Father woke up to find his 6-month-old son covered in blood with his fingers chewed off after the boy suffered horrific bites from rodents; father found guilty

Indiana – In a deeply unsettling case in Indiana that has drawn widespread attention, a 38-year-old father, identified as D. Schonabaum, has been convicted of severe child neglect after his 6-month-old son suffered over fifty rat bites in a rodent-infested home. The incident, which occurred in a cluttered and unsanitary residence, left the child permanently disfigured and nearly cost him his life. The charges stemmed from the deplorable living conditions that led to the infant’s severe injuries, as well as neglect involving two other children residing in the household.

“The victim in this case was a 6-month-old baby who suffered horrific rat bites to his entire body while lying in a bassinet in his home,” prosecutor D. Moers said. “When paramedics and police arrived, the infant was laying in his crib in a pool of blood, and the bites were so bad on his body—including his face, mouth, and extremities—that they left bone showing on one hand, and he is now permanently disfigured.”

The prosecutors argued that the Department of Child Services had spent two years urging Schonabaum to clean up his home due to unsafe conditions. A pest control specialist had provided him with reusable rat traps, but there was no evidence he utilized them effectively. The neglect charges highlighted his failure to provide a safe environment for his children, leading to severe harm.

On September 13, 2023, officers from the police department responded to an emergency call at a residence. The caller, later identified as Schonabaum, reported that he had woken up to find his infant son “covered in blood” and that the baby’s fingers appeared to have been “chewed off.”

First responders arrived to a harrowing scene. The baby was lying in his bassinet, soaked in blood, with visible wounds all over his body. Emergency medical personnel immediately provided treatment, stabilizing the infant before transporting him to a local hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, the child was airlifted to a specialized hospital in Indianapolis for advanced care.

Hospital records described the infant as having suffered a “near-fatal event.” He required a blood transfusion after nearly going into shock due to significant blood loss. Doctors noted that the baby had over 50 rat bites on his forehead, cheeks, and nose alone. His right hand was severely damaged, with missing flesh exposing bone on all five fingertips. Some fingers had flesh missing halfway down the digit. Additional bites were found on his arms, legs, feet, and toes. His body temperature was dangerously low at 93.5 degrees, and his blood pressure was critically low at 50/30 upon arrival at the hospital.

Police Sergeant A. Gray commented on the severity of the situation: “From what the doctors and nurses told the detectives, [the child was] very near to death. The child had lost so much blood that he actually had to have blood transfusions as well. Several fingers had to be amputated.”

At the residence, investigators found deplorable living conditions. The baby’s bassinet was situated about three feet from where his parents slept. The room was cluttered with trash, half-eaten food, and rat feces. There was a significant amount of blood in the bassinet, and a pillow and blanket were soaked with blood. Detectives also observed blood smeared on the diaper disposal container, with what appeared to be rodent footprints in the blood.

When questioned, the adults in the home claimed they did not hear the baby cry during the night. “This was a case where rats had been living in the home,” Sgt. Gray said. “The home was overwhelmed with rodents. They said they were trying to get rid of the rats, but I think they were trapping about four a day at least. I mean, that’s a lot of rats.”

Following the incident, both parents and an aunt were charged with child neglect. On Wednesday, the jury found Schonabaum guilty of three counts of child neglect, one for each child living in the home. Sentencing is scheduled for October 2. He faces significant prison time due to the severity of the neglect and the injuries sustained by his son.

The boy’s mother, 39-year-old Angel Schonabaum, is set to go to trial later this month on similar child neglect charges. The aunt, 34-year-old Delaina Thurman, pleaded guilty earlier and received a two-year suspended prison sentence.

During the trial, Schonabaum’s defense argued that if the conditions were as dire as prosecutors claimed, the Department of Child Services would have removed the children from the home. They also contended that he lacked the financial resources to improve the living situation. However, prosecutors highlighted that child services had been involved with the family for two years, repeatedly urging Schonabaum to address the hazardous conditions. The provision of rat traps that went unused undermined his claims of helplessness.

Prosecutor Diana Moers emphasized the lasting impact of the case on everyone involved. “The facts of this case were so horrific that they will affect everyone who worked on this case for the rest of their lives,” she said.

The community has expressed shock and outrage over the incident. Neighbors were unaware of the severe conditions inside the home. Authorities are using this case to highlight the importance of reporting suspected child neglect or abuse.

Sgt. Gray stressed the necessity of vigilance: “The only reason that we even knew about it was because the dad woke up and the baby was covered in blood. It’s tragic that it had to come to this for someone to take action.”

Child welfare organizations are now involved to ensure the safety and well-being of the children. The severely injured infant is reportedly recovering but faces long-term medical challenges due to permanent disfigurement.

This devastating case underscores the critical need for responsible parenting and safe living conditions for children. It also highlights the importance of community awareness and intervention when children are at risk. Authorities continue to urge anyone who suspects child neglect or abuse to report it immediately to prevent such tragedies from occurring.