Mother Sentenced for Son's Rat Injuries

Angel Schonabaum, a 29-year-old Indiana mother, has been sentenced to four years in prison for neglecting her 6-month-old son, who suffered over 50 rat bites, but will serve only one year with the remaining three years suspended to probation. The case came to light on September 3, 2023, when her husband, David Schonabaum, called 911 after finding their son severely injured, resulting in the boy needing extensive hospital treatment and blood transfusions. David Schonabaum was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in the neglect of the child and two other children in their care. The infant was found in a home described as infested with rodents and filled with trash, leading to his permanent disfigurement. Angel Schonabaum must undergo mental health treatment as part of her sentence, while her sister, Delaina Thurman, also pleaded guilty to neglect and received two years of probation. The horrific incident highlights severe issues of child neglect and unsafe living conditions within the family.