The Misery Machine - The Tragic Case of Javeayah Harris

Episode Date: July 16, 2026

This week, Drewby and Yergy head to Aiken, South Carolina, to discuss the case of Javeayah Harris, a 4-year-old girl who was falsely reported her missing in June 2026 by her parents, Michilae Herring and Johmarea Harris. Following a massive, week-long search by law enforcement and hundreds of volunteers, both parents confessed abusing Javeayah to death before dissolving her body with chemicals and dumping her remains into a pond.👩‍⚕️🩺Taking care of your health just got easier, thanks to my sponsor Zocdoc — start here at:https://zocdoc.com/miserymachineSupport Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachineJoin Our Facebook Group: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/themiserymachineOfficial Merch Store: https://miserymachine-shop.fourthwall.com/Instagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcastDiscord: https://discord.gg/kCCzjZM#documentary #themiserymachine #truecrime 🚨 EDUCATIONAL, DOCUMENTARY, SCIENTIFIC, OR ARTISTIC CONTENT DISCLAIMER 🚨CONTENT WARNING: THIS VIDEO IS ABOUT A SENSITIVE TOPIC INVOLVING LOSS OF LIFE. WE'VE REMOVED ANY GRAPHIC CONTENT TO COMPLY WITH YOUTUBE'S GUIDELINES. WE AIM TO PROVIDE INFORMATIVE, FACTUAL JOURNALISM ON A TRAGIC EVENT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT DOES NOT DISMISS ITS SERIOUSNESS. ALL CLIPS ARE USED UNDER THE DOCTRINE OF FAIR USE FOR NEWS REPORTING AND ANALYSISFair Use Disclaimer: "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."THE CONTENT IN THIS VIDEO IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, BASED ON BELIEVED RELIABLE SOURCES. THEY MAY NOT BE CURRENT OR FULLY ACCURATE. VIEWERS SHOULD DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH AND NOT SOLELY RELY ON THIS INFORMATION. WE'RE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY INACCURACIES OR OMISSIONS.WE DO NOT CONDONE, ENDORSE, OR ENCOURAGE ANY OF THE BEHAVIORS OR ACTIVITIES SHOWN. WE URGE EVERYONE TO ALWAYS ACT RESPONSIBLY AND WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW.

There are cases where we know exactly who someone was before we tell you what happened to them. We know their birthday and the hospital where they were born. We know what their teachers said about. The 2006 Chevrolet Equinox awarded the most dependable compact SUV in the U.S. by J.D. Power. It is designed for your every day. And with available all-wheel drive, you can handle your to-do list with total confidence. Start your build at chevrolet.ca. Details at J.D.Power.com.

My name is Peter Parker, but I'm also Spider-Man. This July, we're faced with a threat. That can be anyone. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker. I'm just a neighbor, friendly neighbor. But he hasn't forgotten them. Sometimes Spider-Man has to do the hard thing. That's my responsibility.

Talk to Banner? I didn't know you could get that big. Spider-Man, brand-new day in theaters July 31st. The Hulu original series Furious is coming to Disney Plus, starring Emmy Rossum. Furious follows FBI agent Alice Black on the hunt for a mysterious and calculating serial killer. Both walk their own paths toward justice, and as their lives start to intertwine, the line between right and wrong begins to blur. Don't miss the three-episode premiere of the Hulu original series Furious on July 27th, only on Hulu on Disney Plus.

and what they like to do on the playground. This is not one of those cases. Javea Harris was four years old. That is what we know for certain. She lived in Aiken, South Carolina. She weighed about 40 pounds. She was three feet six inches tall. She loved Minnie Mouse.

She was lasting with braids and pink beads in her hair. She loved the color pink. Hey. What do you want to say about the baby? K-K-Kha-baby. No confirmed birth date appears in any public record available at the time we recorded this. There is no obituary. There is no grave to visit.

