Poor little kid! Sounds like he's not had much of a life until you came along. He obviously needs love (and lots of it - tough if necessary) and a lot of attention. No wonder your wife is depressed. Can you not sit him down and explain that the future is all up to him? You'll give him all the support (and love) that you can but, he has to make the decision that, in the end, its HIS life. Will he allow what he's suffered to destroy everything he could, in the future, possibly achieve? Let it go, what's gone is gone. Tomorrow is what counts. You are prepared to give him all the love and help that you can. Good luck to you all.