All right. So, um, if you've been here with me, you know, we've kind of been looking back at the pre-trial that was in January 2025. This is the last day of, um, Sergeant Shannon Jones first. um defense is going to do cross. Then we're going to hear closing arguments and then we're going to hear from Judge Aaliyah. So I I may have a few thoughts, but I think I did share most of my thoughts throughout when we were watching the other parts. So um we'll see, but I'll be taking my notes and everything. This is a watch along, so there will be commentary sometimes, but we're here to just keep up with what's going on. And uh so I this is the time that I've been able to catch up. So, we're going to go ahead and start and we'll see what's happening. You're welcome. >> Okay, we are back on the record. This is case 2459617, the people of state division versus Jarvis Buds. We left off right before Mr. Rick was getting ready to begin cross-examination on Sergeant Jones. Sergeant Jones, you are still under oath. And once you get seated rigs, you can begin cross examination. >> [clears throat] >> Good afternoon, Sergeant Jones. >> Good afternoon. >> So, you're the OIC on this case, correct? >> Yes, sir. >> When were you first designated as the OIC on this case? uh it would have been believe the 15th or 16th of February. >> Okay. And what are your duties as OIC on this case? >> Um the OIC uh begins with the preliminary investigation overlooking the case. Um on a missing person case, we're obviously making contact with family and getting some witness interviews. We also uh prep a warrant request that's submitted to the prosecutor. Okay. >> Um >> so you're responsible for collecting evidence. >> Yes. >> And you're responsible for coordinating the evidence. >> Correct. >> Okay. You conducted you conduct interviews, correct? >> Yes. >> And in fact, you you conducted several interviews in in this case. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. You submit evidence for te testing, correct? Pardon me. >> You you submit evidence for testing? >> Yes, I have. >> Okay. >> And I've seen you the prosecution referred to you to make sure they haven't missed anything. Correct. >> What was your question? >> The prosecution has referred back to you to make sure they haven't missed anything. Correct. >> Correct. >> So, you're the person that makes sure everything in the file is together. Correct. >> Correct. >> And you interviewed several of Mr. But's girlfriends, correct? >> Yes. >> Um, you interviewed, I believe, Tashiana Davis and Shannon Harris on the 15th. >> Yes. >> And you interviewed Nene Rushing on the 29th, >> correct? >> I haven't looked at that date, but I trust that that's the 29th. >> Okay. Did you interview any of his other girlfriends? Yes. >> Okay. Which girlfriends did you interview? >> I interviewed uh Kizzy Young. >> Okay. >> There's Tashiana Davis. >> Okay. >> Uh Angela and I just cannot remember her last name at the moment, but she is who he resides with on Wilshshire. >> Okay. Um, I attempted to make a phone call to another girlfriend. I'd have to look up my reports, but she never came in for an interview. >> All right. >> Um, you can't tell. She There is another girlfriend who uh her last name is her name is Lacricia Bryant Hower. Okay, >> that may be all the girlfriends. I may be missing one. I'd have to relook at all the witness statements. >> So, you you are aware that Mr. Buts has quite a few girlfriends, correct? >> Correct. >> All right. And from the very beginning of this case, you suspected from your beginning of the case, you suspected Jarvis Blood had something to do with Misiah being missing. Correct. >> Um, well, when we were discussing the case on the first day, February 12th, uh, DPS had told us the last person that they had contact with and they identified as Jarvis Buds. Um, and then on February 15th when we verified that Niah was in fact with him and Cordell on the ride out to Ipsellani, which is the last day that she was seen, then he became primary suspect. >> Okay. And from the beginning, you you didn't suspect this was a missing person case, correct? >> Well, she's missing. It's been a missing person case. I don't understand your question, I guess. So you you suspect that she was deceased, correct? >> I didn't expect that she's deceased from day one. It takes a lot of uh investigation before you can come to that conclusion. >> Okay. >> Um it's not going to be one of those right away. You have to rule out every other possibility. >> All right. >> Didn't you tell Shannon Harris in her interview on the 15th that this is not a missing person case at this point? I believe I told her that it was not being handled by DPS as a missing person case at that point and that it's being handled at Detroit Police Homicide Missing Persons. >> So, you didn't tell her that this was not a missing person case. We're no longer looking for a missing person. >> I don't believe that would have been my exact wording. >> Okay. >> On February 15th. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I don't believe that would have been my wording that I would have already come to some conclusion that she was deceased on the 15th. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Now, during your investigation, did you receive information that Naziah had thought about running away? >> Yes. >> Okay. Also, during your investigation, did you receive information about a potential sex trafficking rink? There was several different um leads or tips that come in about sex trafficking rings. All those were investigated. >> Okay. >> Now, you interviewed my client, you yourself with um I believe your partners were Sergeant Lynch is his name. >> Sergeant Sullivan. >> Sergeant Sullivan, I'm sorry. >> Yes. >> You interviewed my client three times, correct? >> A minimum, I believe. won the 31st, the 1st, and I believe we went back again. >> July 20th. >> July 20th. >> Sounds about right. >> Okay. And you you interviewed him [snorts] >> 3 and 1/2 hours May 31st. Correct. >> If is that the time on the recording then? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> An hour and a half the second time. Correct. >> Correct. >> And roughly 45 minutes. I believe it was like 38 and some change the third time. >> Okay. >> So, you interviewed him for close to 6 hours. >> That could be true. >> Okay. And you took statements from my client, correct? >> I mean, we recorded the interview. >> Okay. You didn't record, you didn't reduce anything to writing, correct? >> No, >> he never signed anything. Correct. >> But he signed his advice of right. signed advisor, right? But he never looked at what he had told you or what your conversation was. Correct. >> I mean, he verbally acknowledged things throughout the investigation. I did not reduce it down to uh handwriting. >> And your conversation that you had with him, I for lack of a better term, was rather fluid. Correct. >> Was what? >> Was rather fluid. >> It's a conversation. There was a a back and forth conversation where both you and um your partner were talking and he was just talking back. Correct. >> A conversation between the three of us. >> Yes. >> Okay. And you told him that you wanted to tell his side of his story. Correct. >> Correct. He did tell you that he was joking about the messages he sent. Correct. >> The initial messages. >> Yes. >> So, in the very beginning of the interview, uh he starts off where he denies that that was her. Um he claimed that he was sending them to his uh child's mother. Uh it then turned into that they he was just joking around with Naziah for entertainment purposes. >> Okay. Um, then he admits to uh that all the messages were in fact to Naziah and not to Shannon because he could never tell that that wasn't Shannon talking as you went through the rest of the messages. >> But he told you that Sorry, just one moment. >> Real fast. I just can't believe he's asking that question with a straight face. Like I I could not be a defense attorney that would literally defend anybody. Like I would have to pick and choose cuz there's no way. Um I know public defenders most they don't necessarily have a choice. So if I was a public defender, I I don't know. He I probably they probably take my license. I don't know. I don't think I could do it. But I don't understand after seeing those text messages, listening to them, and then when y'all hear their closing argument about what they're willing to admit to, I'm like, how do you represent him? I don't I don't understand. Also, I don't think he ever went anywhere with the whole uh so the interview was fluid questioning line of questioning. I Okay, that that really didn't go anywhere with that. That was Yeah, we'll keep going. But I I really can't stand this defense team. >> So throughout your three conversations, your six hours conversations with them, he never acknowledged harm with her, did he? >> Uh I don't believe I ever asked him that direct question. He never I mean he had never acknowledged having sex or touching. that was asked multiple times of whether there was any any type of touching. Um, it was asked about the text messages where some of them are saying again that that would presume that there had already been a time and he simply said that uh it was still just texting for entertainment purposes. >> Okay. Now, during your investigation, I'm sorry, specifically on the 20th, you and your partner came over and asked him >> the 20th of what? >> July. >> July. >> This would be the third conversation. Okay. >> On the 20th, you asked him, "Does he ever hang out on the west side?" Correct. >> I haven't reviewed that full interview, but I do remember asking him about the west side. Yes. >> And he told you he >> your honor, they can't admit their defendants statements. 720 was not admitted. >> You want to respond or do you want me to roll? >> No, I I'll move on. >> Did you get any information that he had a child on the west side? >> He he does have a uh mother child's mother that lives on the west side. Yes. >> Okay. So, that could be a reason for him to be on the west side. Correct. >> Oh my god. So sorry. Put my kicks up. said, "I think he's his lawyer, not a public defender." Remember, all they have to do is cause any kind of doubt. I acknowledge all of that. Um, I do also think he's a private lawyer, not a public defender. I was just saying I think public defenders more so don't have a choice. Um, but if I was private, I just don't I don't see how I could defend him. Jarvis Butts type of people. I just don't see how I could do it. I know there's always going to be people out there that will. I just I couldn't do it myself. Just a personal thing. And yes, I know all he has to do is cause doubt, but I'm saying I would be like somebody said yes, they like probably end up sabotaging my client. Let me see some stuff like that. I just I just couldn't do it. I mean, I wouldn't put myself in that position to to get in trouble, but I I just wouldn't take his case. I I think like I just can't see how you can with a straight face ask these questions as if you don't know that this man is a monster. And I know how they can because it's they're private. It's for the money. I I do get it, but I don't get it from a person's standpoint. >> Uh it could be a possibility. >> Okay. >> But in your interview, he spoke with you freely. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> He didn't argue with you. I believe you had a you had a search warrant for his DNA, but he didn't argue with that. He freely gave you his DNA, didn't he? >> I I don't believe I did. I I don't think I collected his DNA. Somebody else presented a search warrant for that. >> You're right. I'm sorry. You weren't that. But he didn't argue with anyone. He gave his DNA freely. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. He gave you his passcode to his phone. Correct. >> Correct. >> All right. Now, you said you you said that you searched the Seven Mile and Bird area, correct? >> Yes. >> And you mentioned that there this was a former golf course. Now it's abandoned. Correct. >> Yes. >> And there is a parking structure across the street. Correct. >> Well, parking lot. >> A parking lot. Thank you. >> Yes. And this abuts the Rouge River. Correct. >> Yes. >> There's also res residential streets over there. Correct. >> Correct. >> Chaiwas over there. Correct. >> Yes. >> Appleton, Pinbrook, Vasser. Those are all residential streets, correct? >> Yes. >> And those are all in the same area. Correct. >> Correct. [clears throat] And I think you mentioned Angel, but her last name is Leonard. Angel Leonard, correct? >> Yes. >> And Angel Leonard lives at 13362 Wilshshire Street. Correct. >> Yes. >> That's her home. >> Correct. >> That's where her and Jarvis live. Yes. >> And Jarvis lives there. Correct. >> Yes. >> And you mentioned Nin. Is it Nene Rushing? >> Yes. >> Okay. And Miss Rushing [snorts] stays at Fort Alexander Street, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, on the 9th, you had information that he was both at the Russian I'm sorry, both at the Wilshshire address at some point. Correct. >> Yes. >> And he was at the Alexandrian address. Correct. >> Correct. And did you get any information from any of these witnesses that that was not true? >> That what was not true? >> That he was at those addresses. >> Did I get any information that he was not at the addresses? >> I believe when we talked to Najene, she couldn't remember if he was she didn't acknowledge seeing him that night. >> Okay. >> [snorts] >> And would you agree? >> How do I say this? Mr. Butts is a complicated wife. Correct. >> Mr. Butts created a complicated life. Yes, >> he has. >> That was a mic drop moment for me when he asked that. the way Sergeant Shannon Jones answered it. He said, "Mr. Jarvis's bus has a complicated life, right?" And she said, "I believe he created a complicated life." And I agree. And that's the way I I feel like that was the best way to answer that question. I really really do. Um because what do you mean? I mean, I know y'all told me uh that someone did violate him when he was a minor and a child came out of it. you once you become an adult, you do have to get the help to not then create more victims. Um, i.e. R. Kelly. I looked I was looking at his stuff and he was violated as a child, but you still have to be held accountable when you create new victims. Like it's I'm I'm sorry. It is what it is. So, um I just I do I like that answer though. >> Multiple girlfriend. Correct. >> Correct. >> Is juggling girlfriend one through I don't know how many. Correct. >> Yes. >> And he does things to juggle all these girlfriends. Correct. He may lie to his girlfriend about someone else. Correct. He may park around the block so that another girlfriend can't see a car. He may borrow a car. All that true. Is that fair? >> It's fair. Lying is not a crime, is it? Or lying to a girlfriend is not a crime, is it? >> Well, lying to a girlfriend is not a crime. No. >> Okay. Now, you spend a lot of time talking about text messages on the record. >> All right. Can I take you back to some of those text messages? Do you still have them with you? >> I do. >> Okay. Let's go back to September 26. of which year? >> Of 2023? >> September 26. >> Right. >> Starting at what time? >> Okay. >> Line number 123. >> Line 1293. I don't have numbers like that on my page. Can you just tell me a time to the second? >> Is that 1433? >> The 1433 even. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> So, and that text message, that's the one where she texted about her period not coming, right? >> Yes. >> And she texted that she was going to the doctor the next day. Correct. >> Correct. >> And a little bit further down 57. >> At 1457, does she also text him that I might not be pregnant? It might be from stress. >> Yes. >> Okay. Now, can we look at November 27th? You have that >> from >> Let me find >> from November 27th. >> November 27th of 2023. >> Okay. What time >> it is? >> 22:28. >> Okay. >> This is where she text U Mr. butts that she is doing the gym with the baby's heart. Correct? >> Yes. >> Now, the very next day, November 28th, do you have that? >> Yes. >> At 2148. >> 43. Thank you. [snorts] >> Which one? >> She text Jarvis Buzz. It healed. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. And Mr. Buzz doesn't respond to any of these messages, does he? >> Uh, he doesn't respond until the next couple day, the next day. >> Well, then in December, couple weeks later, Mr. But does some Google searches. So, this is a Google, correct? >> December 10th. >> December 9th, 11th. >> 10th. Yeah. So he does searches for abortion Planned Parenthood sites, correct? >> Yes. >> He does searches for over-the-c counter abortion pill. Correct. >> Yes. >> And we all agree that Mr. But has many girlfriends, right? >> Correct. >> There may be some that we don't know about. Fair. um possibly. >> Okay. So, any testimony that says that these these text messages I'm sorry, these website searches were regarding his hair would be speculation, right? >> I don't believe I said they were regarding Misiah. I just read what he had been searching on the internet. >> Fair enough. But we can't say what who they regarding. Correct. >> Correct. >> Boy, please. Okay. Cuz what you didn't what he didn't repeat back on those Google searches was, "Can I drink red anifreeze?" What does it have to do with grown women you may have gotten pregnant? That is some home poisonous just gutter type stuff because you're trying to hide the illegal thing that you did. So don't No, no, no. If you don't read the Google searches about what he searched because he's got all these women, why didn't you repeat the part about the red anifreeze then? I want to slap everybody over there. I swear to God I do. >> So you testified that there you found some guns, correct? >> Correct. She said you found a long gun, I believe, at 13362 Willshshire, Angel Leonard's house. >> Yes. >> Okay. And did you find that that gun was registered to her? >> Yes. >> Okay. And you said you found the other a couple of other guns. Correct. >> Correct. >> Were those guns operable? >> Uh I I don't test the test fire of the weapons. >> So I take >> I would have to look at the laboratory report to see if they test fired them. >> Okay. Do you know if any of those guns were tested for DNA? >> Um, >> I I believe they would have been swabbed, but I don't know if those swabs were submitted. >> Okay. You also testified that you found several knives in one of the vehicles. Correct. >> Correct. >> All right. Did you test the knives? I know. You test at least one knife for gum >> for DNA. Did you test the other knives for DNA? >> Uh, the other knives were not tested. No. >> Okay. And did you test any of the knives for blood? >> I believe we had all the knives swabbed and then uh nothing came back leading anything to be uh blood, but we submitted it on the knife that was up near the driver's seat. The other knives was one was like a butter knife. Um, another one was uh like a smaller uh kitchen knife, but it was like under the back seat. It looked old and crusty like it hadn't been up there. So, the the knife that was at the closest access that looked to be not stored in the truck for a very long time as opposed to the other ones were the ones that we had swabbed and tested. >> And then additionally, they were tested with blue star. So, the knife that reacted to um anything that maybe Blue Star reacted to, that was specific why that knife was submitted. Okay. >> So, there was no blood found on that knife. Correct. >> Correct. >> So, there was testimony about a black hoodie that was found. Correct. >> Yes. >> Did you personally examine this hoodie? >> Uh I did not touch it. Um it was there. I was there as I observed it being opened up by the evidence technician who was collecting it. Um, as well as regoing through the photos while we were there and then after. >> All right. So, the hoodie looked weathered, did it not? >> It was wet. >> It was wet. There were spiderw webs in it. Correct. >> I didn't open it to manipulate it. So, if there was something that maybe the evidence tech testified to seeing, I wasn't right there as it was being opened. So, >> I couldn't answer. I did not see a spiderweb. I can't say that there was not one. >> Okay. Did you see any other debris on this hoodie? >> So, again, the hoodie is wet. Um, a lot of times when articles of clothing are wet, it's hard to distinguish whether there's any other type of stains on there. Um, we're not out there manipulating, uh, clothing like that. We preserve it the best that we can. That way, if there is something, it can be properly examined inside a laboratory where I'm not adding more uh, possible contamination to anything. >> Okay. [snorts] But it's fair to say that it's speculation on how the holes would have gotten into that. Correct. >> Well, I said I don't know how those holes got there. >> Okay. Now, we've heard that the hoodie was tested for genetic material. Correct. >> For DNA. