Javeayah Harris, 4, was last seen Tuesday night near Hillsboro Street and Ridgecrest Road.
AIKEN, SC — Local, state and federal teams continued searching Friday for 4-year-old Javeayah Kemauni Harris, who was reported missing Tuesday night from the area of Hillsboro Street and Ridgecrest Road in Aiken.
The search has grown into a large missing-child operation involving the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Aiken public safety officers and nearby agencies. Sheriff Marty Sawyer Jr. said the case remained a missing child investigation, with no public finding that Javeayah was abducted or harmed. Nearly 200 first responders and law enforcement personnel have taken part, and crews have searched more than 3,000 acres by ground and air.
Authorities said Javeayah was last seen around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 30. A call reporting her missing came in later that night, and deputies began searching the neighborhood, wooded areas and nearby properties. She was described as about 3 feet 6 inches tall and about 40 to 42 pounds, with braided hair and pink beads. Officials said she was last seen wearing Minnie Mouse pajamas and may have been wearing Crocs. Sawyer said Thursday that searchers were “working around the clock” and would not stop until they had answers.
The search area near Hillsboro Street and Ridgecrest Road includes homes, yards, wooded ground and places where a small child could hide or become trapped. Deputies and other responders have gone door to door, checked outdoor structures and canvassed for witnesses. Aircraft, drones and dogs have also been used. The FBI said its role includes ground searches, neighborhood canvassing, interviews, collection of available surveillance video and analytical support. Officials also said trained personnel who specialize in missing-child cases were assisting local investigators.
No Amber Alert had been issued as of Thursday. Sawyer said there are specific requirements for that step and that the case was being handled as a missing child investigation at that stage. Authorities have not announced charges, suspects or a confirmed cause of Javeayah’s disappearance. They also have not said publicly whether any evidence points to her leaving the home on her own or being taken. Investigators have continued to review leads, speak with neighbors and examine possible video from the area.
The case drew wide attention across Aiken County as the search entered its third day. The sheriff’s office described Javeayah as smart, friendly and talkative, and said she loves Minnie Mouse and likes to chase chickens. Officials also noted that she may be able to fit into small spaces, a detail that shaped the search of sheds, crawl spaces, vehicles, brush and other tight areas. Crews worked through daylight hours Thursday, and local reports said the search was expected to resume Friday morning after crews paused overnight.
Sawyer, who became Aiken County sheriff in 2025 after decades in public safety, said the case was personal for searchers and the child’s family. “This investigation hits close to home,” he said, referring to his own role as a parent and grandparent. The sheriff’s office thanked Javeayah’s family and the community for cooperating as investigators followed tips and widened the search. Officers have kept roadblocks and a visible presence near the search zone while trained teams continued the field work.
As of Friday, July 3, Javeayah remained missing and the search remained active. The next milestone is the continued ground and air search in Aiken County, along with the review of leads, interviews and any surveillance video from the neighborhood.
Author note: Last updated July 3, 2026.