( Image: Vanderburgh County Sherriff's Office)
An Indiana mother, Angel Schonabaum, received a suspended prison sentence after being convicted for leaving her six-month-old son in a squalid, rat-infested home, where the baby suffered extensive injuries. Schonabaum, 29, was given a four-year sentence with credit for time already served and will serve the remaining three years on probation.
She also pleaded guilty to one count of neglect of a dependent and will undergo a mental health evaluation and follow any recommended treatments, according to Law & Crime. The harrowing case began in September 2023, when the baby’s father, David Schonabaum, called 911 to report that he had found his son severely injured from rat bites in their home.
He claimed that he discovered the child “covered in blood” and said his son’s fingers had been “chewed off” by rats. The child had endured over 50 rat bites and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found the baby’s room in deplorable condition. Detective Jonathan Helm, who inspected the home, wrote in an affidavit that the child’s diaper disposal container had “blood smeared all over it” and that the room was littered with half-eaten food and rat feces.
The infant’s injuries were particularly gruesome, as Detective Helm noted: “All four of (the victim’s) fingers and thumb on his right hand were missing the flesh from the top of them, exposing fingertip bones.” Emergency responders managed to stabilize the baby before he was airlifted to another hospital in Indianapolis for specialized care. Doctors described the baby’s condition as “near fatal.”
David Schonabaum was found guilty by a jury in September and sentenced to 16 years in prison for three felony counts of neglect of a dependent—the maximum penalty for the charges. Despite Angel Schonabaum’s absence from the home at the time of the rat bite incident, the court held her responsible for the conditions of the home she had left her child in.
According to County Prosecutor Diana Moers, who shared a statement on Facebook, “Angel Schonabaum was not residing in the home at the time of the rat-bite incident; however, she was held accountable for the deplorable conditions of the home which she was responsible for when residing there.” Angel Schonabaum had lived in the home with David and her sister, Delaina Thurman, prior to the incident.
Thurman received a sentence of two years of probation for her role in the neglect. The case has sparked strong reactions, as details of the baby’s injuries and the horrific living conditions became public. Although Angel Schonabaum avoided prison, many see her probation sentence as a chance for her to undergo treatment and rehabilitation under close supervision.
The court’s decision to require a mental health evaluation is likely in response to her actions, as they look to ensure the safety and well-being of her remaining family members moving forward. As this case highlights the consequences of child neglect, it serves as a call to address and prevent the tragic outcomes that can occur when children are left in unsafe environments.
