A judge has granted a competency hearing request for Elizabeth Siders, the Ohio mother of 16 children who were allegedly kept in squalid conditions. The 33-year-old could avoid trial if she is found incompetent or legally insane.
Competency and Insanity Evaluations Ordered
Elizabeth's attorney, Thomas J. Stolly, requested the assessment last week, citing potential "significant mental health issues." On Monday (August 10), a judge ordered both insanity and competency evaluations. The insanity assessment will determine if she was legally insane at the time of the alleged crimes, which could lead to a not guilty verdict and dismissal of the case. The competency evaluation will assess whether she is currently fit to stand trial, requiring her to understand the charges and participate in her defense.
If found incompetent, proceedings would be suspended, and she would likely be moved to a mental health facility for "competency restoration." If her competency is restored, the trial could proceed; otherwise, charges could be dismissed.
Background of the Case
Elizabeth was arrested last month alongside her husband, Gary Siders Jr., her father-in-law, Gary Siders Sr., and her mother-in-law, Christina Siders. The children were found living in "deplorable" conditions in a "disgusting" home in Hamden, a small village in southeastern Ohio. Officials described the children as having been kept like "feral animals" in a confined space for years.
Court documents reveal that Elizabeth married Gary Siders Jr. when she was 15 and he was 18. A West Virginia judge approved the marriage in 2008, and their first child was born two months later. At the time, West Virginia had no minimum age for marriage, according to family law attorney Amanda Alexander. She noted that "the judge absolutely could have stopped this marriage" but was not required to scrutinize it. Alexander suggested that before allowing anyone under 18 to wed, she would want more information, including appointing a guardian ad litem to interview the bride separately. West Virginia has since amended its law, setting the minimum marriage age at 16 with parental and court consent, and limiting age differences to four years, though no court inquiry is required.
Shocking Conditions Revealed
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain said the property showed evidence of human waste, and the children were believed to have been confined to a 12-foot by 12-foot room for roughly four years. Some of the younger children could barely speak and had "limited" communication skills. "Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children," Cain said at a news conference. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said he couldn't get the stench of the property "away from me," describing the scenes as "pure evil."
Several children were found in critical condition and required hospitalization, while others were assessed and discharged. Two were transferred to trauma centers due to the severity of their injuries. None of the children had ever attended school, and the oldest couldn't spell her own name. A Vinton County judge entered not guilty pleas on behalf of all four defendants, who are each held on a $300,000 bond and banned from contacting each other or their children.