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Was it tested for gunshot resident? >> No. >> Okay. You also found a pair of red and black shoes. gym shoes, correct? >> Yes. >> Were they tested for DNA? >> Uh, no. >> Okay. And you seized several cars in this um investigation, correct? >> Uh, throughout the investigation, yes. >> Okay. You had a cadaavver dog um pass through the car, correct? >> Correct. >> Did the cadaavver dog give you a hit on any car? >> Uh, no. Okay, just one. >> I have no further questions. Thank you. >> Redirect. >> Yes, please. >> I will go ahead and say I loved the questions that they're about to ask in redirect because yeah, leaving it hanging as if there wasn't anything found the way he asked the questions and everything speculation. I just want to say I do love the redirect questions. Appreciate it very much. But I feel like the judge was already she was already on the same page with some things. I could tell trying not to go too far ahead. >> Sergeant Jones, that text back on um November 27th, 2023 where Desire replies, "It healed." You can't say what that's about, can you? >> Correct. Sorry. before they go on and I'll go back because I did interrupt as soon as she asked that question. Leiddon, I will still say even with the better redirect questions, I did wonder why didn't they just go ahead and test test all of that since they had their search warrant, why not just go ahead and do it just for crossing the te's, dotting the eyes. >> Jones, that text back on um November 27th, 2023 where Desire replies it healed. You can't say what that's about, can you? >> Correct. and defense asked you about some guns that were found and that there was a long gun registered to Angel. Um, but it's it's true that Mr. Thuts can't have any guns around him in his house, can he? >> Correct. >> Regardless of who they're registered to? >> Correct. >> And as for the guns, you were asked whether or not they were operable. Um, there weren't tests performed on these guns, were there? >> Uh, not that I believe. No. >> Okay. And tell me why is it that there wasn't an emphasis put on um doing like test shots for a gun? >> The original um when we got the guns, I believe that the priority was to swab for DNA is is we do that before we start sending them to get test fired and contaminating anything. uh the guns were swabbed, all the evidence that was collected, and then the items that uh I believe after talking with lab specialists and looking at the different things that would be the most successful um to coming back and giving me the answers on whether that was Naziah's hoodie or not. Um were those were the items that were submitted. Once that hoodie came back that it was hers, there was no need for me to test the shoes that I had a picture of her wearing um because I knew that that hoodie was going to be showing that that was her belongings. >> Now, as it relates to guns specifically, if you're trying to connect a gun to a homicide, um would you need something to compare it to? >> Yes. >> Okay. And was there any There was no body found in this case. That's correct. >> Correct. You would either need the uh a projectile that you may recover um or find at a scene or the actual spent casing. >> And there was none of that able to be. Correct. >> Correct. I still wish that they would have gone ahead and tested the guns and just held it in case they ever did find other things later versus uh and I guess they they can probably keep the stuff in evidence for until the case is over. But I do wish they would have tested it. That's the only thing. Test it so you have it ready in case y'all do find something else later to be able to compare it to. >> And >> but I don't know their job. That was just me, you know, lay person over here. Just generally um as you say a common person with common knowledge, spiderw webs can be formed fairly quickly depending on the spider. Is that fair to say? >> Yes. There's times I come in the morning and there's already one on my car >> and that wouldn't be there the night before. >> Correct. >> Okay. [snorts] Now, in your experience, does Michigan State Police even test for gunshot residue? >> I don't believe so. >> Okay. And you were also asked about a cadaabver dog. Um, you've uh used cadaabver dogs in your history in your police work >> for 11 years. Yes. >> Okay. Now, a cadaabver dog would only hit if they're in a vehicle if there was a dead body in that vehicle. Is that correct? >> Um, they'll hit on blood or if there was uh like biological from somebody that's deceased, something. So if if a body was in a car that was not yet deceased that could presumably would not hit. >> Correct. >> That's where I really admired that redirect question and it was still a question but she kind of gave her own statement in that question. Uh because yes, because just like the optics of the prosecution getting a medical examiner to talk about Naziah's previous health history makes you think of homicide, the cadaavver dogs, when the defense is asking about it, makes you think, okay, so the cadaavver dogs didn't hit on a dead body, so no dead body was present in those cars. But thankfully, prosecution came back and was like, she just may not have been dead yet. So, she still would have been could have been transported in those vehicles. A cadaavver dog's trained for again like they said blood or a dead body. She may not have had that yet. Doesn't mean she was not transported in those vehicles. So, I really liked how they brought that back around because yeah, cadaavver optics is going to make you think, oh, they just they didn't pick up on anybody that was dead. So, >> and you got this investigation in February around the 14th and 15th. >> Yes. >> Okay. And when was that knife found in Mr. But's car? >> After we impounded the car, then they did the inventory, the evidence search. Um it would have been probably a week or so later and then it's reviewed when I get to that and then submitted. >> Okay. So that would have put almost a month and a half almost two months away from January 9, 2024. >> Yes. >> Nothing further, Judge. >> Yeah. Okay. A couple follow questions. >> Yes. So if a gun was used in a homicide, maybe not as a shooting, maybe as just a blunt force instrument or if it was a short or if it was a close range shot, couldn't blood or skin cells be on the gun? >> Yes. >> Not further. >> Any last questions? >> No, judge. Thank you. Thank you. >> No, judge. >> All right, let's get to our closing arguments. This is where I found out that Jamie and somebody else, whoever said it yesterday was like, "That was Nia getting off the bus." This is where it was cemented to me that that was Nia cuz I was like, "I thought that was somebody else." I I I honestly did. So, but they brought up in closing arguments. So, you know, Jamie, I was going to say you were right. [laughter] And um let me see here. Where do they start at? Hold on. They had a long time before closing started. Okay. All right. Um yeah, we'll talk about it as we listen to the argument. >> Okay. Go right ahead. >> Thank you. And before I get to the real issue on the homicide charge, I'm going to take care of a few preliminary matters. It is the people's intent to increase count three, which is currently criminal sexual conduct second degree to criminal sexual conduct first degree person under 13, defendant 17 years of age or older. We have the defendant's birthday on the record. And that [clears throat] would be based on the testimony of the one minor witness that testified as well as Cordell Wright's testimony. The minor witness testified that it happened at the old shop and uh when Miss Ripley was asking questions, she identified that as being the location. Cordell Wright testified back in November, that they didn't move from that shop, which was at East Warren and Nef in the city of Detroit, until May or June. Based on Nisiah's birthday, which is in her medical records, at that time she would have been 12 years old. And the minor witness testified clearly describing an act of penetration, specifically penis to anal opening. Um, with respect to the criminal sexual child sexually abusive activity, that would be based on the text messages as well as the minor's testimony as well. Combining those two things satisfies the elements of those charges. However, going to count one in murder in the first degree premeditated. Um, I would like to go through and put some of the pieces together. And we are sitting here today or standing here today in court on January 9th, 2025, which is 1 year almost to the minute. The last time Nazisa was seen on a camera in the city of Detroit, which is on the screen now. The last time that she was seen was on January 9th, 2024 at 256 getting off of the bus at 3M Drive in Cornwall and walking down Beedford. She was walking towards what she didn't know at the time would be Jarvis Butts and her ultimate murder by him. We take that moment in time and then go to Cordell Wright's testimony where she where he testified that they picked Nziah up on their way back to their shop on at 9,000 Connor and they proceeded with her to that location. We have Jarvis Buts's sister's testimony, Tijana Buts, who did say that she saw a young girl with a very descript and distinct jacket getting in and out of that car, the white Cadillac Escalade. That would have been before Jarvis, Cordell, and Niah departed for Ipsellani. We have Sergeant Aor's testimony as to his cell phone locations based on cell tower information and the historical call detail records which placed them consistent going out to Ipsellani. And then we have Cordell's testimony getting them back to the shop to Tatia Moore also testified to seeing Naziah in Ipsellani with Cordell and Jarvis. Cordell, as we know, testified that he had to get back to uh his house based on his tether hours by 9:00 p.m. And that is the last time that anyone who is not Jarvis Buts would see Naziah Harris alive. From the shop, we proceed out to the Park Crest Inn where Jarvis Buts checked into a hotel at 9:30 p.m. And Sergeant Sergeant Oor's testimony corroborates this, placing his phone in the area of that 20,000 Harbor address at around uh midnight till early in the next morning on the 10th using the data that you see on the screen and those times. Recapping January 9th, this is the last time that we have any sort of communication from Naziah. There was, if you look at those messages that Sergeant Jones went through and read just between Naziah and Jarvis, there was consistent and constant communication up until January 9th. There's also no messages from Jarvis after Nziah goes missing on the 9th looking for her, seeing where she is, trying to find her, trying to help, as anyone should do at that time, her family locate her. There's no messages to her phone, to that text now account from Jarvis Buds's phone. Her legal guardian and grandmother, Annette Harris, has not seen any social media posts. The OIC of the case, Sergeant Jones, has not seen anything for a total of one year now. The Lieutenant George Harris who was involved in the investigation in the first month, didn't see anything that he saw from social media or text. Now, after the 9th, Jarvis Buts on the 9th, we know bored borrowed Latricia Johnson's car overnight, which was unusual. He