Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer Press Conference

Full Press Conference on July 4, 2026 from Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer. On Saturday, 4 July 2026, the Aiken County Sheriff's Office announced the heartbreaking update that 4-year-old Javeayah Harris is deceased, and both of her parents have been arrested and charged with homicide by child abuse. Investigators determined that Javeayah had been deceased for approximately a month before a call to emergency services reported her missing. This means the massive search effort - which involved nearly 200 officers, the FBI, and SLED searching over 5,000 acres - was launched long after it was already too late to save her. • The Suspects: Her parents, 23-year-old Johmarea Harris and 22-year-old Michilae Herring, are in custody. • The Charges: Both face charges of homicide by child abuse and filing a false police report. • Recovery Efforts: Law enforcement is currently focusing its priorities on recovering Javeayah's remains from an undisclosed location outside of Aiken County. The community and advocates have rallied behind the call for #justiceforjaveayah , expressing profound grief and anger over the tragic neglect and loss of a vulnerable child who deserved safety, love, and a future. #JaveayahHarris #johmareaharris #michilaeherring #truecrime