EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 28, 2024) — The mother of a 6-month-old baby who suffered severe injuries after being bitten more than 50 times by rats has pleaded guilty to multiple neglect charges.
Angel Schonabaum entered her plea on Thursday to three felony counts of neglect of a dependent, according to the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Sept. 13, 2023, when Schonabaum’s husband, David Schonabaum, called 911 to report finding his infant son covered in blood at their Evansville residence.
Prosecutors say the child was found lying in a bassinet soaked in blood, his body bearing wounds from at least 50 rat bites, including serious injuries to his right hand where fingers and a thumb were stripped down to exposed bones.
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Scene of Squalor
According to court records and reports from local news outlets, law enforcement and child services were confronted with shocking living conditions inside the Schonabaum household.
Police noted clutter, discarded food, and piles of trash strewn throughout the rooms, along with rodent feces and signs of partial food consumption by rodents.
Officers reported finding bloodied rodent footprints in the infant’s bassinet, underscoring the extent of the rat infestation.
Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) had previously visited the home on multiple occasions, including on Sept. 5, after two of the children informed their teachers that they had been bitten by mice while sleeping.
However, the mother’s sister, Delaina Thurman, who also lived in the home with her two children, attributed the marks to scratches from a bed frame rather than rodent bites.
EPD Sergeant Anna Gray expressed disappointment that authorities were only contacted after the child was severely injured, saying, “The only reason that we even knew about it was because the dad woke up and the baby was covered in blood. Someone should’ve picked up the phone and called us prior to that.”
Severity of the Baby’s Injuries
The baby, suffering from hypothermia with a body temperature of 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit—substantially below the normal range for infants—was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a larger facility in Indianapolis.
Doctors noted that the infant required a blood transfusion due to the substantial blood loss caused by the bites.
His injuries included wounds on his face, forehead, cheeks, nose, thigh, feet, and toes, as well as along his right arm and hand.
Following the incident, DCS removed all children from the household.
In addition to the 6-month-old, the couple’s two other children, aged 3 and 6, as well as Thurman’s children, aged 2 and 5, were residing in the home at the time.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Angel Schonabaum was sentenced to four years in prison.
According to Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers, the penalty reflects Angel’s responsibility for the unsanitary and unsafe conditions in the home, which she failed to address.
Prosecutors emphasized that although Angel was not physically present in the home at the time of the rat-bite incident, she had failed to provide a safe living environment for her children.
Prosecutor Moers stated, “She was held accountable for the deplorable conditions of the home, which she was responsible for when residing there, and for which she was offered multiple services to assist with clean-up but did not cooperate or remove the children from the home.”
In contrast, David Schonabaum, who was residing in the home at the time of the incident, received a 16-year prison sentence earlier this year.
Prosecutors explained the sentence discrepancy by noting that David had sole responsibility for the children during the time the infant was attacked by rats.
“The father in this case was the only one residing in the home during the rat-bite incident—the mother had left and not returned nearly two weeks prior—and thus his case is wholly different than the facts for which we can hold the mother accountable,” Moers said.
History of Child Welfare Involvement
The incident in September was not the first instance of DCS investigating the family. DCS visited the home earlier in 2022 following reports of neglect that reportedly resulted in injuries to one of the children.
During these investigations, case managers visited the residence twice weekly since April, with the last visit occurring on Sept. 9, four days before the rat-bite incident.
In June 2023, DCS had also received a report alleging physical abuse by David Schonabaum.
Despite frequent visits, conditions in the home reportedly remained poor, raising questions about the effectiveness of the interventions.
Impact on Family and Future Custody
Due to the seriousness of the charges and the conditions inside the household, Angel Schonabaum has lost custody of her children.
The court did not disclose any future custodial arrangements or plans for the children, citing the ongoing child welfare proceedings.
Prosecutors and DCS emphasized the importance of safe living conditions for children and urged parents facing similar struggles to seek help.
“It is imperative that you keep your living environment clean and free of trash, feces, debris, and other hazards to your children and pets. If you are struggling with mental illness, you need to reach out for assistance and remove the children—and any animals—from dangerous and unsanitary conditions that pose a risk to their health and safety. If you fail to do so, you will be held accountable,” Moers said in a statement.
Neighbor’s Accounts and Community Reactions
Neighbors expressed shock and horror at the details of the case, with many stating they had no idea the children were living in such conditions.
One neighbor remarked, “It’s terrifying to think children could be living like that without anyone knowing. I hope the authorities can help those kids and give them a better life.”
The case has drawn attention throughout Evansville, highlighting ongoing issues with child welfare oversight and the responsibilities of caregivers to maintain safe homes.
The trial has underscored concerns in the community about the need for better social services support and monitoring in cases where children are at risk.
With both parents sentenced, and Thurman facing her own child neglect charges, child welfare advocates and prosecutors hope the case will serve as a reminder of the legal obligations of parents and caregivers to provide a safe environment for children, no matter the circumstances.
