Two Georgia children were arrested this week about the death of an 8-year-old boy who drowned earlier this year in a “borrow pit.” Authorities reported that the juvenile suspects, ages 10 and 11, had been arrested and charged with several felonies in connection with Noah Bush’s death.
The 11-year-old was charged with one count of simple violence, involuntary manslaughter, concealing another’s death, and criminal trespassing. The 10-year-old was charged with concealing a death and criminal trespass.
Georgia state law prohibits the public revelation of the minor defendants’ names.
According to Savannah, Georgia CBS affiliate WTOC, Noah’s family originally reported him missing on May 15, 2024. The child’s body was found within a borrow pit at a local construction site on May 16, after an 11-hour search.
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A borrow pit is a hole created in the ground to provide fill material for construction projects.
In the immediate aftermath of the boy’s sad death, local law enforcement officials stated that their preliminary investigation found no indication of foul play, citing the fact that he removed his shoes and was in the water where a “no trespassing” sign was posted.
However, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office stated that detectives were waiting for the results of an autopsy report. That report, which was sent to the sheriff’s office on Monday, concluded Noah’s death to be homicide with drowning as the cause.
“This finding was based on the fact that one of the two juveniles whom Noah was with pushed him into the deep portion of the borrow pit they were wading in,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release issued to Savannah ABC station WJCL.
Wayne County Sheriff Robert E. “Chuck” Moseley told Atlanta ABC station WSB that authorities believe the 11-year-old pushed Noah.
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Attorneys for Noah’s family stated that Noah knew both of the boys he was with that evening and that the youngster “thought they were friends and trustworthy.” They suggested that the juvenile defendants may have gotten into a fight with Noah and purposefully kept his head underwater.
The attorneys also stated that they believe adults attempted to conceal the incident.
“The adults who helped to conceal and obstruct the investigation, and who instead of telling the truth became co-participants in this tragedy need to be held accountable,” the attorneys stated, as reported by Lawandcrime. “The adults lied. We will not stop until you are accountable for your acts.”
Noah’s family, who have reportedly led various demonstrations seeking justice for Noah in the 55 days since his death was discovered, mirrored the attorneys’ sentiments.
“My family has suffered greatly as a result of this catastrophe. I just want to thank the community. If you hadn’t been at my side, I wouldn’t have been able to keep going and fight for justice. We wouldn’t have gone this far,” Noah’s mother, Demetrice Bush, said, adding, “There will be no peace until justice is done.”