Key facts
- Four adults, identified as parents and grandparents, have been charged with child endangerment.
- Sixteen children were found living in a dilapidated home in southern Ohio.
- The children were reportedly confined to a 12-by-12 foot room and lived in unsanitary conditions.
- Some children required hospitalization, with two airlifted to trauma centers.
- The suspects were ordered held on $300,000 cash bond each.
Four adults, identified as the parents and grandparents of 16 children, have been charged with child endangerment after the children were discovered living in deplorable conditions in a dilapidated home in southern Ohio. The children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years, were found in a small room with human waste and some exhibiting severe developmental and communication issues.
Authorities executed a search warrant at the home in Hamden, Vinton County, on Tuesday as part of an unrelated investigation when they discovered the children. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described the home as "disgusting," noting it was littered with human feces and that the children were largely confined to a 12-by-12 foot room for approximately four years. He stated that "most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children."
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the scene as "pure evil" and the worst he had encountered in his career. He noted that some children could not communicate at all, and others had limited speech. The eldest child, an 18-year-old described as developmentally disabled, could not spell her own name. None of the children were enrolled in school.
The suspects, identified as Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, and Elizabeth Siders, were arraigned Wednesday and ordered held on $300,000 cash bond each. They pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of felony child endangerment. Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer emphasized that this was an "intra-family situation" and not human trafficking.
Seven of the children were transported to the hospital, with two airlifted to Level One trauma centers due to their injuries. One child was in critical condition at one point. Officials stated the children are now safe and being placed in temporary custody. The family had reportedly been living in Vinton County for about four years, moving around and adept at keeping the children out of sight.