A soap opera used a photo of a deceased six-year-old boy, who had been a victim of a violent crime, as a prop on their show.

In a recent episode of SOAPnet's "General Hospital: Night Shift," Billy Dee Williams' character receives a photo from the son he abandoned. Unfortunately the photo wasn't of another actor, but young Christopher Barrios who was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 2007.

Barrios' family is understandably upset and said they never authorized the use of the photo. It remains unclear how it ended up on the episode.

The network issued a statement of apology and promised to run a series of public service announcements to raise awareness of missing and exploited children in the boy's memory.

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