What about his father?
It’s hard to believe anyone can treat a nine-year old this way, especially given that his father was around throughout this nightmare and never intervened. Unlike his step mother, his father didn’t take an active part in the abuse, but he knew of the conditions Greg was forced to live in, and allowed it to go on.
His father did provide him a cellphone to stay in touch with his friends from school, but Gregory was too scared of Samantha to try and contact his family back in Florida. Samantha Joy was very intimidating, and she warned Gregory Junior against disobeying her. As a confused nine-year old, he felt powerless against her.