borrowed that from and then again borrowed it on the 10th or 11th. We know that Naziah's glasses were found in that car sometime after the 10th or 11th when Latricia Johnson was at that shop and Jarvis Butts snatches them out of her hand. From the Park Crest in and from January 9th, we go out to 7 mileberg. This is the by far the most important location in this case because we know that the defendant spent from 11:40 p.m. on the 10th to 1:34 a.m. nearly 2 hours in that area in that wooded area where the Rouge River runs through. And to give this is from the slideshow of the scene photos that were taken at 7 mileberg. This is the area where it's the people's theory. Jarvis Butts did at least one of two things. Either killed Hisiah at Sevenmile and Bird, but at the very least dumped her body in this location. We know this because of the evidence that was found there, specifically the black hoodie, which you see in this photo here, as well as the pink bodysuit and the shoes that we confirmed or that are hers based on the picture that the OIC received from her brother. And th those items were collected. The black hoodie and pink jumpsuit were tested and importantly Rion Green testified as to which swabs were which. This uh analysis here in hypothesis and result pertains to the left shoulder swab or sorry right shoulder swab on the Ziah Harris's black hoodie that she took that picture in when she was in school on January 9th. The one importantly that Annette Harris testified was in good condition when Naziah left. We will get to pictures of that, but this shows that Naziah Harris's DNA is there as well as Jarvis. And importantly, this is one of the stain swabs that was positive not just for blood, but human blood based on the hematrace results. In the next one, we have this pertains to not the stain swabs, but the regular swab that Rion Green testified was a wearer ID swab. Importantly here, Jarvis Butts' DNA from that swab that would have been taken around the neck of that sweater or the um end of the arms of that sweater is there with very strong support. And of course, Naziah's DNA is there as well. And when we look at that sweater specifically through the PowerPoint photos that Rion Green took and put together, we can see that there is a lot of markings on this. If the court looks closely on this, and I did, there are 15 phenopositive stain markings on this sweater. This is just the front of that sweater. And of course, the court paid attention and saw the um markings or the damage to the hood that it is the people's theory would have been stab wounds or something to that effect that happened when Jarvis Butts murdered Naziah Harris. We also have to look and it goes to the premeditation element as well as everything he did before at Jarvis Buds's actions. specifically what he did to attempt to conceal or cover up his role in the murder of Naziah Harris. First, we have the glasses that he made sure he grabbed directly from Latrice Johnson's hands when shown that are consistent with the glasses she had in the photo from the 9th when she was in school. We have the jail call to Cordell Wright to get that phone of his out of uh Miss Davis's car and into someone else's possession, which he testified he tried to do, but was ultimately unsuccessful. And then Sergeant Jones testified that they ultimately did recover that phone from Miss Davis's car. There's the phone call to Latricia Johnson which was played when she was testifying saying to get anything he touched clean to clean anything he touched to get anything don't drive her car drive his mom's car which is important because when you combine her testimony of when Jarvis Butts took her car those two times on the 9th and 10th and then either the next day or that same day. It's important because that car is the car that he transported in his eyeh Harris out to 70 mileing bird to either dump her body or to murder and then dump her body there. And we can go through all of the lies that Jarvis Buts told any detective or any officer that he testified to. But in highlighting those, he denies to detective Maize that he was with Nziah at all or had talked to Nzai at all on the 9th. Denies ever picking her up. denies to even when confronted with the Jan January 9th messages, he said that it wasn't him initially. Obviously, we heard in the subsequent interviews, specifically on June 1st with OIC with the OIC, he came off of that. He told Shannon Harris that Naziah texted him on the 9th. She says that he never did that. And we have some of their messages in the record as well. He denies going to a hotel and denies going to a hotel with Messiah Harrison. Denies having any sort of sexual relationship with Nziah even though the text now messages completely completely prove that that is an absolute lie. We also have his motive. We know from Sergeant Jones that he was going to be going into custody supposedly on January 9th for until roughly December, I believe, is what Sergeant >> I'm going to go back a little bit cuz I'm interrupting his sentence. But this is one of the biggest motivators for me when they were talking about those dates and I was like, she went missing on the 9th and he had court on the 9th. And so when the prosecution talked about his motive for why the night was so important and why it became so urgent, I'm like, "Yes, this is where we are with this one." And also, yes, denying that you even saw her when your sister saw you with her. And I think that was the same day. I I I'm trying not to mix it upside. say I think cuz I don't want to act like I know for a fact and I might be mixing up a date. But that's when that lady that um Cordell and Jarvis drove out there with or drove out to her house because of her mom's car, that lady saw Naziah. Um people saw you with Naziah on the day she went missing and his dummy is still like, "Oh no, I never saw her on the night." But this right here, I definitely believe was one of the high key motivations on why he um did what he did, why the 9th was such an important date. >> Prove that that is an absolute lie. We also have his motive. We know from Sergeant Jones that he was going to be going into custody supposedly on January 9th for until roughly December, I believe, is what Sergeant Jones testified to. We know that that date was adjourned because he said in his interview that he had a legal issue. He said it was out in Clinton Township. But I submit to this court that that's not the legal issue he was talking about. He was talking about the legal issue he would have had if Nia had been left alive. He had to make sure that when he was in custody that she was not going to give birth to any child of his. That's his motive in this case. That's why that's January 9th. Sentencing date was adjourned to February 7th so he could take care of that potential legal issue. He was being told consistently by Naziah throughout the months that she might be pregnant. And then on 11:27, he she says to him that it's [clears throat] hard to do this gym [ __ ] with this baby. Less than a week or two weeks later, he's searching on Google how to abort a baby. how to not just abort a baby or get an abortion, but how to do it at home, how to get rid of that without any medical professional or any responsible mandated reporter knowing about it. We clearly have that motive. And obviously, judge, one of the big issues in this case is proving that Msiah Harris is dead without having a body. On January 9th, she vanished off the face of the earth. There is absolutely no evidence after the 9th that she was alive, that she was sending messages to anyone. Her again legal guardian had not seen her since the 9th. No one else officers, friends, family have seen her since the 9th. There's no social media post reviewed by any officer to this day that would indicate she was alive. There's no messages, no further messages on text now after the 9th. There is a full and complete stop of any activity that would indicate she was alive. And judge, I submit to this court that if that were the evidence that we had at this point, that that would be enough at this point for a probable cause determination to show that she is in fact deceased today. However, there is more than that. Her hoodie found at Seven Mile and Bird, which we just saw a photo of, has Jarvis Buts's DNA on it and Niah Harris's DNA on it, and it is covered in blood, indicating that something traumatic happened to her. And the all the other evidence shows that something traumatic happened to her at the hands of Jarvis Buds. And then we go back to his motive. Was told by Naziah that she was pregnant, searched all of the home abortion procedures, and was going to go into the Wayne County Jail until December, which we just passed, of 2024. Judge, I submit to this court that the evidence that you have heard over the last four days proves not only that Niah Harris is currently deceased, but also that she was murdered by the defendant who had plenty of motive to do so, had plenty of opportunity to do so. And he did that. And I will note that the defendant in this case, Jarvis Buts, does not get a break because he successfully hid her body. the evidence to a probable cause determination, which the question is, is she probably dead? And did the defendant probably do that? Both questions are answered with a yes based on all >> I love that he said he does not get a pass because he successfully hides body. That was a great statement to me because that's exactly what the defense is to me trying to do. >> Probably do that. Both questions are answered with a yes based on all of the evidence that you have seen. I would reserve any further argument for rebuttal. Thank you. >> Thank you, Judge. >> Sorry. Now, before she starts this this private lawyer that's getting paid by somebody's money, like I said, probably one of the women in his life cuz which I don't know why would you fund this. I don't know. But watch the the male lawyer on the defense team. He's he falls asleep. I'm not even going to say he's struggling to not fall asleep. He falls asleep sometimes. That's that's your defense team. I know how well aware the court is that we have a very serious task here. Uh we've been here for 4 days and at this point we have to look critically at what we've heard and what we've seen over the last 4 days and determine if there's enough evidence by a probable cause standard that Mr. Butts committed premeditated first degree murder. And if you look critically at what the evidence is and the lack of connection between these pieces of alleged evidence, there is not not even by probable cause standard to bind over on premedit premeditated first-degree murder. There has to be sufficient facts or evidence to show by a probable cause standard that each of the elements