Parents of missing 4-year-old Javeayah Harris charged with homicide, sheriff says

AIKEN S.C. (WACH) — Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer said Saturday that investigators believe 4-year-old Javeayah Harris is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

Her parents were arrested on homicide by child abuse charges, authorities said.

Sawyer said investigators believe the child has been ᴅᴇᴀᴅ for at least one month and that the outcome was “the outcome that we all feared.”

“This is the hardest announcement in my 36 years working in law enforcement,” Sheriff Sawyer said.

“I am deeply saddened to tell you our investigation and evidence leads us to believe 4-year-old Javeayah Harris is deceased.”

Authorities arrested the child’s father, 23-year-old Johmarea Harris, on a charge of homicide by child abuse, and her mother, 22-year-old Michilae Herring, on charges of homicide by child abuse and filing a false police report.

Additional charges may follow as the investigation continues.

The parents of Javeayah Harris were arrested and charged with homicide by child abuse and filing a false police report, Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer announced Saturday.

He said the search for Javeayah is continuing, including in an area of interest outside Aiken County, and that law enforcement agencies are still dedicating resources to the case.

“We put every resource available to find Javeayah and to bring her home safely.” Sheriff Sawyer said

Sawyer said investigators had spoken with the child’s extended family and asked for privacy as they cope with the case.

He thanked local, state, and federal agencies, volunteer fire departments, emergency management officials, and multiple law enforcement leaders across South Carolina for their help in the investigation.

“We can only imagine what they are going through,” Sawyer said of the family. “We put every resource available to find Javeayah to bring her home safely.”

A press conference was held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office to provide an update on the investigation involving 4-year-old Javeayah Harris, who has been missing since Tuesday.