3:00. >> Okay. And were you home at 3:00? >> Yes. >> And did you see Nazia at home? >> No. >> Okay. And did you see her come home at all the rest of the night? >> No. >> Okay. Um, were you did you leave at any point after 3:00? >> No. >> Okay. Um, did you uh Yes. When Desiah didn't come home, um that uh cause you to experience or feel any type of way? >> Um it did. um when she didn't come home is when my mom went to go pick up the other two children from the after school program. They knocked on the door and um they had asked a question and said um >> sounds like hearay. >> One you have a response or >> a question isn't isn't hearay technically. >> She said she said >> she has a question. >> She was getting ready to say a question. >> Okay. What was the question? What was the question? >> Um the two children had asked me um mom said did you uh did >> the hearing >> did Ziah come home? >> The hearing is mom said. >> Okay. So were you asked directly whether Nia came home? >> So my mom was still in the car. I was inside the house. They was coming to the house um walking up to the door. When I opened the door they asked me mom said did Nia come home? I said no. Um, [snorts] and was Nia home at all? >> No. >> Okay. And, um, did you do any any sort of looking for Nisiah that night? >> Uh, yes. >> What did you do? >> Um, I called my twin sister. Um, I called some of her friends that I know that stays close by if they had seen Niah, her from Nia and everything. And when I reached out to my sister, she said no. Her friend said no. So after that I asked my mom did she want me to call police. She said no she will take it up in the morning. >> Okay. >> Just one second. [clears throat] Um, >> okay. The cameraman at CBS News wanted us to make sure we saw her clenching her hands and shaking them knees. Shannon, did you know um desire to have uh a pair of red and black Nike shoes? >> Uh yes. >> Okay. And if I showed you a picture of them, would you be able to identify them? >> Uh yes. >> Okay. [snorts] May I approach? >> Yes. >> And for the record, this is going to be from people's proposed exhibit 14 and it'll be picture 34. >> Do you recognize these shoes? >> Uh, yes. That's a pair of shoes that a mom bought for to the birthday. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Unless something has changed, I just want to repeat that there are no remains uh found of Nazia. When I say remains, I mean of her body. Um so they are having them identify items that she would have been wearing that same day she went missing. And it's enough for prosecution to have moved forward to ask for a trial to um you know prosecute Jarvis Butts for the suspected murder of Nazia, especially with those text messages and him googling how to you know how to terminate a pregnancy and stuff like that. So yeah, so they only have her items. I think her school ID was found. You saw they talked about the jacket. Um I feel like there might be something else that I I missed. My memory is failing me on that one. But that's why they're so focused on the items that she had. >> Now, back on the 9th, you said um your mom was going to file a police report in the morning, >> correct? >> Okay. Did you go with her to file a police report in the morning? >> Uh no, it was my oldest sister. >> Okay. Did you do anything on the 10th as it relates to trying to find Josiah? >> Uh yes. Um we went out I and uh some others went out to go get some pictures, made copies. Um we went to other stores, passed out flyers and everything that we need to do that was asked of us to do. >> Okay. [snorts] And um since January 9th, 2024, have you seen Misiah? >> No. >> Have you since January 9th, 2024, have you heard from Misiah? >> No. >> Nothing further at this time, Judge. >> Thank you, Judge. Miss Harris, I also have some questions for you. You and Mr. Buts have been u or you've known him for about 12 years. >> Correct. >> Okay. And fair to say that you were in a dating relationship with him for most of that time. >> Correct. >> But towards the end, like last year, it was more off and on. Fair. >> No, it was on and off for years. >> For years. Okay. Um but you have five children with him. >> Correct. Um, and this relationship that you had with them, even towards the end when it was on, it was a sexual relationship, right? >> Correct. >> Um, okay. U Jacqueline said, "I thought they found decomposed remains in the abandoned house. I might be behind. So, I'll go start uh checking myself to see since I the last article I saw if they talk about finding her actual remains because I know when the detective said we're still going to count this as a homicide and our suspect, you know, I I think I think during the press release, she might have named the suspect as Jarvis Buts, but I know she definitely said even though we can't find her remains, this is a homicide. I'm going to go back and check uh some sources to see if they said they found Nazia's remains in in an abandoned house or not. I'm Yeah, Mary, I I am I am trying my best. I definitely want to follow this one and since thankfully it looks like it will be recorded. Hopefully the actual Oh, thank you, Mary. [laughter] Sorry. Dang it. Okay, hold