Devastated

Since last night I have been haunted by little blonde boys and my inability to save them from stupidity. It started off with the Walmart Parking lot.
Last Night: DH and I are loading the car when I look over and see this little blonde boy (maybe 3-4yo) plastered against the back window of a jacked up mudbogging redneck truck. His little face was so pitiful. The windows were rolled up and he was alone. OMG he was alone locked in a truck in 90 degree heat while his white trash parents shopped at Walmart.
I was furious. I had my cell phone out ready to call the sheriff and was ranting and raving. There were several other families who had noticed him by this point. This old lady parked next to him tapped the window and he rolled it down and sat on the door half out of the truck. This infuriated me more. He could fall out, someone could snatch him. Untold harm could come to him and I was ready to kill someone. The lady next to him was on her cell and was hunkered down to wait on the parents I guess. I hope she gave them on old fashioned preaching to. DH made me leave because at that moment I could probably have beaten someone down.
Here's the biggest problem with my emotions over this situation: he was a little blonde boy the age of my nephew who is probably treated even worse and it breaks my heart. I told my DH this. As we were driving away, I was in tears saying "That could have been Jay, you know it, and there isn't shit we can do about it."

Back story: Right after DH and I were married, his brother went through one of the worst divorces I've ever seen. Custody battle insued. BIL moved in with us. One day we went over to the ex-house to grab some of Jay's stuff as SIL had up and went to the beach for the weekend calling to tell BIL to pick JAY up at the daycare (nice huh?). We found the house unlivable. Evidence that she kept the child locked in his room with dirty diapers every where, you could SMELL the house from the driveway. I literally stood outside the front door throwing up it was that bad. I immediately started snapping pictures and DH and I used a considerable amount of our savings helping BIL get custody and support Jay. Jay lived with us for about six months by court order. (BIL lived here too and had custody). Then BIL decided he was going to be a 30 yo kid dating 18 yo Hooter's waitresses and driving a low rider truck and didn't want a kid tagging along and gave Jay back to ex-SIL. There was a lot of drama. DH and I were furious. BIL moved out (was thrown out) and moved back down to wear his parents live which is where ex-SIL now lives (military town-she was looking for a military man to support her which is what she though she had in BIL but after they married he got discharged and she was pissed). Anyway, long story short, we haven't seen Jay in two years.

Today: DH is talking to his Mom. Shit has hit the fan down there (five hours away from us). Ex-SIL and her new man had to take their 1 yo (his first marriage) to the hospital with a severaly broken leg that requires surgery that they can not explain how it happened. Hospital calls DSS. Sheriff shows up at BIL's to escort him to pick up Jay. Sheriff talks to babysitter and finds out that Jay (who is now 4)has been taking care of his 1 yo step sister because "mommy sleeps and we stay in the bedroom until time to go to the babysitter." Her custody has been revoked and temporary sole custody awarded to BIL who is broke, his car is being repossessed and he's living in a frat house on the beach. Jay screams when his mother comes to get him at the babysitters or when he has visited grandma. He never wants to go home. Ex-SIL is not allowed to see Jay for 30 days. Both children have been taken from her and the court is deciding who in the family is going to be granted full custody of Jay.

I'm in tears. DH sat there and argued with his Mom that he wants Jay. She does not have the room, literally (small crowded 3 bedroom/1 bath house with IL's plus my SIL and her 2 kids) and BIL doesn't have the money or the brain to take care of him. I've never seen DH with such suppressed rage as he was talking to his mother. He's literally ready to go RIGHT NOW and pick him up. All we can hope for at this point is that the courts will grant custody to BIL and he will sign him over to us. I'm not sure if DH convinced his parents but he's ready to fight. I'm so upset. DH told his mom flat out that when its all said and done if BIL gives him back to her this time, he will be driving down there to beat his ass to within an inch of his life. I don't know what to do. My heart hurts and we don't have any savings left to fight with so we have to just sit and wait and see how all of this plays out. Granted they are digging their own graves and the best we can do is let them be the white trash uneducated people they are and step in at the last minute when DSS looks for a family member to take him, if BIL screws it up, but I am absolutely devastated. All we can do is wait and pray.