And there is a reason for that last part. One that we will get to and one that will stay with you. Javea's mother was 22-year-old Michelet Herring. Her father was 23-year-old Jamaria Harris. The couple lived together at 39 Hillsborough Street in Aiken. Mishalay worked for a company called Transcom. Jamaria worked for D.HL. Bridgetstone. Records show the couple had been moving around for years.

Jamaria had been named in an eviction case in Union County. That case was settled in November of 2023. Mishelay's name appeared in a separate eviction case filed by the Union Housing Authority in December of 2025. This ended with the judge ordering her out of the unit. Union County both ended up in Aiken. No prior criminal records for either or not. parent have been released publicly. No prior child protective services contact with the family has been confirmed on the record. But the public record does show is that the relationship between the two

was volatile in the months leading up to the events of today's story, and it was getting worse. Two domestic incidents occurred during that period. The first was from November of 2025 in Clinton, South Carolina. Michalay called police on Jamaria because she said he was trying to leave their home. officers responded to what they described as a dispute over moving a table. The couple agreed to stay separate for the rest of the day. The second report was from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office on March 16th of 2026. This time the argument turned physical. Jamaria allegedly tried to force Michelet out of the car so he could use it.

She did not want to press charges, but she asked him to leave. According to the report, the argument started over a hot dog. Neither report mentions Javea. But Javea had her own story in the neighborhood, and some of what former neighbors have said is difficult to hear knowing what we know now. In Union County, where the family lived before moving to Aiken, their neighbor, only known in sources as Ms. Young, told reporters that the people on the street had been quietly watching out for the little girl for a long time. She said, and I quote, they fed her, bathed her, and gave her new clothes and sent her back home. It wasn't just me. people in that neighborhood noticed the exact same thing.

By the time June of 26 arrived, Michelet was 39 weeks pregnant with another child. We'll be back in just one minute. Please stick around for the following ad. It not only supports the channel, but it also supports charities in our area. You know what's literally on everyone's to-do list that never gets done? Making a doctor's appointment. And it's not because we don't care about our health. It's because the process is such a headache.

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I know we all say we'll get around to it, but your health genuinely shouldn't be something you keep postponing. We don't want that for you. So just click the link in the description. It takes two minutes to get that appointment off your plate for good. Head to Zocdoc.com slash misery machine now to get started. Thanks and back to the episode. According to arrest warrants signed by Aiken County investigators, the events of today's story began on or about June 5, 26. The warrants state that Mishalay caused Javea's death while committing CA or neglect and that the death occurred under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life. Both parents' confessions, are cited as the basis for the charges.

What exactly happened inside the house on Hillsborough Street on that day is not publicly known in full detail. The warrants confirm that the injury was to Javea's head and that she suffered a head injury at the hands of her mother. After the injury, neither parents sought medical attention for her. Not that day and not in the days that followed. Javea died as a result of that head injury. and the decision not to treat it. According to investigators, her body remains in the home at 39 Hillsborough Street.

Arrest warrants allege that Javier remained there after her death between May 1st and June 15th of 2026. For weeks, she was in that house while her parents went about their lives. Then, on June 8th, three days after investigators believed she died, Jamaria Harris and Michalay-Harring did something

that Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer would later describe as the most horrific thing he had encountered in nearly four decades in law enforcement. They dissolved her body with chemicals. After the chemical destruction of her body at the home, the parents transported what remained of Javea to Cedar Creek Reservoir in Fairfield County, also known locally as Stumpy Pond, which is located approximately 100 miles from Aiken. The parents have family ties to. that part of South Carolina. They poured her remains into the water. And then

22 days later on the evening of June 30th 2026, Vichelais picked up the phone and called 911. The call came in just before 9 o'clock. Aiken County 911, where is your emergency? I'm at 39 Hillsborough Street. I can't

find my baby. 39 Hillsborough Street. Yes, ma'am. She was outside. I got playing and I came out here at this cookie dinner a little bit and I'm looking for her, but I don't put her nowhere. All right. How old is this baby? She's four. All right. What was she wearing?

