In a tragic case of severe neglect, an Indiana father has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after his six-month-old son was found disfigured in a pool of blood after nearly being eaten alive by rats.
What happened?
The infant, as per reports, was found lying in his bassinet in the “house of horrors” with over 50 bites across his body, face, and limbs when police responded to a 911 call from David Schonabaum, the child’s father.
The incident, which occurred on 13 September 2023, predictably, shocked the local community in Evansville.
Prosecutors, as per the New York Post, said that the six-month-old child had suffered severe injuries, with his tiny fingers gnawed down to the bone by rats. The baby, who is now permanently disfigured, was flown to an Indianapolis hospital, where he was treated for blood loss and given a transfusion.
According to police records, doctors also noted his body temperature had dangerously dropped to 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit (34.17 °C).
House of Horrors
Authorities described the family’s home on South Linwood Avenue as a “house of horrors.” The home, shared by Schonabaum, his wife, Angel Renee Schonabaum, 29, and her sister, Delania Thurman, was found to be in deplorable condition. The house was infested with rats, littered with trash, and strewn with rat faeces, prosecutors said.
In a news release, Prosecutor Diana Moers described the case as “horrific” and said, “We will live with the images of this baby forever.
“The baby lived in an absolute house of horrors, along with his siblings and a pet dog.”
The couple’s two other children, 3- and 6 years old, as well as two young cousins 2 and 5 years old, also lived in the house under these appalling conditions.
This was not the first time rats had attacked children in the home. Prosecutors noted that three other children had previously been bitten by vermin while they slept.
Despite prior interventions from the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), which attempted to provide aid and improve the safety of the home, the problems persisted, culminating in the near-fatal mauling of the infant.
“It is completely shocking to the conscience that anyone would live in these conditions, much less allow their children, baby, and animals to live among absolute filth when they cannot help themselves,” said Moers in a statement. She condemned the conditions the children were subjected to, calling it “unimaginable”.
“It is also unimaginable how a rat was able to do such damage to this infant before his father called for help.”
David Schonabaum was convicted last month on multiple felony counts of neglect and child endangerment. His wife, Angel Renee, pleaded guilty to similar charges and is scheduled for sentencing on 24 October. Meanwhile, Thurman, who had also been charged, was sentenced to two years of probation earlier in the year.
(With inputs from agencies)