on. So, let's go back to Jacqueline's comment. I'm so sorry. Okay. Um, so Jacqueline said, "I thought they found decomposed remains in the abandoned house." I'm going to go back and look at some articles and see if they said that because it didn't come across for me, but I may be um behind on that news coming out that they now have found her remains because the detective uh whoever she was uh at I'm saying whoever she was cuz I my memory is just not going to serve me enough to remember specifically everybody. But I remember it was a black woman had some people around her at a press release and she was like, "We're still counting this as a homicide because we have found enough to suspect Nazisa has, you know, if this is a homicide." Um, so now I got to go back and see if someone if some some uh sources are saying, and when I say sources, I'm saying like, you know, uh, like the CBS's and stuff like that. I know that sometimes the major news don't get it right, but I try to be careful on how I get it just in case because of, you know, like people only going to fuss at me if I sit here and claim this, this, and this. So, I try to be careful. Um, but I will go look. I could be behind on that information. And then the other thing I was saying was, uh, yes, I am following this trial. Hopefully, it still will be streamed when the actual trial happens. Uh, so yes, I do want to follow this trial and I'm trying to get us caught up because we have we have a few days of pre-trial hearing to get caught up with with us together. So yes, I do hope to follow this trial though. >> Sometimes you go to a motel to have sex with him. >> Correct. When Yes. >> And that motel was the Parkin >> uh or the Shure Point. >> There was more than one. >> Multiples. Yes. >> Okay. But one of them was the Parkrest said yes. >> Correct. >> And it said in Harper Woods. >> Correct. >> On Harper. >> Correct. >> Do you know if Mr. Butts or do you suspect that Mr. Butts has taken other women to those motel also? >> Correct. >> You do. >> Um I believe you said that you have of your five children with him, two are girls. >> Yes. >> And three are boys. >> Correct. And in January of this time, well, January 2023, you were living with your mother um on Bedford. Correct. >> Correct. >> Prior [snorts] to that, were you living in Clinton Township? >> Correct. >> When did you leave the Clinton Township home and you moved to the Bedford home? >> October um 23. And so there were times when you were in Clinton Township that Mr. Buds would travel out there to see the kids. >> Correct. >> And then when you moved to the Bedford address, he would go to the Bedford address to see the kids. >> Correct. >> And then the Bedford address is when Messiah was also living there. Correct. >> Correct. [snorts] >> [snorts] >> And I believe you just testified that on January the 9th you were living at that house. >> Correct. >> And you were there during the day. >> Correct. >> And so were you one of the first people that realized that Nazia did not come come home when she was expected to be home? Well, we didn't real I didn't realize it until I had got a question um by the other kids had asked did I have nausea came home yet or have I seen that and I said no. >> Um do you remember what time that was in the afternoon? >> That was in the evening. Uh my mom picked them up uh 6:00. >> That was about 3 hours later than she normally should have been home. >> Correct. Was that surprising? >> Um, yes it was. Um, one, we thought that she was at the after school program. Um, but it didn't dawn on no one until my mom came back to the house and she wasn't here or she wasn't in the car when they had got in the car. >> And so when you all realized that she wasn't at school and she wasn't at home, um, was that surprising? >> Yes. >> Um, but Okay. Now, remember the witnesses can't hear the other witnesses. The mom, grandmother, uh, Annette Harris said Desiah wasn't scheduled for after school program that day and it was very unusual that she wouldn't be home by 300 p.m. that day. Shannon is saying, um, we thought she had an afterchool program, but that's not what your your mom said. So, I think that I don't know. I don't know, but I'm not thinking good things is what I'm thinking. You >> didn't go to the police that night? >> No. Did >> she ever not return home previously? >> No, this is her first time ever doing this. >> Did she have friends in the neighborhood um that she would go visit? >> Uh yes. >> Um and you said are those folks that you contacted to ask? >> Yes. the legal guardian, which is the grandmother, they uh I believe she said no when she was asked the same question, but maybe it was just about sleepovers cuz they asked would she have been sleeping over a friend's house. [clears throat] So, I'll I'll I'll leave some room for that one. But I remember the grandmother kind of saying no about friends in the neighborhood. But she's a kid, so it would be more than likely she would have friends in the neighborhood. You were just shown a pair of red and black Nike shoes, right? >> Correct. >> And um you identified those shoes as being Niah's shoe. >> Is that correct? >> Correct. >> It's a shoe that looks like the