of premeditated murder in the first degree were committed. First, there's got to be a death. There has to be evidence that the death that the defendant caused the death of the deceased. That some action that he made or did caused that person's death, that there was an intent to kill, that the intent to kill was premeditated, and that it was deliberate. And here there is not enough evidence, even by a probable cause standard, that Jarvis Buts commit caused the death of Misiah Harris. There's been no testimony of any eyewitness stating that they saw Jarvis Butts doing any act that could have caused Messiah Harris's death. There's been no testimony of any eyewitness that they saw Jarvis Butts doing anything in preparation of doing something that could have caused her death. And there's been no admission of Mr. [clears throat] Buts to support that element. There's not probable cause to believe that Mr. Mr. Butts had an intent to kill Messiah Harris, nor that he premeditated her death. There's no evidence of any threats made by Mr. Buts to Messiah. There's no evidence of any threats made to [clears throat] a third party that he was going to do something or that he had a problem that he had to take care of. The the issue or the the statement was he had a legal matter and uh Miss Davis testified that she was aware of an issue that he had in Clinton Township and that she was the one that was driving him around to court. There's no testimony that he took any specific action um in a deliberation to kill her or that in killing her. There's Google searches about um legal ways to abort a child, not how to kill somebody or dispose of a body. >> What about the Google search, can somebody drink red anifreeze? What about that one? There's no evidence [clears throat] that he did anything related to the Google searches. There's no receipts of purchases or anything like that. And these text messages were 2 weeks after they were I believe December 9th and 10th um which was I believe 2 weeks or 13 days um from 11:2723 which is the text message about uh gym class. And then there's this um kind of cryptic text message in between that says it healed. We don't know what that means, but we don't know what Mr. Butts took that to mean. It doesn't necessarily mean that he believed she was pregnant. There's no evidence of a pregnancy. We have medical records um until believe it's October of 2023 that don't indicate a pregnancy, that she had been to the doctor in September. Uh when she originally texts um or messages Mr. butts and says she thinks that she's pregnant. There's no evidence of a pregnancy that she went to the doctor. We heard from both her uh guardian, her grandmother, and her aunt Shannon Harris who lived with her. No testimony from either of them that they suspected that she was pregnant, that there was any medical um issues that they had to take care of because that would have caused them to think that she was pregnant. Um there was an insinuation, well, you know, was she wearing baggy clothing? Um was she wearing bigger clothing? There was no uh testimony that they had to go out and buy new clothes for her because her clothes didn't fit or that she started wearing baggy clothing. She was wearing uh denim pants on the day that she disappeared. And there's no testimony that those were not pants that she had they had recently bought because she didn't fit into the clothing that she previously had. There was no testimony from the grandmother and the aunt about her looking like she's pregnant because they are neglectful at least and complicit at most. They are they either have the at least need to be investigated by CPS type level of neglect or they need to be on trial too for murder type things. Like that's of course they're not going to testify about anything. they're at fault in this. >> There's no evidence of any kind of plan. There's no messaging between Mr. um Buts and Miss Harris that um indicates an escalation of animosity between the two of them. In fact, he essentially kind of starts to disengage. Um, and so [snorts] there's no there's no written uh evidence that he had any kind of plan or any animosity toward her at that point. Our uh submission would be that he understood at that point that she wasn't pregnant and was disengaging. Let's talk about what we did see. Um, so we know that Nessiah got on her school bus around 2:45 on the 9th. Uh she got off the bus a few minutes later and then she was seen walking up Bedford. Uh she was wearing at that point light color blue jeans, a black hoodie and then a colorful coat um with fur around the hood. Um there's some insinuation that somehow there was a plan that she would meet up with uh Mr. Butts. But the testimony of Mr. Wright was that they were driving around that afternoon back and forth to various auto parts stores. And I believe that they in fact had to go back to one kind of unplanned because um they either missed something or or there was an issue. And so to say that somehow um Mr. Butts would have known that she would have been on that street at that specific time and that they wouldn't have been there at that specific time is quite a leap considering they didn't know when where they were going to be when because they were doing all this driving around back and forth to various stores. Witnesses put Messiah and Mr. Mr. Butts auto shop later that afternoon. Uh, and then in Ipsellani with Mr. Butts and Cordell Wright and Mr. Wright puts her back at the shop later that evening. But then we hear from Sergeant Ouror um, who did all the cell phone mapping that at 9:00 p.m. Mr. Butts was actually at 13662 Wilshshire, which is his home where Angel Leonard lives and where they're they have kids. So, did I go back with him to that house? And then at 9:30 is when he checks in to the Park Crest Motel. Now, we don't know who was with him there, but there is no evidence that Naziah was ever there. They searched it. They took DNA. They took uh clippings of various things. They swabbed a shower drain, and there's no evidence that she was ever in that room. We did hear testimony that the Park is a known place where Mr. buts frequents and takes various lady friends for a rendevu. It's much more possible and plausible that he took somebody, one of his lady friends there than somebody who he was going to kill, right? He's going to a place where they know him. He's a frequent flyer there. [clears throat] And is he going to take somebody there um where he would later uh before he was going to kill them? That makes no sense. That is not logical. Uh we heard then that after Mr. Butts left the Parkrest Motel, he went to uh Fort Alexandrian um which is Midtown, so kind of across town. Um and that's where his other girlfriend Nene Rushing lives. So did he take uh did he take Naziah with her with him there to see Miss Rushing? Um and he stays there um for a while, I think, according to um Sergeant Oor's mapping. And then we hear that he is at 7 mileenberg um on January the 10th at 11:40 p.m. for over an hour. That's almost 24 hours from when he initially uh it's beyond 24 hours from when he initially is with Naziah or when he's last with Nziah. And so it's illogical to think that he was driving around with Naziah visiting all of his girlfriends or if he had done something to her previously that she was in the car with him while he did that. And in fact, they took a cadaabver dog around the car and didn't find anything. And they tested the vehicles, all of his vehicles, every car that he drove for DNA, for any uh sign that Naziah had been in there. And they found nothing. And the call to Miss Johnson asking her to wipe down the the Sentra that she used that he had borrowed is kind of irrelevant because she testified that she didn't do it. That she did nothing based on what he called to say and they still didn't nothing was found before she keeps going. Uh Derford, you took the words out of my mouth. Ladies, this entire situation makes no sense. There's no logic. He's a pedophile. He's not intelligent. So, yes, I can believe he frequented the Park Crest Motel and still took her there that night, too, because he's dumb. He's a pedophile. He is He There is nothing that gives me he would be smart about any of this. So yeah, it doesn't matter that it wouldn't make sense and someone someone would get caught that way. Oh well, he would still do it. Yeah. Yeah, he sure would. We heard about a pink jumpsuit that was found. We didn't hear any testimony that anybody saw wearing this pink jumpsuit. She's not seen wearing it in any video. I don't believe that anybody even identified it as being hers. I don't believe there was any testimony from either Annette Harris or Shannon Harris stating, "Yes, we recognize that pink jumpsuit. That's something that Niah wears." When did she have it? >> Wasn't Sorry. Wasn't the pink jumpsuit found in the same area as the hoodie, like at least near it around that river or whatever? And there's a lot of Nazia's DNA on the black hoodie, as well as a lot of Jarvis's DNA on the black hoodie. There was one blood stain on that jumpsuit and the testimony from uh the forensic analyst Rion Green was that it was such a small stain that she was afraid she would consume it if she did additional testing. She tested it once and couldn't do any follow-up testing or confir confirmatory testing because it was she was afraid they were going to consume the sample. There was also no stat statistically significant support for finding Mr. Butt's DNA on that stain sample from the pink jumpsuit. And there was no stat statistically um significant um probability that his DNA was on the jumpsuit at all, that he had had any contact with the jumpsuit. And they took a lot of swabs of that jumpsuit. Um, I believe the number was that forensic analyst Anderson testified to that it was 24 trillion times more likely to have originated from two unrelated unknown contributors than Jarvis Bots. Then we heard about the black hoodie and that black hoodie was significantly more weathered than the pink jumpsuit. We heard about that from um the Border Patrol agent Barnes and other folks that came into contact with that um that sweatshirt that it looked like it had been out in the weather much longer. And we don't have an explanation for that. Um, but those are appear to be tears in the top of the hood. They don't >> Are we not going to talk about I had learned a new number that day and I don't think I wrote it down cuz I don't know what page of my notes it was, but it was a it was to say a lot a lot of zeros that it was very likely that on the black hoodie that she's skipping over now. We're we don't want to talk trillions of numbers now. That that definitely was one it was positive for human blood and not just any human blood. It was Naziah's