VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (TCN) — A mother and father charged with child endangerment in connection with 16 children living in unsafe conditions have also been indicted on unrelated child sexual abuse charges.
According to the office of Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, the four suspects in the case were indicted on child endangerment charges on Aug. 21. The father, 36-year-old Gary Siders Jr., was indicted on 19 charges of child endangerment; the mother, 33-year-old Elizabeth Siders, was indicted on 19 charges of child endangerment; the grandfather, 73-year-old Gary Siders Sr., was indicted on 16 charges of child endangerment; and the grandmother, 68-year-old Christina Siders, was indicted on 19 counts of child endangerment.
A search warrant was executed at the Siders’ home on June 30 after authorities arrived to serve an unrelated arrest warrant to Gary Siders Jr. for four counts of indecent exposure. In the home, authorities found 16 children, ranging from age 1 to 18, living in conditions described by Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain as “horrific.” Many of the children required medical treatment and the oldest child reportedly could not spell her own name.
According to Wilson’s office, the Siders family was discovered through an unrelated investigation that began in December 2025 after the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office received a report of two children being sexually abused. On Aug. 21, 23-year-old Josh Saunders was indicted on three counts of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition, and 40-year-old Brandon Henderson Sr. was indicted on 21 charges including child endangerment, gross sexual imposition, and sexual battery.
According to public records, Henderson is the uncle of the 16 children through his relationship with Gary Siders Jr.’s sister, WCMH reports. The relationship between Saunders and the Siders family has not been released.
During the investigation into Saunders and Henderson Sr., investigators obtained information regarding unlawful sexual contact with a minor. According to Wilson’s office, this led to the search warrant being executed at their home in June. Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said the warrant was executed to obtain DNA from Gary Siders Jr., WOWK reports.
According to statement from Cain, the indecent exposure warrant was separate from the warrant for the sexual abuse charges, WOWK reports.
Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders were indicted Aug. 21 on two counts each of sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Wilson’s office alleges that Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders engaged in sexual conduct with a minor, who is not a member of their immediate family, between January and September 2022.
WCMH reports that all four Siders suspects have been granted competency hearings. Gary Siders Sr. was released on recognizance on Aug. 4.
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