Key facts
- Sixteen children, aged 1 1/2 to 18, were found living in squalid conditions in a home in Hamden, Ohio.
- Four adult relatives, identified as parents and grandparents, were arrested on child endangerment charges.
- The children were not enrolled in school and had reportedly been confined to a small room.
- Seven children were taken to hospitals, with one in critical condition.
- Investigators discovered the situation during an unrelated investigation.
- The family had reportedly moved around southern Ohio for two decades, avoiding a significant paper trail.
Authorities in Hamden, Ohio, discovered 16 children living in squalid conditions within a single room of their home, prompting the arrest of four adult relatives on child endangerment charges. The children, ranging in age from 1 1/2 to 18, were reportedly not enrolled in school and had been largely confined to a space described as having human waste present. The discovery was made during an unrelated investigation, leaving neighbors and local officials questioning how such a situation could persist unnoticed for years.
Seven of the children required hospitalization, with one in critical condition. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth has since taken temporary custody of all 16 children. The arrested individuals, identified as parents and grandparents, have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Court records indicate one of the arrested, Gary Siders Jr., also faces misdemeanor indecent exposure charges from May.
Investigators noted that the family had a history of moving around southern Ohio over the past two decades, suggesting an effort to avoid creating a paper trail with schools or government agencies. The local school district confirmed no records of the children's enrollment. Neighbors expressed shock and dismay, with some stating they had never seen the children and regretting not realizing the severity of the situation earlier.