What was the name of this child?

This child who had a lousy mother who had a bad boyfriend/husband. (Don't remember). I remember the boyfriend beat the kid and tortured him like burning him with cigarettes, sticking him with needles, put him in scalding hot water. I remember reading that he would starve this child to toughen him up or something like that and beat him if he complained. Also, the mom & the boyfriend tied the child up in a closet upside down and put something in his mouth so he couldn't scream. What was the name of this child? Please help.