AUBURN, Maine (AP) The mother of a 5-year-old boy who drowned in the Androscoggin River last month says the state isn’t doing enough to find her son’s body.
Valerio McFarland fell into the river April 24. His older brother, who jumped in to try to save him, remains hospitalized.
Helena Gagliano-McFarland said Saturday that her son doesn’t deserve to be left in the river like a piece of trash. She says Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s office has ignored her, and she wants the Maine Warden Service to seek help from the National Guard.
A spokeswoman for LePage said the governor’s office has responded to the family. The Maine Warden Service says they have not called off the search for McFarland. They say river conditions aren’t safe for dive teams but they’re using all available assets in the search.
John MacDonald of the Maine Warden service spoke to WMTW. “We understand that from a family standpoint, no matter what takes place it might not be enough in their eyes. But do know that we’re doing everything we possible can…so please keeping that in mind…let us do our job.”
