An Indiana man has been sentenced to the maximum of 16 years in prison for child neglect following a horrifying rat attack on his 6-month-old son. David Schonabaum, 32, was convicted by a jury in September on three felony counts of neglect of a dependent, and the sentence was handed down by Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge Robert Pigman. The judge cited no mitigating factors to reduce the severity of the sentence, as reported by the Evansville Courier & Press.
Prosecutor Diana Moers had stated that her office would pursue the “highest possible sentence,” emphasizing the seriousness of the case. The incident came to light in September 2023 when Evansville police responded to a call from Schonabaum reporting that his infant son had sustained severe injuries from a rat infestation in their home. Prior to this, the Indiana Department of Child Services had already raised concerns about the living conditions in the household.
The infant was found to have suffered over 50 rat bites, necessitating treatment at a hospital in Indianapolis. Shockingly, the child’s right hand showed extreme damage, with missing flesh exposing fingertip bones. Following the jury’s conviction of Schonabaum, Moers detailed the harrowing scene paramedics and police encountered, describing a pool of blood in the crib and extensive bite wounds all over the baby’s body, resulting in permanent disfigurement.
Schonabaum’s wife, Angel Schonabaum, aged 29, pleaded guilty to felony neglect charges in September, just before her trial was due to begin. Her sentencing is scheduled for October 24. The case has elicited widespread shock and condemnation, with the community reeling from the appalling neglect that led to such tragic consequences.
This sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding the welfare and protection of vulnerable children, and highlights the devastating impact of parental negligence. The judicial system’s swift and firm response to such cases underscores a commitment to holding individuals accountable for their actions, especially when they result in such grievous harm to innocent victims.