A couple from South Carolina is facing criminal charges after their twin infants were reportedly bitten and injured by large rats in their home. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office discovered a six-month-old girl covered in blood, with bite marks on her arms, head, ears, and face. The child was reportedly attacked by a large rat while she was in her bassinet.
The girl’s twin brother was also found with significant bite marks on his feet. The parents, Akayla and Justin Bearden, both 24 years old, have been charged with two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child. The couple reportedly told law enforcement that they had been dealing with a persistent rat problem in their home for several months.
The mother had called the police for assistance on Friday. The injured girl was taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where she stayed for several days. The couple’s three children, including the injured twins, have been placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services.
The parents have been prohibited from contacting their children unless given permission by the Department of Social Services. Each parent was charged with two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child. They were granted bond on Tuesday and are scheduled to return to court on July 31.
This case echoes a similar incident in Indiana, where a father was sentenced to prison after his infant son was left permanently disfigured and nearly died from blood loss after being bitten by rats over 50 times.