WAYNE COUNTY, Ga. (TCN) — Two juveniles were taken into custody and are facing charges after an 8-year-old boy drowned in a borrow pit in what the medical examiner ruled was a homicide.
On May 15 at 9:10 p.m., the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a missing juvenile, who has been identified as Noah Bush. Deputies and law enforcement officers from nearby areas began investigating and searching for the 8-year-old.
About three hours later, at 12:06 a.m., the sheriff’s office got a report about the possible sighting of a juvenile and two other people who were searching for them. One minute later, someone called 911 and said they heard a child calling “Mama.” A Wayne County sergeant went to the caller’s address but did not find anyone. At 12:30 a.m., a Glynn County K-9 located a pair of children’s shoes near a body of water and clay pits.
Deputies shared a picture of the shoes with Bush’s family, who confirmed the shoes were his. Around the same time, the K-9 found footprints.
Road crews opened the area to access the clay pits and continued the search. Divers went into the water and recovered the child’s body at around 8 a.m.
According to WSAV-TV, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted an autopsy, and the medical examiner said in a news release July 10 that Bush drowned. His manner of death was homicide. Officials believe the juveniles were wading in the water in the borrow pit when one of them pushed Bush in a deeper area.
Investigators have since arrested an 11-year-old on charges of simple battery, involuntary manslaughter, concealing the death of another, and criminal trespass. A 10-year-old is being charged with concealing the death of another and criminal trespass.
Bush’s mother, Demetrice Bush, said in a Wednesday press conference, “I’m grateful for the arrests that were made today, but we still have a long road. There will be no peace until justice is served.”