Watch CBS News

Parents Arrested After Infant Bitten Up To 100 Times By Rats

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A man and woman from Arkansas have been arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor after hospital officials say their 2-week-old baby was bitten by rats up to 100 times.

According to OzarksFirst.com, Magnolia Police Department officers were called to the Magnolia Regional Medical Center around 11:30 p.m. Mother's Day.

Doctors there say the baby suffered severe skin destruction from rat feeding, and had facial reconstruction surgery to address one large open wound on her head, through which her skull was visible.

Police say a search of the home revealed rat footprints in a bassinet, a blood-soaked baby hat and blanket, and rodent droppings in the baby's room.

Erica Shryock, 19, and Charles Elliott, 18, told police they woke up to the baby screaming that morning, at which point she had already been bitten and was bloody.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.