A 32-year-old Indiana man, David Schonabaum, has been handed a 16-year prison sentence following a horrific incident in which his six-month-old son was found severely injured and disfigured due to a rat attack. The infant was discovered in his bassinet, bloodied and with over 50 rat bites covering his body, face, and extremities. The child’s fingers were gnawed down to the bone in the incident that took place on September 13, 2023.
The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office reported that the infant was on the brink of death due to blood loss and is now permanently disfigured. Schonabaum was found guilty of three felonies related to child neglect and endangerment by a jury. Prosecutor Diana Moers described the case as horrific, stating that the images of the injured baby will forever be etched in their minds. She further revealed that the baby, his siblings, and a pet dog were living in deplorable conditions.
The Indiana Department of Child Services had been investigating the rat infestation in the Schonabaum residence. The authorities were alerted to the situation when Schonabaum called 911 to report that his infant son was covered in blood and severely injured by rats. Following this, Schonabaum, his wife Angel Renee Schonabaum, 29, and her sister, Delania Thurman, were arrested.
The injured infant was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital where he received a blood transfusion after his body temperature dropped to 93.5 degrees. The most severe injuries were to his right hand, with each finger and thumb missing flesh, exposing the bone.
The Schonabaum home, located on South Linwood Avenue, was found to be in a state of extreme disarray, infested with rats and filled with clutter, trash, bugs, and rat feces. The residence was also home to the boy’s siblings, aged 3 and 6, and cousins aged 2 and 5. This was not the first instance of children in the home being targeted by rats. Prosecutors revealed that three children had previously been bitten by rats while they slept. The Indiana Department of Child Services had previously provided aid to the house to address safety concerns.
Prosecutors criticized Schonabaum for failing to address issues that would have ensured a safe environment for his children. The child’s mother pleaded guilty to felony neglect charges and is set to be sentenced on October 24. Thurman was sentenced to two years of probation in April.