She has on pink mini mouse pajamas and she had pink beads. She has braids. Is she black, white, Hispanic? She's mixed. Okay. How long ago did you see her, ma'am? What was the last time you saw her? Oh, I just came out.

No, that's just to me. I went in the house to cook dinner, and I told her, it's time to come in once it start getting dark. And when I came out here, I just, I came back. Okay, okay? Just take a breath from you, okay? I already have them on the way to you, okay? Do you know where she might be heading? Okay, you have any family or friends that live around the area?

No, but she usually tried to take her. I'm taking the catch from, and I've been looking through the woods. I would just try to see if I see her, but I don't see her nowhere. What's your name? My name is Bichelae. What's her name? J-Bi-H-H-H-H-H-A-B-E-A-H. Harris. I couldn't hear the first name.

J-V-E-A-E-A-Y-A-A-H. And I wasn't out here. I'm 39 weeks pregnant. I can't keep up with her like that. Okay. Anybody else out there? with her, like that was out there with her? Any friends, kids playing with her? The way our yard is set up, it's nothing but, it's nothing but the dogs and the

ticket here at the back. Does she have any, does she have any health issues, any mental issues, anything like that? They just said that she was attention, but she just now trying to pull them. They don't have no diet. No, she's all the way. Okay. She's very smart, though. She don't seem my teeth. Does she talk? Yeah, yeah. She could carry a full conversation. Okay, you didn't see any vehicles before you went inside or anything like that? No, but what worries me is these Craig is that walks in his house behind the house. I don't know. I've always felt weird about him, and I just, I don't know.

Hello? I'm still here, ma'am. Give me just a second. My call might be breaking up because of what we're at. Okay. What's a good callback number for you, ma'am? Ma'am, I don't have one. My phone is not on, but I don't have one.

I can still call 911. Okay, yeah. Okay, I'm on the way to you, just to confirm, where was she in the house when you saw her last? No, she wasn't in the house, ma'am. She's been playing outside today, and she asked me, can she play for a little bit more before I got darkened?

I said yes, and I literally, her bathwater is in the tall red, and dinner is cooking, and I came out here to get her, and I can't even find her. Okay, is there a certain place she likes to play outside? Usually in a chicken cooping that's usually where I find her every day. And I just look in here and she's not in here. Okay. Is there any bodies of water nearby?

Um, I don't know, ma'am. Me and my husband just now purchased in this house. I don't know about this area much, but it's not a good area. I'll tell you that. It's not good. Okay, you say you searched the woods. Is that behind your house? Yes, it's like a pavoy right behind my house.

And we usually take the dog sometimes in the woods to just let them run. And she'll come, so I know she knows about the woods. But I look down the same subway that we walk. Okay, and you said she was wearing pink, Mickey, I'm sorry, Minnie Mouse pajamas, anything else you may be wearing? Her bees are pink. Beats are pink. Yes, she's got braids.

I mean, I don't know. She got on cross with shoes because she just puts out on play shoes. But I don't, ma'am, it's not no way she could have got four. Do you have any neighbors around the area that you're familiar with she might be going to? No, we don't talk to none of these people because they are mostly two drugs. I don't. Have you checked with neighbors to see if they have seen her? No, man.

All right. Go ahead and talk to them, okay? Okay, thank you. All right, no problem. Before his arrest, Jamaria Harris gave an interview to reporters outside the family's home, still presenting as a worried father. Said Javea was not the kind of child who would just wander off. Not knowing, it's killing me.

It's killing me, like, you see stuff like this all of them, but you don't expect it to be you. He said that he was out of the house when his daughter was reported missing, but he knew something was going on when he saw. saw a lot of patrol vehicles in the area. Told reporters that he was doing laundry and had visited a convenience store. He said, I was seeing a lot of police and stuff going through,

and I was wondering. I was like, you know, a lot of stuff that goes on. It's aching to worry about you. You'd be like, okay, that's the police or whatever.

