Authorities in Hamden, Ohio, rescued 16 children from a dilapidated home after they said the children had been confined to one room for much of the past four years. The rescue led to child-endangerment charges against the children’s parents and two grandparents.
Ryan Cain said the children ranged in age from one and a half to 18 and that some could not speak. He said the room where they appeared to have spent most of their time measured roughly 12ft x 12ft.
Ryan Cain on the home
Cain, the Vinton county sheriff, described the conditions as worse than livestock conditions and said the home had a high presence of bacteria and human feces. He said, “Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children.”
William Archer, the Vinton county prosecuting attorney, said the charges involved “serious physical harm” and that the case was an “intra-family situation,” not a human trafficking case. On Wednesday, Gary Siders Jr, Gary Siders Sr, Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders appeared in court, and a judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf.
Andy Wilson in Hamden
Andy Wilson said authorities found the children while serving a search warrant in an unrelated investigation. He called what he saw at the home in Hamden “pure evil” and said the scene was the worst he had encountered in his career. Seven of the children were transported to hospitals in Columbus, and two were flown to level one trauma centers by helicopters.
On Tuesday, one child was in critical condition and had to be intubated. Wilson also said it seemed as though no one outside the family knew about the children, and investigators said members of the family had moved around southern Ohio over the past two decades while appearing to avoid medical and government records.
Joseph Stewart on Hamden
Joseph Stewart, a neighbor, said he had seen “no kids at all” since the family moved in and called Hamden “a quiet neighborhood.” Petey Angels said he had never seen children anywhere near the home and added, “Nothing happens here.”
Authorities set bond at $300,000 each for Gary Siders Jr, Gary Siders Sr, Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders. The case now moves with all four defendants facing 16 counts of second-degree felony child endangerment tied to the same family and the same house.