shoe that Naziah is wearing. Correct. >> Correct. Correct. You can't say for sure that that exact issue came from Messiah. Is that fair to say? >> And I think you testified that very rarely would you ever use text now to contact Mr. Bucks, >> right? >> Only if your phone was turned off, >> right? >> And that was not very often, >> right? Would um ever have access to your phone to use it? >> Uh yes. Like she would ask, "Hey TT, can I see your phone?" Sure, I wouldn't mind. Yes. >> And so would she text from that phone? >> Probably. Yes. >> Did you ever notice any text from >> No. Her on your phone? >> No. >> Did you ever notice if she had used your text now app? >> Um no. The only time when uh I would notice something and say if me and Jarvis would uh we won't be on the same page here and I eye and I will call them and you say why you will call me or like why you why you continue to keep calling me and I'll say I haven't called you all day or or in two days. Then I will go ask my kids like hey are y'all calling your dad because I haven't called him. That's interesting. And the judge perked up too when she was explaining when she would go days without talking to him and he said, "Why are you following me or calling me?" The judge perked up on that one. Very very interesting. I don't I mean now my question is and and you know you can get deleted messages back but my question is did she was the were the text message histories being deleted as they texted each other? Did so is that why she didn't see the other text history from her old number that she still had access to and would call him from? And until you looked um in Desiah's Instagram account, did you ever notice anything on your phone um that caused you to be concerned? >> No. >> Between Desiah and Mr. Lutz? >> No. >> And Mr. Budsby uh said would come to the house to see his kids. Okay. >> Um he would drop them off at the house sometimes. He would take them places. >> Uh yes. Um, he would pick Janiah up from there. >> No, he um depending on like if he will pick or pick up the kids, if I need him to pick up the kids from the pickup or drop off spot um for school, he will do that. Yeah. >> And then take them either to Clint Township when you live there or to the Bedford Street address. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um but most times he wouldn't even come to the house, right? Um, he will come to the house, he will call me first before he will come. >> Would he come into the house physically or would he sit in his truck outside? >> Um, 50/50%. He will sit in the car and wait till the kids come outside or he will knock on the door. [snorts] >> Okay. Would he be in the house for any length of time? >> Um, only if I'm inside the house like >> I promise that don't matter. If you're not an adult that's watching things, you being inside that house does not matter. Things will happen right under your nose. But I want to say, do y'all remember when Annette Harris, the grandmother, said, "Oh, no. He'd only be outside." Remember that? Remember we were wondering why? And we were like, "Okay, do they just have this that relationship where he can't come inside?" But now she said 50/50. And then now she's catering her answer cuz obviously what has happened at this point, but but now you're being asked, "Does he No, not did he knock on the door." They asked, "Does he come inside?" And so she finally answers that question. Say only when I'm there. Promise you. Promise you that don't matter. That don't matter. Things will happen right under your nose. But she's very careful on saying um when I'm there now. But yeah, that that grandmother said he never came in the house >> visiting with you. >> Yes. >> Okay. So you never knew a time that Mr. Butts would have been alone in the house with Nessiah? >> No. Um, I can't think of a time when he would been >> not alone in the house with her, but seemed like alone in some spaces with her, >> had been in the house and had gone down to the basement with her. >> I told y'all I remember article mentioning the basement. I I but I was like, let me sit down because I could be recalling this from some other person's story, but I remember something about a basement. >> No. >> Or any other room in the house alone. No. [clears throat] >> Would Mr. Butts have ever been at that house if another adult like you or your mother weren't there? >> Um, he will. Would you said >> would Mr. Butts ever be at the house if um you or your mother weren't there? >> No, it will uh it will be me or another person. >> Who's the other person? Cuz why wouldn't you say it'd be me or my mom? And why was why did she have to repeat that question? And that was an easy question. So, what person do you mean? Me or another person? Because it's supposed to be you and your mom as the adults in the house. It's the way they answering these questions. >> The idea that anything was going on between Mr. Butts and Mia is shocking to you, right? >> Correct. >> You had no idea? >> No. >> You never noticed anything between Messiah and Mr. Butts that made you concerned? No. >> You never saw any inappropriate behavior? >> Not at all. >> Um, you didn't notice Mr. Buds paying any special