But, you know, I didn't know that it was my house. My girlfriend at the top, she didn't have service. She didn't have service on her phone, so she couldn't call me to let me know anything that was going on. So she just ended up calling 911.

So when I came back to the house, before I got on my road, I seen a police struck, a bit of drone out. That's when, according to Jamaria, he sped home. He said, because I was like, it's stuff going down, like, close to my house. When I got to turn on my road, I seen a whole bunch of policemen like right at my house. So that's when I hurried up and I got to the house. And I was like, what's going on?

I thought my girlfriend was in labor because she was supposed to have a baby. You know what I'm saying? So she ended up having the child that same, that same night on July 1st. But she came up crying to me saying my dad missing. He told reporters he had been giving detectives information about people he noticed around the house and said he had no idea what might have happened to his daughter. He said, I have no clue.

Like, sir, I don't, I don't, I don't like, it's really wild. But I had, like I said, I had, I gave all these detectives information about people swooping around the house. The description Michelet gave on that 911 call, the pink mini mouse pajamas, crocs, braided hair with pink beads, became the face of the search. That image circulated across social media platforms, every local news broadcast and digital billboards across Aiken County. People shared it by the thousands. In retrospect, it was the image of a little girl who had already been gone for weeks. The moment that call came in, law enforcement mobilized. What followed was one of the largest missing child searches South Carolina had seen in years. At its peak,

more than 200 law enforcement officers and first responders were working the case. This included the FBI, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, among others. Helicopters flew grid patterns, drones swept the terrain, and canine units worked the woods and fields around Hillsborough Street. Deputy stopped every vehicle passing through the area for questioning. Doord-to-door canvassing covered the surrounding neighborhoods. By July 2nd, Cruz had cut. covered more than 3,000 acres. By the third, over 5,000. Like much of the world, South Carolina was in the grip of a heat wave that week,

with temperatures reaching near or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.78 degrees Celsius. Bethel Baptist Church opened its doors in the early morning hours of June 30th and became the search command center. Pastor Stan Adams said yes without hesitation when he got the call. He said, early Wednesday morning I was called and asked if we could open our facilities up to the guys that were here. We had a parking lot full for the command centers. Church members cooked meals around the clock.

They gave officers a place to cool down between shifts. Pastor Adams watched them come in from the heat, he said. You could see the disappointment on their faces every time they'd come back into report. They would come into the fellowship hall worn out. Community members asked why there was no Amber alert for Javea. Aiken County Department of Emergency Management, addressed the question, saying the situation did not meet the requirements for an alert to be issued. Among them, confirmation of an abduction and evidence of imminent danger to the child.

They said, we simply cannot risk someone not properly trained making a mistake, missing a clue, or causing other harm. An Amber Alert is issued when law enforcement confirms a child is abducted and in danger. All five of these guidelines from the U.S. Department of Justice must be met as it stands currently, and they are, the child is 17 years old or younger. There is a reasonable belief that a kidnapping took place. The child is an immediate danger of serious harm or death. There is enough descriptive information about the child, the suspect, or the vehicle, to help the public find them.

The child's name and data must be entered into the National Crime Information Center. Alak Kumar Aksa, the owner of Taj Aiken Indian cuisine, could not sit home on the 4th of July when deputies were out in the heat. He cooked 60 meals and delivered them to the search crews. He said, it's a national holiday for us, and everyone is at home with the family, but not the police department. They are around the clock. They are working to find her. On July 3rd, the visible search was scaled back. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that organized search activities would be reduced, but the investigation would not stop.

That scale back announcement was, in hindsight, a sign of what was coming. On July 4th, 26, Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer stood before cameras and said the words that the community had feared. I'm deeply saddened to tell you that our investigation and evidence leads us to believe that four-year-old Jabaya Harris is deceased. It's the outcome that we all feared. And sadly, it's the outcome that we must face. We're currently searching an area of interest right now, not in Aiken County. And I am not disclosing where that's at. But I'm sure you understand if, in fact, Javea's body is where we think it is, it's going to be a difficult time for everybody there.

