Texas School Mourning Death Of Camden Pierce Hughes
BOSTON (CBS) - Students and staff at the W.T. Hanes Elementary School in Irving, Texas are in shock about the death of Camden Pierce Hughes, who was found in Maine over the weekend.
Camden hadn't been at school since May 9, and repeated calls to the home went unanswered.
WBZ-TV's Kate Merrill reports.
But, according to school security director Pat Lamb, no one ever suspected this.
Lamb spoke about the little boy with WBZ NewsRadio 1030 editor Kate Gallagher:
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"I can tell ya a number of teachers just openly wept this morning as they thought about Camden and the possibility that we lost him," said Lamb.
Lamb said he didn't know Camden personally, but spoke with his teacher, who was devastated by the news of the boy's death.
"(Camden's teacher) described him as a little blond-haired, blue-eyed ball of fire. He was a gifted and talented student. He loved learning. She described him as a sponge, and when he walked into a room, he literally lit it up," said Lamb.
Lamb added that there are grief counselors on hand at the school for students and staff.
"His classmates are gonna miss him. His teachers are grieving; they're hurting, but in his honor, and in his memory, this school, these teachers are gonna engage this process of teaching and learning with passion today and throughout the rest of the year.
John Durham, a pastor at First Baptist Church in Irving, Texas, issued a statement about Camden to WBZ-TV:
"Camden was a very bright, very enthusiastic and very articulate young boy. He was very curious about things in the Bible and was eager to learn. He was in Children's Sunday School as recently as May 1 here at First Baptist Irving. As a church we are mourning his death, and are truly leaning into God's promises and God's presence. We remembered together last night as a church that Jesus loves children."
