A South Carolina mother and father are behind bars after investigators say they killed their 4-year-old daughter and waited more than a month before reporting her missing — and by the time police got the call, it was already too late.
Johmarea Harris, 23, and Michilae Herring, 22, of Aiken, South Carolina, are charged with homicide by child abuse in connection with the suspected death of their daughter, Javeayah Harris. Herring faces an additional charge of filing a false police report.
The case began on the evening of June 30 when Herring called 911 and reported Javeayah missing, claiming she last saw the child near a chicken coop in their backyard roughly 30 minutes earlier. But investigators say that story was a lie.
“Sadly, it was already too late to save her the moment the 911 call came in,” Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer Jr. said. “At this time our investigation supports that she has been deceased for at least one month.”
Sawyer called it the hardest announcement of his 36-year law enforcement career.
Neighbors say they had long been worried about the little girl’s welfare. Multiple people in the area reportedly noticed signs of neglect and stepped in to help — feeding her, bathing her, and giving her clean clothes before sending her back home.
As of this weekend, authorities were still searching an undisclosed location outside Aiken County for Javeayah’s remains. The FBI and multiple law enforcement agencies have joined the search effort.
Javeayah was described by those who knew her as a smart, talkative, and friendly little girl who loved Minnie Mouse and chasing chickens around the yard.
Both Harris and Herring are currently held in the Aiken County Jail without bond. Authorities say additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.
“We are continuing to put massive law enforcement resources to work to recover Javeayah and bring her home,” Sheriff Sawyer said.
