Parents used chemicals to dispose of 4-year-old Javeayah’s body, says sheriff
AIKEN COUNTY, SC (WOLO) — Thursday morning, investigators with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference to provide a tragic update on 4-year-old Javeayah Harris.
Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer described the search for the missing child as growing into something he would’ve never imagined. “In my 37 year career in law enforcement, I have never, ever heard of anything so horrific,” he says.
According to Sheriff Sawyer, Javeayah’s parents — Michilae Herring and Johnmarea Harris — allegedly used corrosive chemicals and other tools to accelerate the destruction of their child’s body after she died.
“I will not refer to them as mom and dad or mother and father. They don’t deserve that title,” Sheriff Sawyer says.
According to investigators, “extensive and deliberate efforts were made to conceal and destroy evidence” — following the 4-year-old’s death.
“These two individuals poured what remains were left of Javeayah into the Cedar Creek Reservoir, says Sheriff Sawyer (part of that reservoir also known as Stumpy Pond in Fairfield County).
Authorities believe the 4-year-old had been dead for at least a month before Herring, who was also pregnant at the time, called 911 to report her daughter missing.
Both parents remain behind bars and are charged with homicide by child abuse and desecration of human remains.
The Aiken community now planning a new vigil for Thursday night — the first was in hopes of finding her — now the sheriff and others wanting “Justice for Javeayah.”
Community members responded to her being missing earlier this week before Thursday’s news. One mother saying, “It hit me in a place I didn’t even know I had. Because I love her and I don’t even know her.” Another local resident saying, “I couldn’t save her, but after I could bring a balloon, and bring some flowers. We love you and we’ll continue to say your name.”
Sheriff Sawyer says details on how Javeayah died before her body was disposed of are known — but they are not making that information public at this time.
