IN - Parents charged after 6-month old found covered in blood and nearly eaten alive by rats - September 23, 2023

[Eloise]

Wow... I would have never guessed they were struggling so much, judging from their FB. (never judge a book by their cover etc etc) Clean and presentable, professional photos with the new baby, etc.
It seems like a year ago she left her job at Apex Behavioral Services (disability care) and is training to become a CNA.

time and time again, social media presents an extremely different picture than what's really happening. It is quite meaningless, IMO JMO
drugs are a scourge and need to be treated as a critical, society wide health emergency ... I fear making users criminals stops them seeking help and care. JMO

 

[ms_x_to_the_m]

WOW, I don't understand how it changes so fast. Families go from being "presentable" to messes so fast.
That poor baby was probably screaming it's lungs off. The pain, the torture. It's unforgivable. Poor children. They deserve so much more.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I hope they never regain custody of these poor children.
If they had wanted to/been able to stay off meth, they would have already done it for the children's sake.

Imagine how this trauma will affect this boy for the rest of his life.

 

[tlcya]

The baby’s father told investigators that they began having a rodent issue in March and that Terminix exterminators were treating the house.

But the rats’ mauling of the baby was not the first time the vermin have snacked on children in the home.

Two kids in the house told a teacher at their school on Sept. 1 that mice had bitten their toes while they were sleeping, according to the affidavit.

Four days later, an employee with the Indiana Department of Child Services visited the home, where Thurman claimed the marks on her child’s toes were likely just scratches from the bed frame, the news station reported.

DCS went over a safety plan with the family and a DCS representative was scheduled to return to the home just one day after the baby was bitten by rats.

A case manager had been visiting the home twice a week since April due to past reports involving the children, including a claim last year that a child was hurt due to a lack of supervision and a claim in June that David Schonabaum had physically abused one of the children.

DCS did not comment on the neglect allegations.
https://nypost.com/2023/09/22/indiana-infant-boy-nearly-eaten-alive-by-rats-in-his-crib/

shocking (thick sarcasm), DCF was involved with the family and aware f exactly what that home looked like. Of course they have no comment.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

A case manager was visiting twice a week, yet this still happened? Were the adults using drugs heavily this one time - one day before a scheduled visit - yet somehow always sober during the previous visits? Was the house in acceptable shape less than a week before this night? Something doesn't fit this puzzle, JMO.

 

[Sjöberg]

Wow... I would have never guessed they were struggling so much, judging from their FB. (never judge a book by their cover etc etc)

Yes, it was interesting. The mom was trying to loose weight to be able to get a new baby. She shared about missing dogs and did birthday fundraisers for non-profits, including the one for children. No bad vibes per say. The impression was more like that she could be a family-centred and empathic person.

I am actually sad thinking that she actually may be (or have been) that. I think drug problems causing children to be neglected is a good theory. Maybe they were not at home for a day or few, doing drugs somewhere? And probably still totally out of it when they arrived back home and found the situation?

Interesting, that specialists were in the house on Sept 9th and the baby was found in that state on Sept 13th. The time window is not very long. Did they maybe went to fetch drugs like the next day after the specialists left, planning to be "presentable" again by the next visit on Sept 14th?

 

[Inthedetails]

Yes, it was interesting. The mom was trying to loose weight to be able to get a new baby. She shared about missing dogs and did birthday fundraisers for non-profits, including the one for children. No bad vibes per say. The impression was more like that she could be a family-centred and empathic person.

I am actually sad thinking that she actually may be (or have been) that. I think drug problems causing children to be neglected is a good theory. Maybe they were not at home for a day or few, doing drugs somewhere? And probably still totally out of it when they arrived back home and found the situation?

Interesting, that specialists were in the house on Sept 9th and the baby was found in that state on Sept 13th. The time window is not very long. Did they maybe went to fetch drugs like the next day after the specialists left, planning to be "presentable" again by the next visit on Sept 14th?

I am curious if the baby was left alone. I can't imagine anyone, loving or not, could ignore a screaming baby. We're designed by nature to dislike the sound of a baby crying and it's next to impossible to ignore. imo

My heart really goes out to the older kids who likely could not rest easy knowing rodents ran the house at night. I hope they are now in a secure place where they feel safe.

