EVANSVILLE, IN – In a distressing case of child neglect, an Indiana father has received a lengthy prison sentence after police found his infant son critically injured, bearing multiple rat bites.
The gut-wrenching discovery was made on September 13, 2023, when authorities responded to a call and found the 6-month-old in a bassinet, suffering severe wounds with his fingertips chewed to the bone. Prosecutors labeled the home environment as a “house of horrors,” revealing the child nearly succumbed to blood loss and remains permanently scarred.
Following the father’s 911 call, the baby was swiftly transferred to an Indianapolis hospital for life-saving treatment, including a blood transfusion for his dangerously low body temperature.
Investigation revealed that the house, also home to the baby’s siblings and young cousins, was infested with rodents. This was not the first assault by the rats. Previous incidents involving other children had occurred, despite prior interventions from social services.
Prosecutor Diana Moers criticized the living conditions, condemning the parents’ failure to provide a safe environment. The extent of neglect and delay in contacting the authorities for help shocked officials.
Last week, the baby’s mother pleaded guilty to neglect, with a sentencing date set for October 24. Delania Thurman, the father’s sister-in-law, received a sentence of two years’ probation earlier this year.