JESUP, Ga. — An 11-year-old boy charged in connection to the death of 8-year-old Noah Bush was sentenced to two years in juvenile detention Thursday.
Noah went missing May 15 in Jesup, Georgia. His body was found the next day in a construction pit full of water. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office initially ruled his death accidental, which sparked weeks of protests in the community.
Nearly two months after his death, a 10 and 11-year-old were charged. A sentencing hearing was held Thursday for the 11-year-old. The family's lawyers, Francys Johnson and Mawuli Davis, said the 11-year-old admitted to pushing Noah into the water and holding his head under.
“This 11-year-old admitted under oath he, in fact, lead Noah Bush down to the clay pits, pushed him into the water and ultimately held his head under the water until he drowned," Johnson explained.
The child faced four charges in connection to Noah's death, including concealing the death of another and involuntary manslaughter.
Both juveniles will now spend two years in a detention facility.
Noah's mother, Demetrice Bush, spoke in the courtroom during victim impact statements.
"He was 8 years old with a full life ahead of him," she said. "And two years is what the state of Georgia calls justice when a full life is lost."
Bush said she still does not have any closure from Thursday's sentencing.
"There is no peace, there is no comfort, there is no closure for me," she said. "I will live with this for the rest of my life."
The family and their attorneys continue to call for charges to be brought against adults involved in this case. They believe adults related to the two juveniles helped cover up Noah's death. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office has not provided an update on whether any adults will be charged in this case. The sheriff would not answer questions Thursday.
