Parents, grandparents charged with child endangerment in Ohio

Key facts

• Four adults, identified as parents and grandparents, have been charged with child endangerment.
• Sixteen children, aged 18 months to 18 years, were found living in a dilapidated home in Hamden, Ohio.
• The children were allegedly confined to a 12-by-12 foot room and lived in conditions described as squalid, with human feces present.
• Some children exhibited developmental issues, including limited speech and inability to communicate.
• Seven children were hospitalized, with two airlifted to trauma centers and one requiring intensive care.
• The four suspects, Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr., and Elizabeth Siders, pleaded not guilty and were each ordered held on $300,000 bond.

Four adults, identified as the parents and grandparents of 16 children, have been charged with felony child endangerment after the children were discovered living in squalid conditions in a dilapidated home in Hamden, Ohio. The children, aged 18 months to 18 years, were found in a state of severe neglect, including confinement to a small room and exposure to human waste.

Authorities discovered the children while executing a search warrant for an unrelated investigation. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described the home as "disgusting," stating that "most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children." Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson characterized the scene as "pure evil" and noted that some children had limited speech or could not communicate at all, appearing "almost feral animals."

The four suspects—Gary Siders Sr., 73; Christina Siders, 67; Gary Siders II, 36; and Elizabeth Siders, 33—were arraigned and each ordered held on $300,000 cash bond. They pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of endangering children. Seven of the children were taken to the hospital, with two airlifted to trauma centers due to their injuries; one was initially in critical condition. Officials stated the case involved an intra-family situation and not human trafficking. The children are now safe and being placed in temporary custody.