Need Information On Louisiana Emancipation Laws

My question involves emancipation laws for the State of: Louisiana

My friend is 16 years old and will be 17 in September. His mother died when he was three, and since then his father has remarried. My friend was excelling academically and was thriving despite conditions at home. His step-mother has violent tendencies, and despises him because he isn't her own child. The step-mother has been known to lash out, and over react but no one knew how far she would take things. In January she pulled my friend, and her step-son, out of the school he was attending and put him in a neighborhood school because of a text messaging issue caused by his girlfriend.
Since my friend was transferred no one had been able to make contact with him except for his cousin who lives near him. Last week though we were able to find out how he was through correspondence in a the form of notes left in a mailbox. My friend describes the conditions he lives in as intolerable and cruel. His step mother removed his bedroom door and now sleeps outside of it because she fears that he will try to harm her other children. This fear is completely unjustified. My friend has been one of the primary care givers in the afternoons for the children, and would never do anything to hurt them. Also the step-mother wakes him up every morning by saying, "Get up you loser you have 582 more days until your free to leave." According to her the day he is free is the day he turns 18.
Besides the obvious mental abuse there is also physical abuse. My friend has been beaten several times when the step-mother was angry because she was un-happy with him. My friend is not allowed to associate with any relatives, he isn't allowed to go outside except to walk to the bus stop, he can't associate with the outside world, and he is forced to live in his home doing everything for himself because they refuse to provide for him. This is not normal treatment of a 16 year old. My friends father would stand up for his son if only he wasn't afraid. The step-mother kicked her husband out of the house and threw plates and other items such as at him, and proceded to hit him. Also my friends cousins live down the street from them. The step-mother became enraged one day when their relatives got new cars and she went and damaged them.
My friends Aunt and Uncle have agreed to take him in, and help him in anyway they can. The step-mother doesn't have legal custody over him, but the father won't sign anything relinquishing custody because he is afraid of what the step-mother will do. I'm curious as to how my friend could become legally emancipated in the state of Louisiana. He is old enough to have a job, and i have no doubt he could support himself. As the law stands how can my friend escape this oppressive situation?

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