11-year-old sentenced to prison for pushing 8-year-old into watery pit, holding head underwater until he drowned

Jesup, Georgia – In a tragic event that occurred in Wayne County, Georgia, an 11-year-old boy was found guilty of contributing to the drowning death of an 8-year-old and was given the maximum two-year sentence in juvenile detention. Noah Bush, the victim, was found dead in a borrow pit after being reported missing on May 15.

The 11-year-old entered a guilty plea to counts of criminal trespass, involuntary manslaughter, concealing a death, and simple battery. But the community and the victim’s family are incensed about his sentence. Noah’s mother, Demetrice Bush, expressed her profound disappointment, saying that two years is not nearly enough justice for her son’s death.

When Noah Bush was reported missing, the incident got started. Law enforcement conducted extensive searches, utilizing K-9 units and search and rescue teams. Noah’s body was tragically found in a clay pit not far from where he was last seen. Drowning was determined to be the cause of death by autopsy.

According to the first reports, Noah may have accidentally drowned while investigating the borrow pit. His fear of deep water, according to his family, casts doubt on this assertion. More unsettling details emerged from later investigations: Noah was pushed into the water and restrained until he drowned.

According to the Atlantic Journal-Constitution, a 10-year-old boy who participated in the tragic event was also sentenced to two years in juvenile detention. In addition, one of the juveniles’ mothers, Natalie Hardison, was taken into custody for giving police authorities misleading information.

There have been many calls for a more equitable outcome and widespread condemnation of the sentence. The legal system’s ruling, according to Noah Bush’s family attorney Francys Johnson, is not consistent with the moral ramifications of the offense. He contended that a two-year sentence is unjust and unfair in light of the horrific act committed.

Johnson stated, “Just because something is legal does not make it just. In this case, a two-year confinement is not right or just.” Johnson had decided it was the “day to tell the truth” and continued, saying “racial animus in the heart of the 11-year-old is what stirred this up in the first place. We all have a responsibility to push back against that racial animus and hatred that would lead 11-year-olds and 10-year-olds to want to fight and take the life of another person. That is what this case was about at its core.”

Noah Bush was Black and both of the two youths are White.

Francys Johnson made the arguement that the “joy of Noah offended the 11-year-old. The peace, happiness of Noah offended this 11-year-old. He wanted to do something about it.”

Demetrice Bush mourned, “There is no peace. There is no comfort. There is no closure for me. I will live with this for the rest of my life.”