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I'm not in Florida, but here's my take on this situation:
If the child truly had bruises "all over his body" without a reasonable explanation, then anyone who cares about the child should call Social Services and report it.
If the child was truly taken from "Bea" without her consent, she should have called the police to report a kidnapping. She still can, and should. Even if she can't care for the child, she shouldn't sit back and let the child be cared for by people she thinks are kidnappers.
But Bea doesn't seem to have her head on straight since she reported neither the "kidnapping" nor the "abuse", so I'm not sure I'd trust anything she said, let alone put your heart on the line by considering an adoption of this child.
You are correct that even if you pursue this and hope it turns into an adoption, that the choices are:
1- the boy enters Social Services based on the abuse and abandonment and illegality of the situation, where he will be fostered until a parent gets custody or he is adopted by somebody. Or,
2-you pursue a private adoption with the mother and pay the thousands of dollars it will cost to untangle the possible illegalities and get the signatures of everybody involved and weather the legal challenges of the family the boy considers to be his own (and which might have legal standing you haven't been told of).
If you want to be altruistic and get to the bottom of the situation, go ahead and hire a lawyer. Bring the mother to the lawyer, and have her explain everything. Have the lawyer investigate, and tell you the truth of the situation. THEN decide if there's anything that can be done for the child, THEN decide if it's a possible adoption situation. Yes, this will cost money, but better to find out the situation before you get emotionally involved.
Keep us posted on what you decide.
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