New and troubling details have come to light regarding a 4-year-old girl from South Carolina, whose parents allegedly caused her death through abuse. Reports suggest they used chemicals to dissolve her body and then discarded it in a local reservoir, all while falsely claiming she was missing.
On Thursday, investigators shared that remnants of Javea Harris were discovered in Cedar Creek Reservoir after a strenuous search operation that involved over 200 first responders.
The child’s parents, Jomalea Harris and Misilae Herring, were taken into custody on July 4 and face charges of capital murder. They purportedly reported her missing from their Aiken home on June 30.
Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer addressed the media, noting his desire to use harsh language regarding the parents’ actions, but refraining from doing so to maintain the case’s integrity. He said, “I don’t refer to them as mom or dad—they don’t deserve those titles.”
According to Sawyer, Harris and Herring took significant measures to conceal their “repulsive” behavior, having employed corrosive chemicals to aid in the destruction of their daughter’s remains.
He expressed how shaken he was by the vile nature of this crime, stating, “In my 37 years in law enforcement, I’ve never encountered anything this terrifying.”
It was mentioned that Javea may have been deceased for at least a month before Herring reported her missing, casting doubt on the likelihood of discovering any more remains.
“We hoped and prayed for her body to be found, but given what we’ve uncovered… that seems impossible,” he remarked.
According to court documents, Harris and Herring suggest that Javea had previously sustained unspecified injuries during an alleged assault by Herring but did not seek medical attention.
Both individuals are charged with child abuse murder, as well as the destruction and desecration of human remains. Herring faces an additional charge for filing a false police report.
During hearings on July 5, both were denied bail and found ineligible for public defenders, though it was unclear if they had secured private legal counsel.
Due to the seriousness of the charges, their bail has been passed to a circuit court judge, who will allow them 30 days to make decisions regarding their legal representation.
Jomalea Harris and Misilae Herring are set to appear in court again on September 18.
