Indiana – In an extremely disturbing case in Indiana that has received global notice, a 38-year-old father named D. Schonabaum has been convicted of serious child neglect after his 6-month-old kid had over fifty rat bites in a rodent-infested home. The tragedy, which occurred in a messy and dirty home, permanently deformed the boy and almost killed him. The allegations resulted from the infant’s grave injuries caused by horrible living conditions, as well as neglect of two other children in the household.
“The victim in this case was a 6-month-old baby who suffered horrific rat bites to his entire body while lying in a bassinet in his home,” said the prosecutor, D. Moers. “When paramedics and police arrived, the infant was laying in his crib in a pool of blood, and the bites were so bad on his body—including his face, mouth, and extremities—that they left bone showing on one hand, and he is now permanently disfigured.”
The prosecutors claimed that the Department of Child Services had spent two years asking Schonabaum to clean up his home owing to dangerous circumstances. A pest control specialist had given him reusable rat traps, but there was no indication he used them properly. The neglect accusations highlighted his failure to provide a safe environment for his children, which resulted in significant harm.
On September 13, 2023, police officers responded to an emergency call at a residence. The caller, later identified as Schonabaum, stated that he awoke to see his young son “covered in blood” and that the baby’s fingers appeared to be “chewed off.”
First responders arrived at a horrific scene. The infant lay in his cradle, drenched in blood, with apparent wounds all over his body. Emergency care staff instantly treated the infant, stabilizing him before taking him to a nearby hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, the boy was evacuated to a specialized hospital in Indianapolis for further treatment.
According to hospital documents, the infant experienced a “near-fatal event.”. He needed a blood transfusion after nearly falling into shock owing to severe blood loss. Doctors discovered that the baby had more than 50 rat bites on his forehead, cheeks, and nose alone.
His right hand was seriously wounded, with missing tissue and exposed bone on all five fingertips. Some fingers had flesh missing halfway down the finger. Additional bites were discovered on his arms, legs, feet, and toes. When he arrived at the hospital, his body temperature was dangerously low at 93.5 degrees and his blood pressure was critically low at 50/30.
Police Sergeant A. Gray commented on the gravity of the situation: “According to what the doctors and nurses told the detectives, [the child] was very close to death.” The boy had lost so much blood that he required blood transfusions as well. “Several fingers needed to be amputated.”
Investigators discovered horrible living conditions at the property. The baby’s bassinet was just three feet from where his parents slept. The room was littered with trash, half-eaten food, and rat droppings. The bassinet had a substantial amount of blood, as well as a blood-soaked cushion and blanket. Detectives also discovered blood splattered on the diaper disposal receptacle, with what seemed to be rodent footprints.
When questioned, the adults in the house stated they didn’t hear the infant cry at night. “This was a case where rats had been living in the home,” Sgt. Gray explained. “The house was overrun with vermin. They said they were trying to get rid of the rats, but I believe they were trapping at least four per day. I mean, there are a lot of rats.”
Following the incident, both parents and an aunt faced charges of child neglect. On Wednesday, the jury convicted Schonabaum guilty of three charges of child neglect, one for each child living in the house. The sentencing is planned for October 2. He faces lengthy prison time as a result of his son’s negligence and injuries.
The boy’s mother, Angel Schonabaum, 39, is scheduled to stand trial later this month on similar child negligence accusations. Delaina Thurman, 34, had already pled guilty and got a two-year suspended prison sentence.
During the trial, Schonabaum’s defense maintained that if the conditions were as bad as prosecutors claimed, the Department of Child Services would have removed the children. They also claimed that he lacked the financial resources to modify his living conditions. However, prosecutors emphasized that child services had been working with the family for two years, consistently asking Schonabaum to rectify the harmful conditions. The provision of unused rat traps undercut his claims of helplessness.
Prosecutor Diana Moers stressed the case’s long-term impact on all parties involved. “The facts of this case were so horrific that they will affect everyone who worked on this case for the rest of their lives,” according to her.
The community has voiced shock and outrage over the incident. Neighbors were unaware of the dire circumstances inside the residence. The authorities are utilizing this case to emphasize the necessity of reporting suspected child neglect or abuse.
Sgt. Gray emphasized the importance of vigilance: “The only way we knew about it was because the father woke up and the baby was covered in blood.” Unfortunately, it had to get to this point before someone took action.”
Child welfare agencies are now active in ensuring the children’s safety and well-being. The critically damaged infant is recuperating, but his lasting disfigurement will present long-term medical issues.
This heartbreaking example emphasizes the crucial need for responsible parenting and safe living environments for children. It also emphasizes the significance of community awareness and intervention when children are at risk. Authorities continue to urge anyone who suspects child neglect or abuse to report it promptly to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.