Warrants, 911 call shed light on circumstances surrounding death of Aiken 4-year-old Javeayah Harris

AIKEN - Warrants have shed light on the circumstances surrounding the death of 4-year-old Javeayah Harris, who was falsely reported missing June 30.

According to warrants, the girl's parents - Michilae Herring, 22, and Jomarea Harris, 23 - caused the death of Javeayah Harris by neglecting to seek medical attention for the girl after she suffered injuries obtained from physical abuse.

This happened sometime between May 1 to June 15, according to the documents.

Additionally, warrants state these injuries were caused by Herring and that she admitted to disposing of Harris' body.

The warrants were released by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office on July 6.

Extensive searches in hopes of finding the girl alive began as soon as she was reported missing.

During a July 4 press conference led by Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer, it was announced that evidence led law enforcement to believe she had been dead for at least a month at the time that the phone call was made.

The 911 call on June 30 released by the sheriff's office features a distraught Herring saying that Harris had been playing outside shortly before dark.

She claimed in the call that she had searched a wooded pathway in the backyard to try and locate Harris.

She also stated to dispatch that she was 39 weeks pregnant. It has been confirmed that she gave birth to the new baby on the same night as the call.

The full call can be listened to below.

Both parents have been arrested and had bond hearings on July 5, where both were denied bond.

Their first court appearances are scheduled for Sept. 18.

Law enforcement are still looking for Harris' remains and have confirmed they are currently searching Fairfield County.

A candlelight vigil was held for Harris downtown Aiken on the night of July 5.

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This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 5:51 AM.