An Indiana father will spend 16 years in prison for neglect following the gruesome discovery of his infant son who was found severely injured and disfigured with more than 50 rat bites, according to Fox 59.
Infant’s mother, Angel Schonabaum, recently accepted a plea deal and is set to receive her sentence in the coming weeks. The infant’s aunt, identified as Delaina Thurman, was given a probationary sentence for her involvement in the case.
In the horrific incident back in 2023, Police officers were called to the family’s home after David Schonabaum reported finding his six-month-old son in a pool of blood.
The child was discovered with visible injuries inflicted by more than 50 rat bites across his forehead, cheek, and nose. Medical staff confirmed that the infant’s injuries would likely result in permanent disfigurement.
According to Indiana news station, Schonabaum’s home was visited by the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) on September 5. This visit was prompted by two of the children informing their teachers on September 1 that “mice bit their toes while they were sleeping.” During the visit, Aunt Delaina Thurman, who was living along with them, told the DCS worker that the marks on her child’s toes were likely caused by scratches from the bed frame and ignored the warnings.
The Daily Star reported that the prosecutors urged the jury to hold Schonabaum accountable for his neglect during the trial, highlighting the hazardous conditions that led to such a horrific incident. They described the family’s home as “unclean, unsanitary, and rat-infested,” and asserted that Schonabaum had ignored numerous warnings from the department of child services over the previous two years to rectify the living conditions.
Prosecutors highlighted the lasting impact on the child’s life, detailing the lifelong consequences of the disfigurement he would suffer due to his father’s inaction.