Father of baby found with more than 50 rat bites sentenced

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE/Gray News) - An Indiana man charged in a child neglect case after his 6-month-old son was found with more than 50 rat bites on his body has been sentenced.

Court records show David Schonabaum was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

He was found guilty last month after less than two hours of jury deliberation.

The rat bites will permanently disfigure the boy, authorities said

The father convicted in a rat bite child neglect case defends himself. (Source: WFIE

The judge heard impact statements and also denied Schonabaum’s request to attend a funeral.

Two other people are also charged in this case.

According to court officials, Angel Schonabaum pled guilty to a lesser neglect charge and two counts of neglect of a dependent.

She will be sentenced on Oct. 24.

The baby’s aunt, Delaina Thurman, took a plea deal and was sentenced to two years of probation.

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