A man appeared in a Michigan court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to raping a killing a 13-year-old girl who vanished last year and was never found.

N’Ziyah Harris disappeared in January 2024 — months after she reportedly informed Jarvis Butts, 41, of her pregnancy. Butts pleaded not guilty to first-degree premeditated murder, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and child sexually abusive activity days after a judge ruled there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial, according to WWJ-TV.

READ: ‘Serial Child Rapist’ Who Killed Pregnant 13-Year-Old Also Gave Chlamydia to Girlfriend’s 4-Year-Old Daughter

Butts, the father of one of Harris’ cousins, allegedly started grooming her with sexually-explicit texts in 2022. Prosecutors have accused Butts of raping and impregnating Harris. Before Harris’ presumed slaying, Butts allegedly searched online about abortions, abortion pills, and drinking anti-freeze.

According to WWJ-TV, Harris was last seen getting off her school bus. Text messages suggested Butts told Harris he would pick her up from school the same day she was last seen alive.

Butts is charged with Harris’ murder even though her body was never found. However, Butts was traced to the Rouge River in Detroit a day after Harris’ disappearance. A single shoe belonging to Harris was reportedly discovered at the river. Additionally, a black hoodie found in the vicinity allegedly had both Harris and Butts’ blood on it.

Butts was convicted in 2005 of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. In that case, he admitted to having sex with a child and was sentenced to seven years. He is not only facing criminal charges for sexually abusing two other girls, but prosecutors said he assaulted an 8-year-old family member and transmitted chlamydia to his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter.

Reports indicated that Harris’ family contacted Child Protective Services about Butts before Harris’ disappearance as they believed he was having inappropriate contact with her and other children.

Prosecutors believe Butts killed Harris because he did not want Harris having his child while he was in custody for an unrelated gun case. Butts was expected to turn himself in the same day Harris vanished, but the date was pushed back to February 2024.

A conference hearing is scheduled for March 7.