A five-year boy from Texas has been rescued after being found locked in a closet by his father and stepmother.
"His skin was coming off on his back. It's a horrific horrific situation"
The couple, in a horrific case of child abuse, had beaten him, forced him to wear a nappy and starved him nearly to death, according to police.
It was the little boy's brave teenage stepbrother who informed police of the abuse after he found the child, wearing a nappy, inside a small cupboard.
The teen then confronted his father Bradley Bleimeyer, 24, and got into a fist fight with the man.
Officers were called to the house, where the teen informed them of the abuse, but, by this point, the victim's pregnant stepmother Tammi Bleimeyer, 33, and Bradley had grabbed the little boy and fled the scene.
Police used mobile phone data to track down the couple at a motel; the 5-year-old victim’s appearance caused them to immediately summon Emergency Service personnel and he was transported to a hospital.
Assistant Chief Mark Herman explained to American news site KHOU that, in all of his 28-year career, he had never seen child abuse like this.
“He was severely under nourished, bone sticking out, bumps, bruises.
"His skin was coming off on his back. It's a horrific horrific situation."
The boy is in the custody of Children's Protective Services but is expected to remain hospitalised for weeks.
Bradley and Tammi Bleimeyer were arrested and charged with felony child endangerment; the father is in jail with no bond and the victim's stepmother's bail was set at $2,000.
Police have told KHOU 11 News they’re looking for the boy’s stepbrothers and sisters. There are six of them, ages one to 16.
Authorities just want to make sure they are OK.