In a distressing incident in Indiana, a six-month-old baby was subjected to a horrifying ordeal when rats attacked him, causing severe injuries, with some bites reaching the bone.
The child's parents, David Anthony Schonabaum and Angel Schonabaum, along with his aunt, Delaina Thurmon, have been apprehended and face a range of serious charges related to the incident.
David Schonabaum faces charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in significant bodily harm, in addition to two counts of neglect of a dependent—endangering a dependent.
His wife, Angel, is charged with two counts of the former and four counts of the latter. Delaina Thurmon, the child's aunt, is charged with two counts of neglect—endangering a dependent. All three resided in the same house with the victim, and Thurmon also had her two young children living there.
The Evansville Police Department responded promptly on September 13 to a distress call regarding the baby's urgent need for medical attention at a residence on S. Linwood Avenue. David Schonabaum, the caller, described finding his infant son covered in blood, with his fingers appearing to have suffered severe damage.
Upon arrival, first responders administered immediate medical care, stabilizing the baby before transferring him to a local hospital. Shortly after, the child was flown by helicopter to a specialized hospital in Indianapolis for further treatment.
Medical records revealed that the baby had experienced a near-fatal event, necessitating a blood transfusion to prevent shock.
The extent of the injuries was harrowing—over 50 bites on the forehead, cheek, and nose alone. His right hand suffered the most severe damage, with all fingers and thumb missing flesh, exposing bone. Further bites were found on his arms, legs, feet, and toes.
The baby's internal body temperature was alarmingly low, at about 93.5, and his blood pressure dangerously low at 50/30 upon arrival at the hospital.
Sergeant Anna Gray of the Evansville Police Department emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the child was on the brink of death and required multiple blood transfusions. Several fingers had to be amputated due to the severity of the injuries.
Upon investigating the home, police discovered the baby's bassinet a short distance from the parents' bed, situated in a room filled with clutter, half-consumed food, and rat droppings. The bassinet itself contained a distressing amount of blood, along with a pillow and blanket, both stained.
The diaper disposal container also bore evidence of the horrifying attack, with blood smears and what appeared to be rodent footprints.
When questioned about how such a tragedy could unfold, the adults claimed they hadn't heard the child cry, according to Gray. The house was overrun with rats, and although attempts were made to deal with the infestation, the sheer number of rodents proved overwhelming.
Currently, the victim's parents are held in Vanderburgh County Jail on a $10,000 bond each, while Delaina Thurmon's bond is set at $2,500.
They are scheduled for a court appearance at 1 p.m. on Friday.
In another heartbreaking incident, a 70-year-old grandfather from Missouri reportedly confessed to accidentally shooting and killing his 16-year-old grandson, Royce Hayes Osburn, last week. See detailed story here
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