The parents of an infant who almost died from rat bites were charged with child neglect according to Indiana police.
Police said that they were called by 31-year-old David Schonabaum to a home on Linwood Avenue after he said that he found his 6-month-old infant covered in blood in his bassinet.
When police arrived, they found that the baby had suffered from dozens of rat bites and had grievous wounds.
The child was first transported to one hospital and then flown to a second hospital in Indianapolis.
The affidavit says the baby had more than 50 bites from rats to his forehead, cheek, nose, thigh, foot, and toes. The baby’s right arm was bitten all the way down to his hands, and each of his fingers had pieces missing from the rat bites. Some of the wounds were down to the bones.
The baby’s temperature was 93.5 degrees, and he required a blood transfusion, according to the affidavit.
Police say the home was cluttered with garbage and rat feces.
They arrested Schonabaum, his wife, Angel Schonabaum, and her sister, Delaina Thurman. Investigators say that in addition to the baby, the Schonabaums were taking care of a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old in the home. Thurman also had a two-year-old and a five-year-old living in the home.
Sgt. Anna Gray told WEHT-TV that none of the other children were injured and that they were removed from the home by the Department of Child Services.
David Schonabaum reportedly told police they began to have a problem with rats and mice in March but that Terminix was treating the home.
Police said that they could see rodent footprints in blood leading away from the baby.
The three adults were booked into the Vanderburgh County jail. David Schonabaum was given a bond of $10,000, his wife was given a bond of $10,000, and Thurman was given a bond of $2,500.
Here’s a local news report about the horrible incident:
Police: 3 charged after infant nearly dies from rat bites in Evansvillewww.youtube.com
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