And we don't need anybody from the outside, outside of law enforcement, trying to access that area. At the moment, Mishalay was on the phone describing the chicken coop and the bathwater in the tub, Javea had been gone for weeks. Every helicopter pass, every canine sweep, every deputy questioning drivers in a hundred-degree heat, all of that have been looking for a child who was already at the bottom of a reservoir in Fairfield County. On July 4, 26, Michelet and Jamario were arrested. Jamario was charged with homicide by CA.

Michelet was charged with two counts. Homicide by CA and filing a false police report. The homicide charge carries a sentence of 20 years to life in prison. prison. False police report charge can be up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. Both were booked into the Aiken County Detention Center. Sheriff Sawyer said additional charges were possible. On July 5th, both appeared before magistrate Judge Ronald Thornton in separate bond hearings and were denied bond. Mishle's hearing that morning, Judge Thornton ruled she would be held without bond in part because of the false police report charge. She appeared without a lawyer present.

The judge found her income too high to qualify for a public defender, as she said she brought home $1,300 every two weeks. Her first court appearance was set for September of 26. Jamaria's hearing was that afternoon. When Judge Thornton asked Jamaria if anyone else lived in his household, he answered, my girlfriend, and an acquired her voice, my child. He too was denied bond. Because the magistrate court does not have authority to set bond on homicide charges,

both cases were referred to a circuit court judge who would hear the matter within 30 days. The arrest warrants were released publicly on July 6. They confirmed what the sheriff had already told the community. On July 7, investigators returned to 39 Hillsborough Street. Deputy spent several hours inside the home and in the surrounding woods, sifting through dirt with screens and tagging evidence with yellow number blocks. Dark-colored piece of rotted cloth was found as well as would appear to be a shoe. The tarp was placed around a tire swing in the yard and photograph.

Fesgators took down the crime scene tape around 9.15 p.m. and left with multiple evidence bags. The law enforcement source told reporters that the work at the home was evidence collection, not part of the ongoing search for Javea's remains. The body search continued in Fairfield County near Debutary Creek in the Cedar Creek Reservoir. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources had boats, ATVs, and dive teams deployed. On July 9th, Sheriff Sawyer held another press conference. He and his staff arrived wearing pink ribbons and ties in honor of Javei's favorite color. Personally, there's some very harsh words that I would like to use about Jamaria and Meshela

and their actions. But I will not do that. And I will not do that to protect and maintain the integrity of this case. But I will tell you this. I will not refer to them as mom and dad or mother or father. They don't deserve that title. Understand that I cannot discuss all the specific details in this case. But at this time, I can share that a few human remains were recovered in an area known

as Cedar Creek Reservoir, also known as Stumpy Pond in Fairfield County. These remains were immediately sent to the state law enforcement division and through analysis, the DNA of the remains are consistent with being the biological offspring of Jamaria and Michelle. I want to also share with you that through forensic evidence, statements and analysis, extensive and deliberate efforts were made to destroy and concealed evidence following Jubea's death. Our information reveals the use of corrosive chemicals and other tools that were used to accelerate the destruction of her little body. After this was completed, these two individuals poured what remained were left to the Javaya into the Cedar Creek Reservoir. These subjects went through great lengths to cover their repulsive and revolting actions. In my 37-year career in law enforcement, I have never, ever heard of anything so horrific.

