In an appalling case from Indiana, authorities imprisoned a father after his infant son suffered severe injuries from rat bites. The court sentenced David Schonabaum to 16 years in prison following the horrific incident.
An Indiana court handed Schonabaum the sentence after his baby endured over 50 rat bites, which resulted in multiple amputations, Daily Mail reported.
The distressing incident occurred on September 13, 2023, when Schonabaum called emergency services after discovering his son covered in blood and severely injured. While his baby lay in a nearby bassinet, Schonabaum had fallen asleep on the couch.
The baby's injuries were extensive and gruesome. Schonabaum noticed that rats had chewed off the top of his son's fingers and thumb on the right hand. Further examination confirmed that the child's condition stemmed from rat bites.
"Blood was all over the pillow," Schonabaum recounted to the Evansville Police, initially mistaking the horrific scene for a nosebleed caused by his child.
Schonabaum's confusion turned to horror when his sister-in-law pointed out the bites on the boy's hands. Realizing the cause, he immediately called 911. His quick action led to the infant receiving emergency medical treatment.
The severity of the injuries required several surgeries, including amputations of several fingers. Doctors also had to administer a blood transfusion to stabilize the baby’s critical condition.
Evansville Police learned from Schonabaum that his home had an ongoing rat problem, though it was the first time anyone had been harmed. This confession raised concerns about the living conditions in the home.
Police discovered that the condition of the Schonabaum home was less than satisfactory. They found considerable amounts of discarded food, rodent feces, and trash, all contributing to the rat infestation.
Despite regular visits from an exterminator, the measures taken proved insufficient to address the severity of the infestation or ensure the safety of the household’s occupants.
This negligence led to physical harm for the youngest family member and prompted legal action against other family members. Angel Schonabaum, David’s wife, and Delaina Thurman, his sister-in-law, faced charges of neglect following the incident.
The incident unveiled significant failures within the local child welfare system. Three employees from the Department of Child Services (DCS) were dismissed due to their inability to take preventive action despite prior warnings.
These dismissed employees later filed a lawsuit against their former employer, arguing wrongful termination and highlighting systemic issues within the DCS that may have contributed to this family's tragic situation.
The case has prompted a broader discussion on the effectiveness and responsiveness of child welfare services, considering the prior opportunities to intervene that were either missed or ignored.
The conclusion of the trial leaves a community in distress and a family facing the long-term repercussions of an evening shrouded in negligence. As David Schonabaum begins his 16-year sentence, questions about preventive measures and future safeguards against similar occurrences remain pressing.
As this harrowing episode concludes in the courtroom, it serves as a stark reminder of the diligence required in child protection and home safety standards.