blood. But we going to skip over those numbers. That's way higher than the one she mentioned for the pink jumpsuit. >> Don't appear to be stab wounds and they certainly don't appear to be bullet holes. Um there's weak support for conclusion that Mr. Butts was a contributor to the stain and the swabs of the black hoodie. The only real support for any um DNA on the black hoodie was on the non-stained part. And there's testimony that Miss Harris was wearing that hoodie on the 9th, that she was in Mr. Butt's Escalade when he and Mr. Wright picked her up after seeing her walking down Harper, that they were in the car driving in in up to Ipsellani. And so the possibility that his DNA got on this non-stained part of the black hoodie um is not evidence of premeditated murder in the context of all the ways that we heard somebody's DNA can get on a piece of clothing. And I kind of talked about this, but we heard testimony that Mr. Buds drove both a Cadillac Escalade and a Nissan Sentra on January 9th and January 10th. Um, there's a lot of pieces of those cars that were tested. Trunk carpet from various areas in both cars. The driver's floor mat, the driver's seat, the door handle, trunk speakers, the trunk frame, all of those things were swabbed for blood and nothing. um was found. We heard about a school ID card that belonged to uh Nziah. We heard Valerie Smith testify that she noticed it at some point in February, um maybe a month or so after Naziah was last seen, and that she decided to pick it up two two and a half weeks after she first spotted it. But she was pretty clear that she only noticed it about two and a half or about two weeks before, but that she looked at it every single day. Seemingly if it had been there before then, she would have noticed it. When did it get there? We don't know. There was no evidence. There's no testimony as to that. And there was no other evidence found in the 7mi and Greenfield area. And there's no evidence that Mr. Buts was there. We talked a little bit about the medical records, but all they tell us is that Nah Harris didn't have a life-threatening condition as of October 24th. They don't tell us anything about her physical condition between the 24th and the 9th. And they don't tell us that she was pregnant. Um, they're just not relevant. Um, except for the fact, I guess, that they don't tell us that she was pregnant and she was there um on September the 27th, according to her text messages. What we haven't heard in the last 3 to 4 days is anything about a murder weapon. We've heard that they collected guns, but we don't know if any of them actually operated and they tested them for DNA and there was nothing found. When did those guns get taken from a house? when did they get put back if any of them had been used? And I mean, we just simply don't have any evidence as to whether they were even touched by Mr. Buds. Um, but certainly there was no DNA from Miss Harris on them. And if one was to use a gun to bludgeon somebody enough where they break the skin and bleed, there's going to be DNA on that gun. If there somebody is shot at close range by a gun, there's likely to be DNA on that gun. They found no DNA on a gun. There was initially testimony about all these knives that were found and then um when Mr. Rigggins did a little bit of digging. Well, one of them was a butter knife. One of them was rusted and under a seat and looked like it had been there forever. Um there's only one knife that they were actually interested in. They sent it for testing and there was nothing on it. And we know that they can test for blood even if something has been wiped clean because they do that and in fact they did that in this case. They found no blood on anything that uh the prosecution is positing could have been a murder weapon. Motive is not an element of premeditated homicide. There's evidence that Mr. Butts and Isaiah had a sexual relationship and we are at this point not contesting the bind over on those counts. Um, that would explain why Mr. Buts would not want to be honest about why he was with Messiah Harris. that would be enough to make somebody want to lie about uh their whereabouts or their connection to somebody. >> This is where I said his defense team actually admits that I mean we we we saw the text messages, but they actually admit that he had he violated Naza. >> There's no evidence that it went any further than that for him. No evidence that he had been confronted by anybody about a sexual assault. um no evidence that he was that he was being threatened um by Naziah to expose him or get him in trouble if he didn't do something that she wanted him to do. He by the time um January 9th rolled around, they weren't really speaking that much. She was in those text messages that we heard getting frustrated with him for ignoring her, but never once did she say, "Well, if you don't talk to me, I'm going to tell everybody what we've been doing." And so there's a complete lack of any motive for him to respond in that way. And I would point the court to a case. It's called People v. Fischer and it's 193 Mishap 284. It's a 1992 case and I've got got copies. >> Got it. This court want >> and I point the court to this case because it's a case where homicide was charged and nobody was found. All right. They tried it on this one. They tried it on this one. But as she's reading it, I'm like, I don't even have a law degree. And I I'm like I saw the first hole as soon as they started talking. Well, not as soon as, but you know, you'll get the glaring hole in this whole rational thing that they're about to try to do right now. Y'all will see it. I'm like, you tried it. >> Um, a woman named Joyce Fischer was killed and I believe it was 8 years after her death, her husband was charged. Um, he was convicted and ultimately the appellet court reversed the conviction because the evidence was insufficient to submit the case to a jury. Um, and so that was the error. And kind of the facts briefly, um, are that, um, Mr. and Mrs. Fischer were in the process of divorcing. It was a pretty contentious relationship. There had been lots of reports that he had been, uh, physically abusive to her. Um, and she had even testified that he had threatened to kill her in uh, mid January of 1978, um, approximately 3 months before she disappeared. um in April of 1978. Apparently, they were out together. They had lunch. Um and he was the last person to see her. After that, she disappeared. Um now, there was no um substantial testimony in that trial regarding her reliability, um her long or short-term plans, um that she had, you know, she had children, that she was devoted to them, um and that she wouldn't have essentially that she wouldn't have had any reason to run away or leave. Um, and so that gave rise to an inference that she was deceased. Um, the prosecutor in that case offered no evidence of an act that resulted in Joyce Fischer's death. Um, and the court previously has held that the victim's body, while it's not necessary to establish corpus delecti, um, there has to be something more. Um, there has to be in this case either an admission or confession. um uh physical evidence or some kind of witness testimony. Um in that case, there was no physical evidence such as blood stains or weapon linking the defendant to Joyce's death. He did not admit that he killed her. Um although the prosecutor offered equivocal statements there that he seemed to say, well, things didn't happen quite that way and um where it made it sound like maybe he did have something or some knowledge. Um the prosecutor there presented lots of evidence of defendants's motive and opportunity to kill her. Um but noted that those are not elements of the crime [clears throat] and inferences they said the court says may not be based on evidence that is uncertain or speculative or merely raises a conjecture or a possibility. And they said in that case the evidence did not rise above the level of conjecture. And that's what we have here. We have conjecture. We have a lot of pieces of supposed evidence, but we have no connection. They don't connect to each other. There are puzzle pieces. When you put them together, there's no picture. There is no big picture because there is no act that can be testified to that Mr. Butts did. And there's nothing to support that act. There's no evidence that he had a gun and used it. There's no evidence that he had a knife and used it. In fact, the evidence that the prosecutor put forward disputes those theories. The idea that Mr. Butts was in some cover up, the issue of his phone, I think, was pretty well cleared up by Miss Davis when she testified that to the idea that for as long as she's known him, she's never he's never wanted her to look at his phone. Um, and mostly because he's been dealing with who knows how many other women. >> No, because he's been dealing with who knows how many other children. um and that she had tried pretty much everything she could think of to get in that phone um well before any uh any of these allegations came about and that she's never been able to. And so it makes sense that he would not want her to get in that phone, especially if he assumed he was coming home um and wanted to have contact with her while he was um serving his sentence in the Wayne County Jail. Um that she not know that she was not the only uh female he was dealing with. We acknowledge that probable cause is a low standard, but it and it isn't just limit to limited to whether the prosecution has uh presented significant or sufficient evidence on each element of the offense, which we submit they have not. Um, they also must determine that there's a reasonable ground of suspicion supported by circumstances sufficiently strong to warrant a cautious person to believe the accused is guilty. Um, that definition of probable cause or that characterization comes from people e Carter which is 250 mishap 510. And so you have to have both elements of the crime met and also it has those elements have to be met by evidence that is sufficiently strong to believe that it is relevant that it actually proves what it is saying that it proves. And here we have conjecture, we have speculation, we have supposition and we have somebody who he did have something to hide. Um but there's no evidence that he did anything about that. He didn't threaten her. He didn't ask her, you know, or say if anybody finds out um that, you know, I will go to jail or you could go to jail or you could be hurt. There was nothing like that in any of those conversations that we saw. So, your honor, even by the relatively low standard of probable cause, we'd submit that there is insufficient evidence of both the idea that Mr. buts did something to cause the death of Misiah Harris and that he intended to