A South Carolina couple has been arrested after authorities discovered their 6-month-old twins had suffered serious injuries believed to have been caused by rat bites, according to local reports.
Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call on Friday, May 9, and found a 6-month-old girl in a bassinet, covered in blood with multiple bite marks on her arms, head, ears, and face. Investigators reported that a “large rat” had attacked the infant while she lay unattended.
The baby’s twin brother was also found with visible bite wounds on his feet, according to WSMV, which cited official reports from the sheriff’s office.
The children’s parents, Akayla and Justin Bearden, both 24, told investigators that they had been struggling with a persistent rat infestation in their home for months. The mother reportedly called authorities after the situation escalated.
The injured girl was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and remained under medical care for several days.
All three of the couple’s children—including the twin infants and an older sibling—are now in the custody of the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS).
Akayla and Justin Bearden have each been charged with two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. According to Fox Carolina, the couple has been prohibited from having any contact with their children unless authorized by DSS.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