I do blame drugs. Who needs horror movies when we have drugs turning otherwise regular folks into zombies? The key is to never start, but I'm at a loss to know what to do with people already in addiction. It's a huge problem and I do have sympathy. But, in the moment, my #1 concern is making sure those kids are safe and they are not safe with the adults who allowed this to happen, drug use or not.

jmo

 

[Clearsky]

Jury returns verdict in trial of father of baby found with over 50 rat bites

32-year-old David Schonabaum was on trial.

www.14news.com

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - After three days in the courtroom, a jury found an Evansville father guilty of three counts of child neglect.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

It says he is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2.
What about the baby's "mom?"

 

[tlcya]

most recent updates on her case show Angel Schonabaum’s trial was scheduled to take place in April, but has since been rescheduled to September. I cannot find the date it is supposed to take place.

https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/mother-of-infant-nearly-killed-by-rat-bites-has-trial-delayed/

Angel's sister, Delaina Thurman was also charged in this case, as another adult household member, was sentenced to two years of probation after reaching a plea deal.

Aunt of baby found with more than 50 rat bites sentenced

As we reported last month, Delaina Thurman reached a plea deal and was released from jail.

www.14news.com

 

[c@tw0man]

The baby’s father told investigators that they began having a rodent issue in March and that Terminix exterminators were treating the house.

But the rats’ mauling of the baby was not the first time the vermin have snacked on children in the home.

Two kids in the house told a teacher at their school on Sept. 1 that mice had bitten their toes while they were sleeping, according to the affidavit.

Four days later, an employee with the Indiana Department of Child Services visited the home, where Thurman claimed the marks on her child’s toes were likely just scratches from the bed frame, the news station reported.

DCS went over a safety plan with the family and a DCS representative was scheduled to return to the home just one day after the baby was bitten by rats.

A case manager had been visiting the home twice a week since April due to past reports involving the children, including a claim last year that a child was hurt due to a lack of supervision and a claim in June that David Schonabaum had physically abused one of the children.

DCS did not comment on the neglect allegations.
https://nypost.com/2023/09/22/indiana-infant-boy-nearly-eaten-alive-by-rats-in-his-crib/

shocking (thick sarcasm), DCF was involved with the family and aware f exactly what that home looked like. Of course they have no comment.

So, what good are the DCF investigators? This one should be locked up, too. This happens everywhere, DCF doesn't lift a finger to help the children, in many of these cases. What is going on with these agencies?

 

[Lilibet]

So, what good are the DCF investigators? This one should be locked up, too. This happens everywhere, DCF doesn't lift a finger to help the children, in many of these cases. What is going on with these agencies?

I have trouble believing that all the child protection case workers we’ve seen in so many cases are uncaring and/or incompetent. I wonder if the investigators can only go so far without violating the legal rights of the parents. I’m sure they have limitations they have to adhere to. I doubt they can inspect every inch of the home. They have no choice but to take parents at their word. A messy house is not illegal. They have to try to work with the parents to improve the situation before going nuclear and removing the children. Etc.

And this is what happens.

I don’t know what the solution is that also protects the rights of innocent parents.

JMO

 

[nao]

Moo...you don't need to be poor or drug addicted to get rat infestations. We get rats in house every winter here, big Norway rats and the smaller roof rats. I woke up one nite with a rat hugging my foot, luckily I was wearing big wool socks. People that don't get the rats in area complained and call for ban on rat poison and traps because other animals eat the poisoned rats and other animals get caught in the traps. Why there are heavy population of rats in some areas and not in other areas of my small town I do not know.....moo

 

[tlcya]

Agree @nao

We've had the occasional rat invade our home but we have pets and cannot use poison so we use live traps. the man was given live traps to try to combat the problem and there is no proof he ever even attempted to, that coupled with the state of the home (filthy) and previous injuries to older children in the home from the rats contributed IMO to these people being held criminally responsible for the baby's injuries.

Nobody will ever convince me that baby laid there getting it's fingers eaten off by rats didn't scream and cry as that was happening. and yet somehow baby laid there unattended for it to have lost multiple fingers in that way. I don't think it was drugs per se, I think it was more apathy on the part of the adults in the home.

 

[nao]

Moo....tlcya..I do agree the baby was not protected adequately, they could of kept baby in bed with them. I will guess the baby was swarmed by a few rats by the amount of damage done. Unfortunately rats are quite smart and learn quickly to avoid the traps. I live near where fishing boats come in, so that's the attraction for rats in my area. I have a dog now, the rats still come in but they don't own the house as they did previously...moo.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841836337135075530

 

[Bounceycat]

https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/vanderburgh-county/evansville-news/mother-of-baby-bitten-over-50-times-by-rats-put-on-probation/

Angel Schonabaum took a plea deal last month and was sentenced to four years on Thursday. Officials confirm she was credited with time already served and was released on probation.