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Couple That Found Dead Boy In Maine Speaks Up

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine (CBS) — The couple that first found Camden Pierce Hughes dead alongside a road in South Berwick, Maine is now opening up.

Manley and Linda Gove spoke for first time at a prayer service Wednesday evening at the First Parish Federated Church in South Berwick.

"Saturday evening my wife and I started down a journey, however much it hurts, we're glad the Lord gave us the opportunity to be involved in Camden's life," said Manley Gove.

WBZ-TV's Beth Germano reports.

"When I heard my wife screaming 'no, no', I said that boy will never be unwanted again. My son told my wife had we only known we would have taken him, and we would have taken him, just like everyone here would have taken him. We weren't given that choice."

Their words moved the congregation to tears.

Wednesday night was the second night the town held a vigil, but it was different than the first because it now had a name of the boy to which they could pray.

"He was brought here for some reason.  We felt we had to take care of him and take care of people here who are grieving," said resident Judy Connelly, who made a wreath out of grapevine that became a focal point of the service at First Parish Federated Church. 

The Goves want to give Camden a proper burial in the town if the boy's own family does not claim him.

"Even though not bone of my bone or flesh of my flesh, it feels like he is. We will accept him if they don't accept him," said Manley Gove.

"Maybe his life ended in such a tragic way, but you can see he is loved," said Linda Gove. 

The family says a neighbor has already donated a burial site, and a local funeral service is willing to donate its services.  Already their once-deserted road has become a magnet for people to stop and remember at a make-shift memorial growing each day. 

"I feel better but not relieved," said Liz Johnson about finally knowing Camden Hughes' name. 

"It's so troubling that someone would leave their child."

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