As a result of this information, it's unlikely that the entirety of Javaya's body or any other remains from this point forward will be recovered. Both Michelet and Jammaria were then charged with destruction and desecration of human remains. Vaughn was denied again that afternoon. The warrants for that charge signed by Magistrate Judge Tracy Cameron, on July 8th, state that on June 8th, 2026, both parents willfully, knowingly, and unlawfully destroyed and or damaged the remains of Javea Harris by using a chemical agent at 39 Hillsborough Street. Both parents remain in custody on multiple charges. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Their first court appearances are scheduled for the fall of

26. On the night of July 5th, hours after both parents were denied bond, a candlelight vigil was held at the alley in downtown Aiken. They held candles and prayed together. The heartbreaking end of Javea's story turned into a moment of unity for Aiken's Sunday night. I think the community is awesome. They're here for the child. They're here for a little girl that they ain't never met. Don't even know, but there's a lot of love in their heart for this child and we're here to show our love for her. We don't know why it happened. Yes.

Those that never even met her told me Javea felt like one of their own. Knowing that this little girl, four years old, defensive, not being able to defend herself throughout this tragic moment, man, it just adds on to the pain, the stress and the agony. Like, I felt like that was my child. She was so pretty. I'm pretty, I'm pretty, anybody. I wouldn't be able to be, it would have been hard, but I didn't have to be. In the community will always be there for Javea's extended family.

To Javea's extended family, you guys, I'm so sorry. Javea was a beautiful little girl and her extended community here in Aiken. We love her, and we're praying for each and every one of you. And if you need anything, your community is here for you. Meanwhile, a memorial of pink stuffed animals and balloons grew outside of Javea's family home in Aiken. What started with a single teddy bear. I saw the lady that first put the first teddy bear out. And I said, okay, that's something I can do.

looks very different a week later. I mean, my son came out with it. And the next day we came, it had grown so. And while horrific things happened inside, the outside has become a place for the community to grieve. Yeah, people who don't even know the baby, it's real safe. She's a beautiful baby. Cry.

But I look to a hush with mommy and my daughter. And above all, show love. And it's brought us together, and it's showing us that no matter what, all us feel and love the same. And that love is in Shiloh Heights. You have people coming in, you see them buying things, buying candy,

little toys, horses to talk of the town. So everybody's talking about it. And beyond. Everybody coming together, hard, Facebook. This has gotten big. This has touched so many hearts. And we've got to believe this is what, I mean, it's hard to say. But for some kind of reason, we've got to take something out of this.

And all we can take is love. It's hit, you know, across the river in Augusta, Columbia County. Like, you see, it's already in general. You know, this stuff is made national headlines. So, you know, it affects, it's effective everybody in some shape, form of fashion. But even in the face and tragedy this community has banded together, so no one forgets the name Javea Harris. And we've got to believe this is what, I mean, it's hard to say, but for some kind of

reason, we've got to take something out of this, and all we can take is love. On July 9th, the same morning Sheriff Sawyer confirmed the discovery of her remains. A second vigil was held at the event center on Shiloh Heights Road at 7.30 p.m. It was organized by Christy Pace and Tanya Kitchings and led by Pastor Joshua Stallings of remnant ministries. Hundreds attended. Some had driven for hours to be there. You're just feeling overwhelmed, and this is really hitting close to home. I have a four-year-old and we live right around the corner. I just can't imagine a parent, you know, doing this like it. Those feelings were shared by many in attendance. One of the most emotional moments came when

Javea's grandfather told the crowd he did not raise his family this way. Vigual organizer Christy Pace said she felt called to bring the community together. And I'm hoping this brings awareness to that that we also need, we need better programs, we need more assistance. And whether it's DSS or D-Fax or whatever the case may be, they need a better system because they're so overwhelmed, they get these calls and they can't do anything other than just pass the baby on to someone else and someone else and someone else. And sometimes it's a family line that's continuing.

Pace also urged people to report suspected child abuse when they see it. When asks what message she had for Javea's parents, she said, I can't say what I want to say on camera. My words are not nice for them. They're monsters. They're the worst type of evil that I have ever come across in my entire life, and that says a lot. On July 10th, a vigil was held at Foster Park in Union County, about a mile from where the family used to live, in the town where Ms. Young and her neighbors had once had been quietly watching out for Javea, hundreds gathered.

