Trial underway for man accused of neglect after baby is bitten by rats

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – Day one for the trial of an Evansville father accused of neglect after his baby is bitten over 50 times by rats has wrapped up.

David Schonabaum is charged with Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury after his six-month-old son was alleged to be found covered in over 50 rat bites to his forehead, right cheek, nose, fingers and toes.

During opening arguments, the state pointed towards Schonabaum’s tone during the 911 call, calling it “calm”. Prosecutors also state multiple people tried to help Schonabaum improve the conditions of his house, but he allegedly did not do it. Prosecutors say there were three other dependents at the home when the incident happened.

The defense argued that what happened was “horrible”, but the rats were allegedly a new issue. The defense stated the neighborhood was having problems with rats due to the city dealing with a sewer issue. The defense emphasized to listen to all evidence and realize what happened was not Schonabaum’s fault as “it is easy to point fingers.”

Witness testimonies started at 1:15 p.m. The first one called to the stand is Robert Green with Evansville Police. He testified when he got there, he saw the yard and overall landscape was overgrown with trash everywhere on the porch. He said the baby was “covered everywhere with bites” and had a thousand-yard stare.

Tim Belofsky with AMR said his crews were dispatched at 7:05 a.m. and claims he went to the scene himself. He said based on the 911 call that dispatchers got, it would determine what level of response was needed. He claimed if dispatchers had gotten more information than what was previously given, a higher level of response would’ve been called.

Crystal Thomas said there was multiple children in the home when she arrived on the scene. Greg Hosterman testified that the ambulance was already on the scene when he pulled up, so he made contact with the residents of the home and began to assess what happened. Body cam footage was played that showed Hosterman trying to console the children that were in the home at the time.

Officer James Beard said that the child was already in the ambulance when he showed up. When describing the injuries, he said it was “different than the usual he has seen” with his hand chewed, bite marks on the forehead and blood in the bassinet.

He said the home smelled and was unclean with dried blood on the ground. He claimed the floor was also sticky, and in the bedroom where the bassinet was, it was unclean with the bassinet being soaked in blood. He also said there was a trail of blood to the bedroom closet.

Beard testified that Schonabaum told him that he had been having the most trouble with rats in that closet. Beard said that there were no traps nearby.

Don Vonderscher also said that the home was unsanitary and filthy.

Testimonies will resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday. More updates are to be expected throughout the week.

The state of Indiana is represented by Ian Blair and Jessica Berry. Schonabaum is being represented by Jodie Uebelhack. Judge Robert Pigman is overseeing the case.

This is a developing story.

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