Indiana rat eats baby to death: An Indiana father has been sentenced to over 16 years in prison for neglect after his infant son was found disfigured and covered with more than 50 rat bites in a horrifying case of child abuse. The mother has accepted a plea deal, while the aunt involved in the incident received probation.Child found with over 50 rat bitesIn a chilling case that has shocked the community, the father, David Schonabaum, was handed a 16-year prison sentence after his six-month-old son was discovered with severe injuries and disfigurement caused by rat bites. The gruesome discovery, made in 2023, revealed more than 50 bites across the infants forehead, cheek, and nose, which medical experts confirmed would likely lead to permanent disfigurement.The child was found in a pool of blood at the familys home after Schonabaum himself called the police to report the horrifying situation.Mother and aunts facing legal consequencesThe infants mother, Angel Schonabaum, has accepted a plea deal and is awaiting her sentencing in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the childs aunt, Delaina Thurman, who was also living with the family at the time, was sentenced to probation for her involvement in the case.The aunt had dismissed warnings about the deteriorating living conditions and ignored signs that rodents were harming the children. She downplayed the severity of the situation, telling a Department of Child Services (DCS) worker that marks on one childs toes were likely from bed frame scratches, rather than rat bites.Body found in clean and dangerous living conditionsDuring the trial, prosecutors revealed the appalling living conditions the children endured, describing the home as unclean, unsanitary, and rat-infested. The Department of Child Services had been visiting the family since September 2021, following complaints about the hazardous environment. Despite repeated warnings from authorities, Schonabaum failed to improve the conditions, ultimately leading to the tragic incident.Two of the children had even told their teachers in early September 2023 that mice had bitten their toes while they slept, raising further concerns about the familys living situation. This led to a visit from child services on September 5, but no action was taken in time to prevent the horrific attack on the infant.Lasting impact on the childProsecutors emphasized the lasting consequences of the fathers neglect, highlighting the lifelong disfigurement the infant will endure. This is not just a case of neglect, but one of extreme suffering, they said, urging the jury to hold Schonabaum accountable for the irreversible harm done to his child. The case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by ignoring child welfare warnings and living in unsanitary conditions.