or that he intended to kill her or that that intent to kill was premeditated. We don't know what happened when she left his shop on January the 9th around 9:00. But I think it's safe to say we know she didn't go to his house where Angel Leonard was or Angel Leonard would probably be here in court and telling us what a weird interaction she had with him and why it was strange that he wouldn't come inside the house or why he wouldn't let her out by the car where he was. We don't have any evidence that she came she went with him to the Park Motel. We don't have any evidence that they were together beyond 8:30 9:00 on January the 9th. And for that, we're asking the court to deny binding over on count one premeditated murder in the first degree. >> Let me tell you right now, I'm glad they suck. I hope this is exactly the team he keeps if it goes to trial cuz I don't want him to get better. I don't want somebody to make a better argument. This is a sucky argument and I'm glad about it. I need it to stay sucking so we can go ahead and get him to where he needs to go for a long time. Thank you. [clears throat] First, judge, I'm going to start with um talking about people vis. And it is important to note that this case is distinguishable for the following reasons. One, we're talking about a different standard. This was a trial issue, a directed verdict standard where the um court is saying at trial beyond a reasonable doubt. First of all and foremost, it's distinguishable for that reason. Secondly though, the court in Fiser said in this case there was no physical evidence such as blood stains or a weapon linking defendant to Joyce's death. In this case, we have blood stains. We have blood stains on the hoodie that was found at 7 mile where the defendant spent 2 hours on the night of the 10th going into the 11th. that places them together in the same spot and uh is very strong evidence that Nziah Harris is in fact dead. Secondly though, judge having dealt with people v Fischer, we talked, Miss Quick talked about the 9th and 10th that no one saw the defendant with Messiah for that day going into the 10th and into the 11th. However, we heard from one of his uh significant others or girlfriends that he was secretive, that he didn't want anyone looking at his phone. And we certainly know that he knows how to keep different women and/or girls away from each other. For example, I believe it was Shannon Harris that testified that she was familiar with an address of Outer Drive in Belffort, but she had no idea other than the fact that she would pick the defendant up there at different times. We know, >> and I just want to add one of those women, I think it was possibly Tatiana, the one that had the oh my god, the Nissan or something. But I feel like she also said it was very normal that he would not sleep the whole night at the house. he would get up 2:00 in the morning, 3:00 in the morning. It's normal for him to be out the house. That's something that you don't know what he's doing at that time. So, yeah, he has he has patterns that I'm sure he's keeping. Not again to be smart, but just because he's so deceitful that they don't none of these women know what's going well, how can I say this? I can see how none of the women knew for sure about the other women, but I still say I do believe the grandma and aunt at minimum knew more that was going on than what they want to say now. And I still need them to be investigated >> through other testimony that the defendant was dating someone that lived there. And with respect to Miss Quick saying that Naziah never threatened him, never did anything. I'm not sure if this one text message was highlighted by the OIC in this case when she testified, but on November 27th, 2023 at 23 minutes and 23 hours and 37 minutes UTC time, Naziah said to the defendant, "When I see you, I'mma [ __ ] you, tell you regret not answering my calls, which I would submit to this court is a threat." And then just over a month later, she says she goes missing at the hands of the defendant. And Miss Quick also talked about the driving around that Cordell and Jarvis were doing and how it was an unplanned u meetup with Naziah on the 9th. However, that may be true from Cordell's perspective because he wouldn't have known what Jarvis's plan was at that time. But clearly on the 9th, send okay. if you seen the message so I can delete your number. And then the defendant's response, okay? And Jarvis was the one driving her Cordell's testimony. Now, Miss Quick also talked about the knives and how the knives found in the defendant's car of the one that was tested came back negative, and that's true. We cannot dispute that. However, we know that that was more than a month after giving the defendant plenty of time to clean it. But beyond that, judge, this case is one where the defendant thought to and successfully did hide the body. And it's a common sense inference that if he thought to hide the body, he would also think to get rid of the murder weapon at the same time. And Judge MissQ is right. We are talking about a probable cause standard. And as I said, the question is, did the defendant with premeditation probably murder Desiah Harris? And I submit to this court that the answer is yes. And circumstantial evidence, as is noted in the jury instructions at trial court or in circuit court, is just as good as direct evidence. And yes, this is a circumstantial case. But when we put those circumstances together, including the physical evidence, the cell phone evidence, which I would equate with physical evidence [clears throat] for purposes of that, as well as the defendant's opportunity and motive, the picture becomes very clear that the defendant, Jarvis Buds, took the life of Nziah Harris to protect himself from the eventual discovery of his child that he was going to have with her, or at the very least thought he was going to have with her. I ask this court to bind over as charged with the addition or increase of criminal sexual conduct second degree. Thank you. As far as Kisher, I agree with the people that this case is distinguishable. This is a case regarding a trial. Uh and the one thing I had highlighted in pink is the quote. In this case, there was no physical evidence such as blood stains or a weapon leaking defendant to Joyce's death. In this case, uh, we don't have the same facts or circumstances. I do agree this is a circumstantial case and circumstantial evidence is sufficient for a bind over and even conviction. Um, today is January 9th, 2025. Exactly. Okay. Um, just before the judge goes in, I want to say that she made me feel so validated by some of the things that she says because I waited to watch this until today and now I'm re-watching it with y'all. So, when I'm sitting there listening to the grandmother, to the aunt, to what I've read about Cordell's testimony, I got to go find his testimony. I'm just like, what are the adults doing? Like, just I'm sorry. I'd rather be the overprotective parent that's like you, sorry for it. You're not going to go earn money with your with your uncle and your how can I put this? No, not even your uncle. Your aunt's baby daddy. No, you're not going to his shop. I don't have eyes on you. Sorry. You going you can sweep the kitchen or something and we'll find a way for you to earn an allowance around this house. Like you're not these these little girls are not. And then he has a history already. What he was going to court for on the 9th, I believe, cuz every time I looked up his his criminal history, only thing I saw was violating children. I didn't see anything else. So January 9th, which is more reason why he would have done what he did when he was scheduled originally to go back to court on January 9th for his sentencing for another crime. You don't he didn't want to have another minor that was uh showing that they were pregnant by him. Like he has a history. I need people to look more into the background of other people. Um, but you first of all, you have to actually care about the children to even do that. Um, have enough self-esteem for yourself to even not want to deal with somebody if you had children or you didn't have children that has a history like that. And then just don't leave opportunity. Just be suspicious. It helps the kids. Just be suspicious. The default is just be suspicious. Um, today is January 9th, 2025, exactly one day, one year excel from the day Nziah Harris disappeared. Before I get into the charges, uh, and the main charge of premeditated first-degree murder, I have to speak on Nziah Harris and the community who killed her. And I am only presented with certain evidence. I don't know the whole story. The attorneys know more than me. The family knows more than me. But from what I have heard over the last four days and five days total is that several people failed her. I don't know where her mother is. I don't know anything other than that she was forced to live in a home where she was not protected or given the adequate attention and love. I don't know where her father is. I don't have any mention of him in her life. no presence to Cordell aka King and all the men who saw Jarvis butts hanging out and always around these young girls including Isiah and her his 9-year-old daughter going up to the shop to clean up his shop. the school counselor who never showed up or the person who was supposed to show up if that counselor was absent after Naziah was on the floor on the day she went missing saying that she need to speak someone and speak to a counselor. There's no mention of CPS, but I wonder what their involvement was over the years because this was not just a one-year thing. their text messages at least from 2022 to her adoptive grandmother Annette Harris whose testimony in my opinion was very questionable. I understand why the people put her on the stand to establish Naziah's residence and the house was on Bedford and the regular routine to establish also that Naziah was not a runaway child that she was not a bad kid. I do believe she adopted Nia. I do believe that she had six kids in the house. I believe that Nziah had on a dark hoodie the day she went missing and that she had on red and black Nikes that day. What is hard to believe is that the defendant never came into the house as she testified. And there was also a minor minor that testified that he did as well. text messages that show between him and Zia that he did in the basement saying he was going to the shower stealing her panties. He was always lurking around the house and asking for Janiah and the night from what I know. I even thought about the breakfast routine and saying that all the kids like eating breakfast at school. Did they have a choice? I don't know. But to always send those girls up there to clean up the