There was a vigil, Friday night, to honor the 6-year-old boy whose body was found in a retention pond.
A week ago today, authorities said Adam Roach, 6, slipped out of his home. Teams searched for hours for the little boy. He was found in the backyard retention pond.
Tonight, Adam's family, strangers, and deputies remembered him at Christiana Park in Lakeland and released balloons into the sky. Brittany Roach, Adam's mother, said everyone's support means everything to her because people are recognizing the special needs community.
"It helps me feel like I'm not alone. It's very comforting," Brittany Roach said.
Brittany Roach said her son was diagnosed with 1p36 chromosome deletion syndrome, which left him with severe mental and physical disabilities. Brittany Roach said doctors told her he would not live a long life, but she said Adam always surprised her.
"Every obstacle, he overcame and so I always thought he would have a long life span, but I always knew in the back of my mind that I would have to give him back to God one day," Brittany Roach said.
Brittany Roach called her son a blessing. There is a growing memorial behind her home; she said she visits it multiple times a day.
"A very big blessing. From the day I found out I was pregnant with him, he's been a blessing. I loved him since day one," Brittany Roach said.
