
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 1, 1993                   TAG: 9309010079
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: FULLERTON, CALIF.                                LENGTH: Short

PARENTS FACE CHARGES OVER RAT ATTACK ON BABY

The parents of an infant who bled to death after he was gnawed by the homeless family's pet rat have been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The rat, which lived with the family in their station wagon, bit 4-month-old Steven James Giguere Jr. 60 times on the hand and wrist, Anaheim police Lt. Vince Howard said.

Thursday, police found Steven Giguere holding his son in an Anaheim phone booth. The baby was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Orange County health officials said the rat apparently hadn't eaten for two days. An autopsy found traces of the baby's skin and blood in the animal's stomach.

Giguere, 27, and Kathyleen Elaine Giguere, 30, were arraigned Monday in Municipal Court but entered no pleas and were held Tuesday in lieu of $100,000 bail, each. They face up to six years in prison if convicted. Their case was continued to Sept. 7.

Their daughter, Karissa Giguere, 3, was placed in a children's home. - Associated Press

Keywords:
FATALITY

by CNB