Shocking Case of Child Neglect Sends Shockwaves Through Evansville Community
In a case that has horrified the nation, an Indiana father has been sentenced to 16 years in prison following the discovery of his severely injured infant son in what prosecutors have dubbed a “house of horrors.” The six-month-old child was found with over 50 rat bites across his body, face, and limbs, lying in a pool of his own blood.
The gruesome discovery
On September 13, 2023, Evansville police responded to a 911 call from David Schonabaum, the child’s father. What they encountered was nothing short of nightmarish. The infant, barely clinging to life, was found in his bassinet with injuries so severe that his tiny fingers had been gnawed to the bone by rats.
Prosecutor Diana Moers didn’t mince words when describing the scene: “We will live with the images of this baby forever. The baby lived in an absolute house of horrors, along with his siblings and a pet dog.”
The severity of the situation necessitated immediate medical intervention. The critically injured infant was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital, where he received emergency treatment for significant blood loss, including a life-saving transfusion. Doctors noted that the child’s body temperature had plummeted to a dangerous 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit (34.17 °C).
Despite the medical team’s efforts, the infant has been left permanently disfigured, a stark reminder of the horrific neglect he endured.
Living Conditions: A House of Horrors
Authorities investigating the case were appalled by the living conditions in the Schonabaum home on South Linwood Avenue. The house, shared by David Schonabaum, his wife Angel Renee Schonabaum (29), and her sister Delania Thurman, was described as:
- Infested with rats
- Littered with trash
- Covered in rat feces
Even more disturbingly, five other children—ages 2, 3, 5, and 6—were also living in these deplorable conditions.
A pattern of neglect
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Prosecutors revealed that three other children had previously been bitten by rats while sleeping in the same house. Despite interventions from the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), which attempted to improve the home’s safety, the problems persisted, culminating in the near-fatal attack on the infant.
Moers expressed her shock at the situation: “It is completely shocking to the conscience that anyone would live in these conditions, much less allow their children, baby, and animals to live among absolute filth when they cannot help themselves.”
Legal consequences
The legal ramifications for the adults involved in this case of extreme neglect are as follows:
- David Schonabaum: Convicted on multiple felony counts of neglect and child endangerment; sentenced to 16 years in prison.
- Angel Renee Schonabaum: Pleaded guilty to similar charges; sentencing scheduled for October 24.
- Delania Thurman: Sentenced to two years of probation earlier this year.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Evansville community and beyond. Child welfare advocates are calling for stricter monitoring and intervention protocols to prevent such cases of extreme neglect in the future.
As this tragic story continues to unfold, it serves as a grim reminder of the importance of child protection services and the devastating consequences of neglect.
