SC parents arrested in death of 4-year-old child. Listen to the 911 call
The parents of a 4-year-old girl in South Carolina have been charged in her death after she was reported missing June 30.
Javeayah Harris was reported missing in Aiken County last week, and it led to a search by local, state and national authorities, The State reported. Days later, Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer said at a press conference that an investigation lead law enforcement to believe that she was dead, possibly for as long as a month.
Her father Johmarea Harris, 23, and mother Michilae Herring, 22, were arrested July 5, according to arrest warrants. They were both charged with murder by child abuse.
The sheriff’s department released Herring’s frantic 911 call on June 30, which lasted just over five minutes.
“I can’t find my baby,” Herring said in the call. “She was outside playing and I came out here after cooking dinner ... I’m looking for her but I don’t see her nowhere.”
Herring described the child and her search for a wooded area by her home as the dispatcher asked her questions.
“Ain’t no way she could’ve gone far,” Herring said.
Javeayah Harris was injured after suffering physical abuse by her mother, and her death occurred after both parents did not seek medical attention. According to arrest warrants, this was an act of child abuse and neglect with an “extreme indifference” for human life. The information stemmed from a confession by both parents.
According to a third arrest warrant, Herring was also charged with filing a false report with the police, which is a felony. Herring had falsely reported her daughter missing or abducted to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office. An investigation, Herring admitted to disposing of Javeayah Harris’ body.
As of Monday afternoon, both parents remain in the Aiken County Detention Center, jail records show.
This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 2:27 PM.
