Authorities in South Carolina have confirmed the arrest of the parents of 4-year-old Javeayah Harris, who is believed to be dead. This development comes as the heartbreaking investigation unfolds.
Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer Jr. revealed this somber update on July 4. He noted that investigators now suspect Javeayah passed away before being reported missing on June 30.
“We utilized every resource at our disposal to locate Javeayah and hoped to bring her back safely,” Sawyer stated. “Tragically, it seems our efforts were already in vain by the time the 911 call was placed on June 30th. Current findings indicate she has been deceased for at least one month.”
In addition, Sawyer announced the arrests of Javeayah’s parents, 23-year-old Johmarea Harris and 22-year-old Michilae Herring, both of whom face charges of homicide by child abuse. Herring is also charged with filing a false report.
Sawyer expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is the most difficult announcement I’ve had to make in my 36 years of law enforcement service. It grieves me to inform you that our investigation and evidence suggest that Javeayah Harris, just four years old, is no longer with us. It’s the dreaded reality we confront, but we shall face it together as a strong community. Our commitment to the search for Javeayah continues.”
What Happened to Javeayah Harris?
The investigation began June 30 after Javeayah’s mom called 911 to report that the 4-year-old disappeared while playing near the family’s chicken coop at their Aiken home, according to The Augusta Press.
Authorities were told the Javeayah—described by the sheriff’s office as “smart, talkative, and friendly”—was last seen wearing a pair of Crocs and Minnie Mouse pajamas.
In the days that followed, a massive search effort was launched to try to find the girl. Multiple law enforcement agencies and other first responders joined together to search more than 5,000 acres, according to the sheriff’s office, using helicopters, drones and ground searches.
“We have trained emergency management personnel and law enforcement officers,” the sheriff’s office noted at the time, “who have blanketed the area using proven search and rescue techniques and are not accepting volunteers.”
Yet, the direction of the investigation changed course on July 4, when Sawyer announced that evidence led investigators to now believe that Javeayah died weeks before she was ever reported missing.
Authorities have not provided any information about what led them to draw that conclusion.
The sheriff’s office has said they remain committed to finding Javeayah.
Neighbor Says Others Had Tried to Care For Javeayah Harris
Before law enforcement authorities made the announcement, one of the family’s neighbors, identified only as Ms. Young, told WYFF that something seemed off about the story that the little girl would have just wandered away from home.
“She won’t cross the street; she likes to hold people’s hands,” Ms. Young explained. “Even when she walked to the refrigerator, she still wanted to hold your hand.”
She added that other neighbors in the area had allegedly helped care for the girl after raising concerns about her wellbeing at home.
“They fed her, bathed her, and gave her new clothes and sent her back home,” she told the outlet. “It wasn’t just me; people in that neighborhood noticed the exact same thing.”
Javeayah’s mother reportedly gave birth to another child July 1. The sheriff’s office announced July 4 that the newborn had been placed in the care of other family members, The Augusta Press reported.
Both of Javeayah’s parents were denied bond July 5, WYFF reported. Its unclear whether either has retained an attorney.
Oxygen reached out to the county’s public defender but did not receive an immediate response.