A six-month-old baby was found covered in blood with bone exposed after being brutally attacked and bitten more than 50 times by rats.
The infant, who was resting in a bassinet in his parents' filthy home, is now at risk of permanent disfigurement and was immediately taken to hospital following the near-fatal rodent attack in Indiana, US.
The police were called to the scene in 2023 after the father, David Schonabaum, discovered his unnamed child in a bloodied state. Medical staff observed that the baby had suffered over 50 bites on various parts of his body, including his forehead, cheek, and nose.
The baby's right hand was particularly affected, with flesh stripped from all fingers and thumb, revealing the bones beneath. The index and pinky fingers sustained severe damage, with authorities noting they were "missing the flesh halfway down each finger". The baby also had numerous bites on his arms, legs, feet, and toes.
READ MORE: 'Hydrating' £15 toner loved by Emily in Paris star and Zendaya leaves skin 'glowing'
During the trial, prosecutors urged the jury to find the father guilty of neglect, which they argued led to the appalling conditions in his home and ultimately to the terrifying ordeal where the child was nearly devoured, Mirror US reports. In their closing remarks, the prosecution emphasized the permanent scars and disfigurement the child would have to bear, living in what was described as an "unclean, unsanitary, rat-infested house."
They claimed that he knowingly ignored the worsening conditions at home, despite repeated warnings from DCS over two years to improve the living situation. Even after a pest control expert supplied Schonabaum with 5-to-10 reusable rat traps on multiple occasions, there was no sign they were ever used.
Schonabaum was found guilty of one count of Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury involving his six-month-old baby. His sentencing is set for October 2, while the child is currently recovering.
