My Friends Children Are Being Abused By Their Father, And They Need Advice! Sc, Usa

I have a friend (F30s) residing in SC. Her ex husband took custody of the children when they relocated to the coast for her new husbands work and the oldest child was in a prestigious school in the area. Think Harvard for middle school but free. They didn't want to uproot them from their lives, and gave them the choice to go with or stay, as they had spilt custody. so she drives to and from the coast to pick up both kids on the weekends. When the arrangement was first made, it was harder on all of them, but they had it worked out and they were meeting halfway. At some point, the father began not wanting to meet halfway, and insisted on if she wanted to see them, she had to make the drive. its 3-3.5 hours each way. I've known her and her oldest daughter is my daughters best friend since 2nd grade. Both will start high school next year. She is kind and nurturing and involved. We went to the kids concerts together to watch them both perform and went out after wards on many occasions, and she is one of my best friends.

one time we were in car line with our kids, on the phone, and a dog jumped into her car. we met at the corner, i got the dog into my car, and i drove around knocking on peoples houses to find the owner. i found her, and we just care, is the backstory really. We both give care to the world. She is an amazing mother and wife. Her kids adore her, and its always laughs and smiles at their home. I slept over on many occasions for slumber parties, as we both have daughters the relative ages to each others.

Onto the problem:

Her youngest daughter began coming home with bruises on her legs from blind parts. Like, literally the chord and blind turner thing were used to hit her, and left bruises. She;s called CPS and they investigated, found cameras in their childrens rooms, and locks on the outside on the doors. They also had locks on the cabinets, and all of the children were skin and bones. they removed the cameras and locks, but they didnt remove the children from the home. The ex husband and the new wife have 7 children residing in a two bedroom home, making two of the children use the garage as a room. The oldest (the new wife's oldest daughter) even as recently as the last month was checked into a psychiatric hospital for self harm, and the message she sent to her mom was chilling to read. they leave all 7 kids alone for days at a time to go on vacation without them, and SC apparently stated that was ok as long as they can take care of themselves, but thats all they've been doing for the last 2.5 years and before also, but never like this.

I can add more details if need be, but she has been trying to get them back to move with her, and the oldest can decide but refuses to allow the youngest to stay there alone as its her thats being abused. She used to have a spark, and now i only see hurt in their eyes, and relief when shes with her mom. I told her i was posting here to hopefully get some answers on what they can do, as shes told her mom not to say anything to the parents because it will be worse for them if they say anything, and they also apparently have friends in high places, and no amount of phone calls has done anything to help get those children back to her mom.

Any helpful advice???