attention to her? >> No. >> Um, certainly if you had noticed that, that would have caused you concern. >> Yeah. It would have raised a whole bunch of red flags. >> Likely you wouldn't have invited him in into the house. Correct. >> Correct. >> But you let him be at you at minimum she let her be at the shop by herself. Yeah, with one of his daughters, but you weren't supervising her at the shop. That's his domain. Like, what? What are you talking about? It's a history of this in their family. Well, he has a history of his alone, but that sucks that there's a history in the family in general. But yeah, they have me the grandmother re she really trying to act like she's not involved at all. She's really trying and uh Shannon's out here. She's trying to kind of answer but act like you know she was very diligent in watching over everything. But you you already weren't if you were if if it was so easy for him for for Naziah to come to you and say, "Hey, does Jarvis need us today at the shop?" And if they do, however I think I think they say he would pick him up in the truck sometimes or however she got there, she was left there by herself with her cousin. but still, you know, mostly by herself with him and other grown people. You weren't watching then. So, don't I just I'm just saying don't don't do that. Don't act like you there would she would not be alone by herself with these adults. >> You found it hard to believe even that Mr. Butts would hurt Messiah. But I wouldn't I won't know I don't know um what he will do if a person per person if a person's back is up against the wall. >> But the thought of that is hard was hard for you at least at one point to believe. Correct. >> Correct. >> Um now during the time that you and Mr. Buzz were together, he's had children with other women. >> Correct. um pretty consistently with other women. >> Correct. >> Um more than one woman. >> Correct. >> Um some of those women you actually knew about. Correct. >> Correct. >> They lived kind of even in the same neighborhood on the east side. >> Correct. >> Um but you suspect that there were women that you didn't know about. >> Correct. >> Um even one that lived or more than one that lived over on the west side. >> Correct. Um, you believe he was going out there to see somebody around the end of 2023, January 2024? >> Correct. >> Before January the 9th, you had a conversation with Naziah about a location on Outer Drive in Belffor. >> Yes. >> And that was surprising to you, right? I'm going to go back a little bit because whatever she just said, I couldn't catch it, but it was before Nia went missing and it was something about a location and I I would like to understand what she asked, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to catch it. >> Around the end of 2023, January 2024, >> correct? Before January the 9th, you had a conversation with Naziah about a location on Outerd Drive in Belffor. >> Yes. >> And that was surprising to you, right? >> Correct. Oh, that's one of the locations of his shops cuz he had two shops and I feel like one of them I the the word bellacor or bell core is ringing a bell from earlier when they first brought up the locations of his shops and it's it was surprising to the aunt about her being at the location which was I think one of the shop locations. So maybe it was because of the date. It wasn't expected. She didn't say, "Hey, can I go help with the shop that time?" She just was at the shop or something. Something. But okay. I feel like that's one of them shop Jarvis Buts's shop car shop locations. >> Um that's on the east side of Detroit. >> Yes. >> Um did you end up giving her directions on how to get to that location? >> Uh yes. >> Why did you give her directions? >> Um I was just getting out the shower and just getting myself together. She asked me, she said, "Hey, Titi." She said, "Where is um Balfford and I drive?" And I told her, I said, "You know exactly where Balfford and I drive at." I said, "It drive is right where the um wine basket at." And I said, "You know where Balfford at?" And she was like, "I get Balffor and Bedford mixed up." So I said, "You already know Balfford is before Bedford." So she said, "Okay." She said, "Because we are in school and we are learning about our surroundings." So I said okay. But those but that was the only two things that she had asked was where was driving down for. >> Does that location have any special significance to you? >> No. >> Do you know anybody at that location? >> No. The only thing that I'm used to I'm I'm familiarized with just picking up Jarvis um at a drive in Belfford. It's just on a corner. >> On a corner. >> Mhm. >> Not at an address. >> Not at address. >> Okay. Um, when was [snorts] this conversation that you had about that location? Do you recall? >> Uh, this was right before um Nia went missing. >> Like how soon before? Weeks. [snorts] >> Uh maybe in like it was still like in that same week she went missing. [snorts] >> I wish didn't have his own vehicle. say, >> "No, he didn't." >> He generally used his female vehicles. >> Um, >> okay. And this is for anyone else that has come in with Simone, but um, this is Shannon Harris on the stand. We She's