shop raises questions. And how [snorts] were there two women in the house who have birthed children themselves who did not noticed that Nazia was pregnant? And I believe she was and not having her period anymore. But then after hearing text [snorts] messages today begging Jarvis for pads as if she didn't have anyone else to give them for her. And what stood out the most was when Annette Paris stood on the stand the stand and she learned around 6 p.m. that Nia did not come home from school. Instead she looked around for her and decided to wait until the next morning to call the police. without a tear, without emotion or any expression of being devastated. And to her aunt Shannon, who also showed no emotion, expression of being devastated from Nziah going missing. She stated that she had friends helped look for Nziah, but was directed to just wait until the morning to call the police. A grown woman who likely suspected something strange going on didn't feel the need to call the police either. They were both able to go to sleep at night without hearing from the Zia or having any indication that she was coming home that night. And of course the defendant who I will get to in a minute in a minute. I don't know who else failed Desiah but the community did. [clears throat] As far as the people establishing probable cause, I will focus on count one at has been stated that there is no contention with counts two and three. In count three, I will amend based off of the motion in the testimony I heard that Lazada was 12 and not 13 at the time that Jarvis Buts had sexual intercourse with her. The prosecution is correct. You do not have to have a body to establish first-degree preit premeditated murder. It it would have been a much shorter exam had her body been found. But this is where we are in the last 365 days. No text messages. We all heard today and yesterday that she was very active and frequently text. No social media for a year. We heard through testimony that she was also active on social media. No phone calls, which she was also able to do according to testimony. No physical sighting of her by anyone. She never came back to school. No one has seen her. Medical records dated from July 2014 to October 2023 indicated that she had no life-threatening medical issues that would lead to a natural cause of death. The black hoodie found in the area 7 with her DNA [snorts] and blood on it. the holes in the hoodie consistent with some sort of struggle, violence, or weapon being used. And we know that there were no holes in that hoodie when she wore it to school. We saw a picture of her in a black hoodie on her last day that everyone saw her. I do believe her grandma testified truthfully about the sweatshirt that she had on, and that was practically new. and the border agent who said that no evidence of animals [snorts] uh would have destroyed the the clothing or the shoes uh to possibly lead to animals tearing up that hoodie. The clear glasses found in the blue Nissan the day after she went missing. The behavior of the defendant when he snatched those glasses, they looked exactly like the glasses she had on in her last picture. According to the witness, the shoes that her brother described as the same shoes that were found also in the area of Seven Mile Bird near the hoodie. While this is still probable cause, the evidence all points to Jarvis's butts. His locations, him being seen with her last, the abortion searches, the abrupt silence between the two of them and text messages, and the constant lies he told throughout the entire investig investigation. And they were proven to be lies with text messages and other testimony. We may never know what happened, but from what I heard today [snorts] and over the last four or five days, it appears he intended to perform what he thought was a do-it-yourself abortion on Desiah. They went south and instead of seeking medical attention for her, he intentionally killed her and tried his best to cover it up. As much as I want her to be alive today, there is at least probable cause to show and believe that she's dead and she was murdered by Jarvis B. Mr. Butt, stand up. You've been sitting over there for four [snorts] days with your head down, hitting between and behind your attorney with your mask on and taking vigorous notes. I want you to pay attention and listen to everything I have to say. I have been trying to figure out for the last five days you at one point I thought you were cognitively impaired in the beginning of this exam and that maybe you had the brain of a 10-year-old and that's why you were doing such things but as I heard more and more testimony [snorts] you are just the true definition of a pedophile watching you laugh and brag about all the women you have with ch with different women [snorts] and the children and the girlfriends and making babies to groom them and having them in your presence and cleaning up quote cleaning up your shop and the little girls around you has landed you here today. You groomed Ziah. You played mind games with her. We all heard that you controlled her emotionally. She was exposed to so much at such a young age. The text messages between you two were disgusting to hear and to think that she had you saved in her home as bay for life. Zia deserves so much more. And while I mentioned other people that failed her driver's butts, you are the monster in this whole picture. She did deserve love from her parents and everyone who was in her life. She was ignored. She was neglected. And you took complete advantage of that. She wanted someone to love her. And she will never know what that feels like. Your children deserve more. As much as defense council has raised issues on count one, all that has done is raise the question of fact for the trial of fact, which means that this would be for a jury or a judge to hear in third circuit. I pray for the healing of all the victims and the young girls and possibly boys who have come into contact with you. As a community, we should look at this case as a prime example of how much work we have to do when it comes to protecting our children and especially our black girls. Thank you for >> I pray for closure and healing for all those who have been traumatized by you and for you jar butts. I wish you a speedy trial and that justice be delivered. Your bind over date is January 16th at 9:00 a.m. >> Anything else for the record? Do the right thing and tell us where she's at. Please. >> I'm sorry, Judge. Just do it. Jarvis, >> where is she at? Jarvis, >> just tell us. >> I'm sorry. I'm not trying to disrespect your turn off the camera, please. >> [snorts] >> Okay, I don't have anything to follow up Judge Aaliyah Sabri because she she got it so right. There's nothing to say after that. So, only thing I'm going to say instead of talking about what she said, because it needs to just be right there and let it rest right there. I hope that whomever is having the outburst in the courtroom, we're not a part of the community that failed Naziah because I don't want to hear a woo Lord, tell us where her body is now, blah blah blah. If you were part of the community that failed her, now I know not everybody um played a role in that. So, that's why I'm saying I hope cuz I don't know who's back there and some of them could honestly be feeling real pain, but I just I don't know. Um, sometimes people are very performative. Um, yeah, the judge was spot on. Yeah. Noir Angel, you're with you're with me. Who is that pleading with Jarvis? You're with me. That's what I'm talking about. Like, you see, you be on the same Some of us be on the same page. I'm like, "All right, who who's back there? Um, yeah. Put my kicks up said turn the camera and mic off. It's a show for them. So, y'all kind of picked up on the same thing. I'm just I don't I don't feel it. I don't know who's back there. So, I can't connect with whomever may not have had a role in what happened to her. So, I just don't feel it. I didn't want to hear it either. Oh, y'all said it was the grandma and Shannon saying that. Oh. Oh my god. Help me, Jesus, and help my tongue because No. I I swear to God, it better not have been. There's no way it could have been them. There's no way. Oh my gosh. They need to be investigated. They do. And I wish their phones had have been had the whole extraction done just like they did to Jarvis's phone and to Nazia school tablets and stuff like that. I wish they did the same thing with those women's devices. Um I was reading where y'all reminded me that um it came up that they were putting locks on the refrigerator. Just evil stuff. And like over here sometimes we watch interrogation videos and um there are some parents that they were they they were starving the kid doing stuff like that and then punishing the kid when they were starving enough to go ahead and just steal food. But I'm like steal food. They're hungry. Like it's not a stealing. that that's crazy to even phrase it that way, but that's how they were phrasing it to the detectives and stuff like that. So, I'm just going to say that I'm going to try to find Cordell Wright's testimony cuz over here we didn't get to watch that together. So, I'm going to try to find that. Um, I'm also hoping to find footage of the final pre-trial date. Um, and then hopefully we'll see if it does go to trial, we'll be able to see that. Um, I always set the expectation that I'm one that will be behind. I'm not in real time or on time because of how my job is and other demands that I have. But I still show up though. I just show up later. You probably already had some time to digest it. Then you can kind of come over here. Help me stay on track for one cuz you've already kind of got your own notes going as well. And we're just kind of talking about it together. So, that's kind of the expectation I set for trials and cases like this because I know I can't catch it as it's happening, but I still care about it. Um, okay. Put my kicks up. Said Roxy doesn't mess with them. I hope they can't sleep at night either, Mary. I really hope they can't. Oh, yeah. Thank you, Run Ron. Run Ron said, "Also, I believe the guy that was working with him in that shop on that day and rolled with him in the car to drop off that car knows more than what he's saying." I do, too. I feel like he's seen more. I I I do too. I'm like he Uhuh. Jarvis was too comfortable around him. I'm No, I don't think he didn't. He just thought, "Oh, that's just his niece and daughter coming to clean up the shop." I don't I don't believe that. Um yes, if I Yeah, if I can see the trial, I definitely will. Just will be behind others that can do it in real time. But thank y'all for being here and um I will see y'all again at another time. I appreciate your time and I'll talk to y'all later. Bye.