Police who executed a search warrant at a dilapidated house in Hamden, Ohio, were horrified to discover 16 children living in appalling conditions, surrounded by human waste, and could only utter two chilling words: 'beyond comprehension.'
Four Family Members Charged
Elizabeth Siders, 33, her husband Gary Siders Jr., 36, and her parents-in-law, Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67, have each been charged with 16 counts of second-degree felony child endangering. All four pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on Wednesday morning and had their bail set at $300,000 each. They are expected to seek court-appointed legal representation, officials confirmed.
The charges claim the four defendants mistreated the children, causing 'serious physical harm.'
Conditions Inside the Home
It has been alleged that all 16 children, ranging in age from one to 18, were living in squalid conditions in the Ohio home. The youngsters had been spending both their days and nights confined to one small room for at least the past four years, according to investigators. The eldest child, an 18-year-old with developmental disabilities, was unable to write her own name, while some of the other children were unable to speak.
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain, who described the scene faced by officers as 'disgusting,' said: 'Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children.'
Prosecutor's Statement
Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer characterised the case as an 'intra-family situation' and emphasised it was not a human trafficking matter. He referred to the defendants as the 'grandma, grandpa, father and mother.'
Ohio Attorney General's Reaction
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the evidence in the case as 'beyond comprehension.' During a press briefing, he added: 'I think if they would have waited another 24 hours, that there was a very high probability that we'd be dealing with a death or multiple deaths of these children.'
Children Rescued and Emergency Funding
The youngsters were rescued on 30 June. Since then, Ohio has been considering a proposed $1 million emergency funding package for the 16 children.
Mother Seeks Release
Elizabeth Siders, mother to all 16 of the children, made a court application earlier this week seeking release from custody, according to documents examined by WCMH. The 33-year-old wishes to be freed so she can be reunited with her offspring, the filing states. Her solicitor, J. Thomas Stolly, stated in the filing: 'Through conversations with Counsel, the Defendant maintains that her principal desire [is] to reunite with her children. She understands that reunification of any sort is an impossibility if she does not appear before this Court.' Stolly added: 'She did not ask when she was getting out of jail. She did not ask what a timeline was for her to get out of jail. She started asking about the kids.'
Background of the Mother
Elizabeth Siders was just 15 when she married Gary Siders Jr. and gave birth to their first child just two months later, investigators have unearthed. Stolly mentioned that from jail, she had only 'positive things to say about husband Gary,' adding they desired a 'big family.' However, her brother, Jeremy Russell, alleged in a social media post that his sister was 'indoctrinated' as a teenager. He continued to state that the mother had 'wrapped her life up due to indoctrination,' alleging that extreme psychological control over her was '100 percent real.' Other relatives have claimed Elizabeth Siders experienced a 'difficult home life' during her teenage years and allege she fled to be with Gary Siders Jr. and his parents, Gary Sr. and Christina Siders.
