Ind. man whose infant was missing flesh, covered in rat bites is convicted of neglect

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (TCN) -- A father was found guilty of child neglect one year after his infant son was found living in "deplorable, unlivable" conditions with a near-fatal amount of rat bites all over his body.

The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office announced Sept. 11 that a jury convicted David Schonabaum of three child neglect-related charges, including neglect resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to the prosecutor's office, on Sept. 13, 2023, Schonabaum contacted the Evansville Police Department and said he found his 6-month-old son "in his bassinet covered in blood." First responders arrived and immediately determined there was a rat infestation in the residence because the little boy was "found in his bassinet in a pool of blood with over 50 bites to his body including his face and extremities."

All five fingers on the child's right hand were missing flesh and had exposed bone due to the bites. The child "nearly died" from blood loss and is now "permanently disfigured."

The prosecutor's office said the Department of Child Services and a third party knew the family and were providing assistance. An official from that third party told the prosecutor's office that "despite their assistance, any progress in the conditions of the house was fleeting." Schonabaum was reportedly given rat traps to help alleviate the problem, but Schonabaum did not ever resolve any other problems that the service providers brought up.

Three other children in the home also suffered rat bites. The home was "overran by rats and bugs" and had trash and feces all over the place.

Prosecutor Diana Moers said, "This baby lived in an absolute house of horrors along with his siblings and pet dog."

Schonabaum faces up to 16 years in prison.

Moers added in the statement, "This case is horrific, and we will live with the images of this baby forever. It is completely shocking to the conscience that anyone would live in these conditions, much less allow their children, baby, and animals to live among absolute filth when they cannot help themselves."

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