only our second person we have seen so far. Annette Harris was first, who is Naziah's grandmother and legal guardian. Shannon Harris was the aunt that lived with Annette Harris, her mom, and uh, Shannon and Jarvis. Buts who's on trial have five kids together. >> Did you know Mr. Buts to park at one location and maybe walk to another to kind of try to remain undetected? >> Pretty much. Yes. >> So would it be um not out of the ordinary for him to for you to have to pick him up at a random or what seemed to be a random location to you? >> Correct. Why was he trying to remain undetected and why was this normal? >> You lived with Misiah for you said from about October until January the 9th. >> Correct. >> Um so you spent a lot of time around her. >> Yes. >> You knew her mannerisms? >> Yes. >> Her demeanor? >> Yes. >> Her moods? >> Yes. Um, did anything strike you as out of the ordinary about how she was acting at any point in time um, in December or January before she disappeared? >> No, Nia uh, nothing have changed our character. None of that. She was just the same on Nia. Nothing had nothing was different. >> Nia's a brother, right? >> Yes. >> Is it an older brother? >> Yes. >> Now, he had run away in 2023. Is that right? >> Yes. >> Relevance. >> How is it relevant? >> Um if it's something that had bothered her or something that she was dealing with at the time could cause a change in her demeanor. >> Okay. Overall, >> so she she did uh have a brother that ran away, >> correct? >> And was that something that uh she struggled with? >> Uh she didn't like uh the fact that her uh brother was running away. Yeah, she didn't like it. [snorts] >> Around the same time, um, well, around the time, um, December, January, was her mother supposed to come visit her biological mother? >> Yes. >> Um, did she end up coming to see Naziah? >> Uh, yes, >> she did. Um, was there did Nia seem to have some big emotions about that contact? >> Yes. Is complicated. Fair to say? >> Yes. Did >> she talk to you about that all the time? [clears throat] >> Did you know anything notice anything? You said you didn't notice anything in in a change in mood. So, >> no. >> What about physically? >> No. I don't have anything else. Thank you. >> Did you go to the Park Crest in on January 9th, 2024 with Mr. Um, and fair to say, um, you knew of Mr. But having other female >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, and even some that you didn't know about, >> correct? >> Okay. So, would it be fair to say that you don't always know or you didn't always know what Mr. Bus was doing? >> No. Okay. >> You couldn't account for his whereabouts every minute of the day? >> No. Um, did you know him to uh one of those cars that he would use? Did you know him to have a white Escalade type truck? >> Correct. Yes. [snorts] >> And you were asked some questions about Outer Drive and Bour. Um, fair to say from what I gathered, uh, the only connection you have to that area is Jarvis spots. >> Correct. Okay. So, he's the only one you would associate with that area, >> correct? [snorts] And you knew Mr. But to have other children, >> correct? >> Okay. And you knew and you have clearly gotten other women pregnant? >> Correct. >> And to your knowledge, were all those women adults? >> To to my knowledge, yes. >> That's a crazy question to have to ask. To your knowledge, of all the women that Jarvis Buts got pregnant, were they adults? That's a crazy question to have to ask. Did he um to you ever hide getting another woman pregnant? >> No. >> Nothing further. >> You are going to testify. Please watch your step. >> Who's going to be the next? >> I will. >> Okay. Um, as far as time, >> it's short. >> Okay. So, we'll do one more witness and then we'll take a a break. >> At this time, the people call Marilyn Lee. We've just >> Okay, so they ended it there. I'll try to find the next part for this day. I've been searching, y'all. I have the other days, but I don't know. I was wondering where it was going to stop us at. So, this will be our part one for January 6, 2025. But Marilyn Lee was the next one up. So, I'll try to find it and we'll come back to this. Um, but yeah, so we're here. We're getting caught up seeing what's going on. And uh, some like Auntie Natty are coming to catch us back up and put up what is it? Put up kicks. I got to get this name together. Put my kicks up. So, yeah. So, we're all in the mix in here and just trying to figure out what's going on. All right. So, I will see y'all soon with the next part. Um, other family members reported Jarvis. Yep. I told them that. Auntie Nanny, I said I said although these adults failed those kids, other family members did notify CPS and I think CPS notified authorities and then the authorities failed them because they were like it's not enough to go on. But yep, I'm with you, Auntie Nanny, cuz I like I said, I was trying to follow the articles. I wasn't able to catch up with the uh court dates so much, but I'm with you. I'm with you. Okay. Well, then I will see y'all later. Thank you for hanging in there with me. Uh, if you're in the replay gang gang, let me know your thoughts in the comments later on. And I'll talk to y'all later.