2 juveniles to be charged following death of Noah Bush

JESUP, Ga. (WSAV) – The Wayne County Sherriff’s Office (WCSO) will charge two minors regarding the death of 8-year-old Noah Bush, who was found dead in a borrow pit in May.

The office issued a statement on Wednesday following the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s autopsy of Noah’s body.

The release states that medical examiners ruled Noah’s cause of death a drowning and, following WSCO’s investigation, declared his manner of death a homicide.

As a result of the investigation, the sheriff’s office will charge two juveniles, one 10-year-old and one 11-year-old.

One of the two juveniles who was with Noah is accused of pushing him into the deep portion of the borrow pit they were wading in.

Juvenile #1, the 11-year-old’s charges are;

• Simple Battery 16-5-23(a)(1)
• Involuntary Manslaughter 16-5-3(a)
• Concealing the Death of Another 16-10-31
• Criminal Trespass 16-7-21(b)(1)

Juvenile #2, the 10-year-old’s charges are;

• Concealing the Death of Another 16-10-31
• Criminal Trespass 16-7-21(b)(1)

The WCSO investigation, which has put scrutiny on the office, remains ongoing as further information is being processed.

The community of Wayne County held multiple demonstrations urging the WCSO to speed up its investigation of Noah’s death in the late spring. A GoFundMe was launched to cover the funeral expenses for the family, which raised over $10,000.

The Bush family’s attorneys held a press conference Wednesday to address the recent findings and charges.

“What we believe is that Noah and the two juveniles involved in this got into some argument. The argument led to them pushing Noah into the water and possibly holding his head underwater.”

Bush’s family has also broken their silence in response to the news.

“The whole entire tragedy has been tough on my family,” said Demetrice Bush, Noah’s mother. “I just want to say thank you so much to the community. If it weren’t for you standing by my side, helping me to continue on to push for justice. We wouldn’t have gotten as far as we have.”