She had a beautiful little face and to think about what happened to her. It hit deep, very deep. She at home with her heavenly father because she's an angel. She's still an angel. So she made it back home to her heaven and father. Say her name, Javea Harris. She did matter. At only four years old.

She loved pink. She had many miles every day. That's what she had in her hand every day. Javea Harris has. left a legacy now revolving around protecting the innocent. Kids supposed to live, play, learn, not die. A child is never supposed to be a or mistreated. My kids should not know about this.

My kids should know that a kid that was in our home is now gone. Jesus loves. We do not gather to give attention or power to the people responsible for causing this pain. We will let God handle what belongs to God, and we will let justice. We'll let justice do what justice is meant to do. We have to take care of our children, and if we see something, we have to say something.

That's it. And we love you. Sleep in peace, baby girl. On July 11th, a second vigil was held in Evans, Georgia, about 45 minutes from Aiken. Hannah Kirkland organized it, she said, I tried to tell as many people that did come up to me that I love them. I hope for love for everybody in the community, no matter who you will. are. Candles stamped with Javea's name were distributed at the Evans Vigil. All of the stuffed animals brought there were donated to local law enforcement agencies who give them to children on

their worst days. items from the Union County Vigil were brought to Hillsborough Street and added to the memorial outside of Javea's home. A bicycle giveaway was planned for July 25th at the Henry Brigham Community Center in Augusta, Georgia, organized in Javea's honor. A bike ride was scheduled the same day at Citizens Park in Aiken. In response to the case, a petition circulated on change.org calling for a new federal law titled Javea's Law. Petition argues that current federal law imposes strict financial penalties for bomb threats and terrorist hoaxes, but contains what it calls a loophole. It does not automatically require those same penalties for someone who fabricates a child's

disappearance to conceal a crime. The petition calls for a mandatory federal felony charge. It demands guaranteed financial restitution for all taxpayer money spent on the search response with no judicial discretion, and it calls for mandatory parenting in child development classes for any expectant or new parent, age 25, or younger. Aaron Millam, Executive Director of the Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County, said the community needed to understand that recognizing the signs of CA does not come from a checklist. She said, there are not a list of signs that I can tell you 100,

100% this isn't a child, but there are signs that something isn't right. Please report it. Report it to law enforcement. Report it to DSS. It's better that you're wrong than not to report it at all. Fatima Thompson, a family advocate with the same center, noted that children who are not visible in school, daycare, or the broader community are the ones most likely to go unnoticed. Anyone with concerns about a child's welfare in South Carolina can call the state CA hotline

at 888 care for us. Javea's newborn baby sister, who was born the same night Michelet made the 911 call, was placed in the custody of the paternal grandmother after the DSS became involved. Justin Singletary, a close friend of the grandmother who grew up in Great Falls and has known both sides of the family for years,

so the grandmother was devastated. He said he had been in contact with her trying to keep her spirits lifted. There was no grave for Javea. Harris. The remains recovered from Cedar Creek Reservoir were confirmed by DNA. But they were partial in Sheriff Sawyer stated that it was unlikely any more would ever be found. What Jamaria and Mishle took from Javea was not only her life. They took away the possibility of a proper goodbye. They took away the chance for anyone who loved her to have a place to go and sit with her. The community gave back everything it could, and the memorial on Hillsborough Street kept growing. Pink balloons,

mini-mouse stuffed animals, flowers, candles, handwritten notes from strangers who had seen a four-year-old's face on a billboard and couldn't shake it. According to neighbor Jacqueline Brown, and I quote, I just wish that we had this before now, where she would have lived her sweet life as a child should with so much love and so much care. We'll never forget her. She's our baby. She all belonged to us. Alok, the restaurant owner who spent the 4th of July cooking for search crews,

had already said what needed to be said weeks before the vigils, standing in a parking lot while people were still out looking for a little girl who was already gone. He said in part, Nobody knows her, but she's from our community. and she's a little girl. She doesn't deserve that. He paused and then continued. The small coffins are the heaviest.