Signs posted around the town and at the church urge people to pray for the boy.

During a vigil Saturday outside the town hall, Michelle Riley called on Dykes to release the boy.

"He just needs to know that ... everybody makes mistakes," she said. "Everybody's been through life events that changes them, but (the boy is) innocent. You know, let him go home to his mother. Let him go home to his grandparents. Let him come out to the community. Let him go back to school and be with his friends."