They didn't know who the child was, yet alone the mother. All they had were photos of an unnamed girl being abused.

I didn’t understand that part. The child has a mother, why wasn’t she reported missing?

A child does not need to be missing to be abused. Most abuse happens by people the child knows.

There's also a long dark road down "just because they birthed you doesn't mean they want to parent you."

Indeed, he may not have even been on the lease or title of the residence.