Parents in Indiana are accused of neglect so horrific that one of their children reportedly nearly died from blood loss caused by rat bites. The 6-month-old was taken to a hospital in Evansville and flown to Indianapolis for treatment. His parents, David Schonabaum, 31, and Angel Schonabaum, 28, were arrested along with Angel Schonabaum’s sister, Delaina Thurman, 25, who also lived at the home.
In addition to the infant, four other children lived in the home with the three adults, 14 News reported. The conditions in the house were reportedly so disgusting that authorities said it was some of the worst child neglect they had ever seen. But according to neighbors, they had no idea what was happening behind closed doors.
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The parents allegedly awoke to find their baby covered in blood.
When police arrived at the home in the 1600 block of South Linwood Avenue on September 13, David Schonabaum told them he woke up and found his son in distress, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by 14 News. The baby's injuries, reportedly caused by rat bites, were so significant he was taken to the hospital immediately.
“The only reason that we even knew about it was because the dad woke up and the baby was covered in blood,” Evansville Police Sgt. Anna Gray told 14 News. “That was our first involvement, we should’ve been involved. Someone should’ve picked up the phone and called us prior to that.”
The bites were reportedly horrendous.
Police said the infant had at least 50 rat bites covering his face and body. According to the arrest affidavit, the baby had bites on his right arm from the elbow to the hand, and all of his fingers had missing parts, some with exposed bones. The baby has since been released from the hospital, News 14 reported.
Gray said it was one of the worst cases of child neglect she had ever seen. “It’s really hard to see that and sometimes it’s really hard to maintain composure and be professional.”
David Schonabaum allegedly told police they were treating the rodent problem. According to the arrest affidavit, the father said the family had hired Terminix to treat the home last spring.
The Department of Child Services was reportedly not a stranger to the home.
The arrest affidavit also noted that on September 1, two children in the home told a teacher that mice bit their feet while they slept. DCS staff reportedly visited the home on September 5, and Thurman claimed scratches on the children's toes were from the bed frame. DCS allegedly reviewed a safety plan and was scheduled to return on September 14.
According to 14 News, police said DCS had a 2022 claim that a child was hurt due to lack of supervision and a 2023 child abuse claim against David Schonabaum. Police said a caseworker had been visiting the home twice a week since April 2023, and the last walk-through was September 9.
The news station reportedly contacted DCS, but the agency would not comment on the case.
The parents kept active on social media.
David and Angel Schonabaum used social media to share photos and videos of their family. They both maintained Facebook accounts, among others. The mother’s Instagram account is captioned, “I hope some day we will sit down together and laugh with each other about these days all our troubles we lay to rest then wish we could come back.”
Her husband once shared a TikTok with the text, “You can come at me, and you might get away … But if you touch her or my kids I will be the last thing U see before you meet God.”
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Neighbors thought everything was fine.
When 14 News spoke with others living on South Linwood Avenue, they were shocked to hear the allegations against their neighbors.
“They have always been nice; they have always been cool,” Teressa Favors told the station. “I have always seen her take care of that baby.”
Neighbor Tim Norton agreed. “They’re good people,” he said. “They take good care of their kids. I’m always seeing them loading food into the house.”
Favors had no idea how bad things were in the home.
“I didn’t know about the fingers,” Favors said. “She told me that his face was disfigured. How does a child get bit over 50 times and no one knows that the child has been bit?” she asked.
On the day of the arrest, officers spoke to the other children in the home, none of whom was injured, and quickly removed them, Gray told WEHT.
The Schonabaums and Thurman were all charged with child neglect and booked into Vanderburgh County Jail. According to jail records, Thurman is on a $2,500 bond and Angel Schonabaum is on a $10,000 bond. David Schonabaum has no bond.
