Authorities believe 4-year-old Javeayah Harris is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ; parents arrested
Newly released warrants detail allegations against the parents charged in the death of 4-year-old Javeayah Harris in Aiken County.
AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. — Newly released arrest warrants provide additional details about the investigation into the death of 4-year-old Javeayah Harris, whose parents are charged in connection with her death.
The warrants allege that Javeayah’s mother, 23-year-old Michilae Monique Herring, caused the child’s death “under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life” by not seeking medical attention after knowing Javeayah had been injured. Investigators allege the child remained in the home after her death between May 1 and June 15, 2026.
Herring is charged with homicide by child abuse and filing a false police report. According to the warrant for the false report charge, investigators allege Herring reported Javeayah missing to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office on June 30, despite knowing the child was dead and had been disposed of at another location. Herring admitted to disposing of Javeayah’s body, according to a warrant.
News 19 obtained audio of the call deputies said the mother made to 911 on June 30 claiming her daughter couldn’t be found, weeks after investigators say Javeayah was already dead.
Dispatcher: OK, I’m on the way to you just to confirm. Where was she in the house when you saw her last?
Michilae Herring: No, she wasn’t in the house, ma’am. She’s been playing outside today, and she asked me, can she play for a little bit more before it got dark, and I said yes. And I literally, her bathwater is in the tub, and dinner is cooking, and I came out here to get her, and I can’t even find her.
Dispatcher: OK, is there a certain place she likes to play outside?
Michilae Herring: Usually in the chicken coop and that’s usually where I find her every day and I just looked in here and she’s not in here.
The warrant for 23-year-old Johmarea Kevanta Harris alleges he also caused Javeayah’s death “under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life” by not seeking medical attention for the child after knowing she had been injured. Investigators further allege he contributed to concealing her death by failing to report it and leaving the child’s body in the home between May 1 and June 15, 2026.
The updated allegations come a day after an Aiken County judge deferred bond decisions for both parents.
During separate hearings Sunday, the judge said he did not have the authority to set bond because of the severity of the charges. A circuit court judge is expected to decide whether either defendant will be granted bond within the next 30 days.
Authorities have said they believe Javeayah had been dead for at least a month before her disappearance was reported to 911 on June 30.
Investigators continue searching for the child’s body.
Monday, law enforcement were on scene investigating in Fairfield County off of Peay Ridge Road at the Debutary Creek Access Area.
Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department told us they are assisting by keeping the scene secure, but they are strictly a supporting role.
And the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is also assisting, who says in a statement:
“We can confirm out investigations unit, dive team, and K-9 unit have been assisting Aiken County with the search for Javeayah Harris.”
News 19 asked the Aiken County Sheriff’s Department how they knew to search in Fairfield County, but they could not confirm to us at this time.
Sheriff Marty Sawyer previously said the search has shifted from a missing child investigation to a recovery and criminal investigation, with authorities focusing on a specific area outside Aiken County.
If convicted of homicide by child abuse, both Herring and Harris face 20 years to life in prison. Herring also faces a charge of filing a false police report.
Source: https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/warrants-new-details-death-of-javeayah-harris/101-5a841bb1-b418-48ef-a76d-a6eaab98df8c
