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A BOY was found by cops walking in traffic after allegedly escaping his abusive parents when they forgot to handcuff him to his bed.

The 12-year-old was found on a lonely rural highway in Missouri the middle of the night, emaciated and covered in bruises.

 Christopher Crets is the 12-year-old's biological father
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Christopher Crets is the 12-year-old's biological fatherCredit: KSDK
 Wife Nicole is the youngster's step-mom
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Wife Nicole is the youngster's step-momCredit: KSDK

He told the Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper who found him that he packed a bag and fled his house.

According to court documents, biological dad Christopher, 40, and 33-year-old step-mom Nicole Crets forgot to handcuff him to his bed that day.

Both were charged with felony child abuse on May 3 and Christopher Crets is also charged with kidnapping along with four counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said it was a “miracle” the boy wasn’t seriously hurt – either on the road or by his parents.

“He’s very fortunate, he's walking in traffic, he’s just wanting somebody to stop and help them and a state trooper just happened to be the car coming down the highway,” Harrison told KSDK.com.

“It just was an answered prayer for him. It was definitely this boy's time to be rescued.

"His eyes were swollen, his forehead was swollen, this boy was beaten and tortured at the hands of mom and dad so I'm very happy that he slipped out.”

 Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said the boy was lucky to be alive
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Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said the boy was lucky to be aliveCredit: KSDK

He added he was “glad the trooper was there and that my detectives and deputies were able to be part of rescuing him from the situation”.

"It breaks my heart because there's this child is being handcuffed in his own home, and he's being not just abused, but tortured by his parents," said Harrison.

The boy told police he once weighed 115 to 120 pounds but was 74 pounds when authorities took him to the hospital.

He was also suffering from refeeding syndrome, which is a metabolic condition that can cause seizures, heart failure, fatigue and confusion due to starvation.

It breaks my heart because there's this child is being handcuffed in his own home, and he's being not just abused, but tortured by his parents

Wayne County Sheriff Kevin Harrison

The boy is now protective custody while his parents are in jail awaiting their next court appearance.

Detectives who searched the boy’s rural home and found handcuffs attached to the boy’s bed, according to the documents.

The boy told police his parents beat him with their bare hands and a belt in abuse that lasted two to three months.

According to the local authorities, the child’s parents pulled him out of school about three months ago to homeschool him so teachers were unable to see any signs of abuse.

They told police they were keeping the boy restrained because he was “sneaking” food and candy.

The couple claim they were trying to prevent him from eating certain foods because he has a medical condition.

They are now at the Warren County jail and due to appear in court again on May 27.

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