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AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (BFMG) — What began as an urgent search for a missing 4-year-old in Aiken County has turned into a homicide investigation, with the sheriff announcing Friday that little Javeayah “Jaya” Harris had likely been dead for at least a month before she was reported missing — and that both of her parents are now in custody.
Sheriff Marty Sawyer said every available local, state and federal resource was deployed in the days after Javeayah was reported missing on June 30, including ground and air searches, neighborhood canvasses and specialized teams. Crews worked long hours in extreme heat across several days.
“Every resource available [was used] to find Javeayah and to bring her home safely,” Sawyer said, adding that agencies brought “valuable resources, specialized expertise, but most of all, an unwavering commitment to bring Javeayah home.”
But in a sobering update, the sheriff said evidence now shows the child could not have been saved by the time the 911 call came in.
“Sadly, the night of the 911 call on June 30, when that call was made, it was already too late to save Javeayah,” Sawyer said. “At this time, our investigation supports that she had been deceased for at least a month.”
Sawyer did not release details about how or where investigators believe the child died, citing the ongoing investigation and potential future court proceedings.
Massive search transitions to homicide probe
From the outset, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with multiple partners, including the FBI, South Carolina Highway Patrol, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), surrounding sheriff’s offices and local public safety departments.
Sawyer specifically thanked:
The FBI’s Columbia Field Office
South Carolina Highway Patrol
SLED
Sheriffs from Edgefield, Lexington, Kershaw and Richmond counties
Public safety leaders in Aiken and North Augusta
Aiken County Emergency Management, Aiken County EMS and Lexington County Fire Service
He also praised local volunteer fire departments and faith groups, including Bethel Baptist Church near the search area, which opened its doors to provide food, water, restrooms and air conditioning for exhausted search teams.
“The professionalism, cooperation, and dedication demonstrated by everyone is nothing short of exceptional,” Sawyer said. “We received an overwhelming amount of support through sharing information, donations of food and water, and countless acts of kindness.”
The sheriff explained that while search teams were working in the field, a separate investigative team was already looking at leads and records away from the search area. As time passed and no credible proof of life emerged, investigators began to shift toward the possibility that Javeayah was no longer alive.
“When we figured out she wasn’t there anymore is when we backed everybody out and focused on this,” he said, referring to the homicide investigation.
FBI: ‘We are not standing here with better news’
Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI’s Columbia Field Office said the federal agency has been involved since the beginning, deploying specialized teams and analysts to support local investigators.
“With the information we had at the time, we put every available resource into finding Javeayah,” Moore said.
He said dozens of FBI personnel assisted with searches, neighborhood canvasses, digital media review, and interviews. The agency also brought in:
The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit
The Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team
Technical experts to support the search and investigation
“Whenever a child goes missing, it’s a joint effort to find them, and the FBI works hand in glove to assist law enforcement agencies in doing so,” Moore said. “It’s heartbreaking — heart-breaking — that we are not standing here with better news.”
Moore thanked community members for their tips, compassion and efforts to help locate the child, and said the priority now has shifted.
“Now, we are all focused on pursuing justice for Jaya, for Javeayah, because that’s what she deserves,” he said.
Parents arrested; case under active investigation
During the briefing, officials said that both of Javeayah’s parents, 23-year-old Johmarea Kevanita Harris and 22-year-old Michilae Monique Herring have been arrested and charged with murder/homicide by child abuse and her mother has an additional charge of filing a false police report in connection with the case.
In earlier public appeals, investigators had asked anyone who saw or had contact with Javeayah between June 15 and June 30 to come forward. That time frame raised early questions about when the child was last definitively seen alive and whether there was recent proof of life.
Community members from an area where the family previously lived, including Union, had reportedly raised concerns about the child’s welfare, including allegations of substance use in the home and past involvement by the Department of Social Services. Some neighbors have said they had helped feed and care for the child in the past.
Sawyer declined to share specifics of how investigators concluded Javeayah had been dead for at least a month or what evidence led to the charges against the parents, citing the active case.
“This is still an active investigation that we are working as we speak and we stand here,” the sheriff said. “Answers may be limited, or I may tell you I’m just not going to answer that question.”
He said additional updates will come either through future press conferences or written releases.
Law enforcement is also asking the public to stay away from areas where investigators believe evidence may be located, to avoid interfering with ongoing searches and processing.
Community support and next steps
Both the sheriff and the FBI emphasized how much community support has meant to first responders and investigators throughout the search and now the homicide investigation.
Sheriff Sawyer thanked local media for helping circulate Javeayah’s photo and information, and he repeatedly expressed gratitude to residents for their patience, prayers and encouragement.
“All that means more to us as law enforcement and first responders than you’ll ever know,” he said.
For now, authorities say the focus has shifted fully to building a case that can hold up in court and securing justice for Javeayah.
The only peace that I can find from this story is that this Beautiful and Beloved Child of God, Sister of Jesus and and the Holy Ghost is no longer suffering from the pain and torture her mother “devil” and father also “devil” May you rest in peace and sit with our Lord