Mother of 16 Rescued Children May Be Pregnant
Elizabeth Siders, the mother of 16 children rescued from squalid conditions in Hamden, Ohio, is reportedly pregnant again, according to unconfirmed reports. The children, aged one and a half to 18, were found living in a cramped, filthy room described by authorities as a 'house of horrors.'
Children Found in 'Feral' Conditions
Officers discovered the children during a visit for an unrelated matter. Some were unable to speak, and seven were hospitalized, one critically. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said, 'They looked like almost feral animals. It was terrible.' The children were confined to a 12-by-12-foot area covered in human waste.
Arrests and Charges
Elizabeth Siders, 33; her husband Gary Siders Jr., 36; and grandparents Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67, were arrested and charged with child endangerment. All pleaded not guilty and were given $300,000 bonds. Gary Siders Sr. was later released from jail due to health issues.
Pregnancy Rumors Emerge
During a broadcast of Crime Fix with Angenette Levy, the host claimed Elizabeth Siders is pregnant with her 19th child. Mark Weaver, a former Ohio deputy attorney general, noted that pregnancy presents unique challenges for jails, potentially affecting bond decisions. Law enforcement has not confirmed the pregnancy.
Defense Attorney Speaks Out
Elizabeth's attorney, Thomas Stolly, said she appeared 'crying and exhausted' and asked about her children first. Stolly argued, 'Evil requires malice, and I did not see any malice in Elizabeth. I think this is more a case of isolation than evil.' He noted she married at 15 and has been shaped by that worldview.
Community in Shock
Neighbors reported never seeing the children, who were not enrolled in school. The family moved frequently over two decades. Officials suggest the case may involve intrafamily relationships, with incest suspected. The children remain in state custody.
