South Carolina Couple Charged After Allowing Infant Twins to Be Eaten by Large Rats: Report

A couple from South Carolina is in hot water after allegedly letting their infant twins be gnawed on by “large rats.” The shocking incident has led to criminal charges against the parents, Akayla and Justin Bearden, both 24 years old.

According to reports from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, officers discovered a 6-month-old baby girl covered in blood after a rat had started to eat her while she was lying in her bassinet. The poor child suffered multiple bite marks on her arms, head, ears, and face. Her twin brother was also found with significant bite marks on his feet, highlighting the dire situation in their home.

The couple claimed that they had been dealing with a persistent rat problem for several months. It was only after the alarming incident that Akayla decided to call the police for assistance. The baby girl was rushed to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where she remained for several days under medical care.

As a result of the incident, both infants, along with the couple’s third child, have been placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services. The Bearden parents are facing two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child and have been prohibited from contacting their children unless permitted by the Department of Social Services.

On Tuesday, the couple was granted bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on July 31. This case echoes a similar incident in Indiana, where a father was sentenced to decades in prison after his infant son suffered severe injuries from rat bites, leaving him permanently disfigured and nearly losing his life.