Two boys, aged 10 and 11, have been sentenced for their involvement in the drowning of eight-year-old Noah Bush in Wayne County, Georgia, a case that has sparked discussions about the juvenile justice system and possible racial motivations.
Noah Bush was reported missing on May 15, 2024, after entering a restricted construction site area with the two boys. His body was found the next day in a water-filled borrow pit, a hole dug in the ground used to extract materials for use in construction projects.
Initially ruled accidental, the case turned when the 11-year-old confessed to leading Noah to the pit, pushing him into the water, and holding his head underwater until he drowned. Due to his age, the 11-year-old’s identity has been withheld. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter, simple battery, concealing a death, and criminal trespass. On August 22, 2024, he received the maximum penalty for a juvenile in Georgia: two years in a detention facility.
The 10-year-old, who played a role in concealing Noah’s death, was sentenced on July 12, 2024, in Wayne County Juvenile Court, also receiving two years in detention.
Family attorney Francys Johnson stated, “This 11-year-old admitted under oath that he led Noah Bush to the clay pits, pushed him into the water, and ultimately held his head under until he drowned.”
The Bush family has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the sentencing, arguing that it fails to deliver justice for their son’s death. Noah’s mother, Demetrice Bush, expressed her anger, stating that a two-year sentence is insufficient and questioning how the state of Georgia could consider such a penalty as justice.
The family believes the crime was racially motivated, as Noah, a Black child, was killed by two White boys. This belief drives their pursuit of further legal action. Attorney Mawuli Mel Davis stressed that the legal process is not finished, stating that the adults who played a role in misleading the family must face full prosecution under the law. The investigation into the involvement of adults, particularly the 11-year-old’s mother, Natalie Hardison, continues. She has been charged with probation violation and making false statements, though these charges are reportedly not directly linked to Noah’s death.
A GoFundMe campaign started by Noah’s second-grade teacher, Gracie Yoder, has raised over $15,000 to help the family with expenses. Despite the sentencing, the Bush family’s fight for justice continues.