VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (TCN) — Newly released court documents have revealed multiple investigations into the welfare of 16 children rescued from a squalid Ohio home took place in 2020 and 2021.
On June 30, 16 children were found in a home authorities deemed “horrific” when police arrived to serve one of the adults in the home an arrest warrant for unrelated charges.
The children were allegedly confined to a single room in the home and lived like “feral animals,” according to Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson. Many of them required medical treatment at area hospitals.
The children’s father, 36-year-old Gary Siders Jr.; mother, 33-year-old Elizabeth Siders; grandmother, 68-year-old Christina Siders; and grandfather, 73-year-old Gary Siders Sr., were arrested and charged with multiple counts of child endangerment.
All four defendants have been granted competency hearings. As of Aug. 4, Gary Siders Sr. was released on recognizance.
On Aug. 21, Gary Jr., Christina, and Elizabeth Siders were each indicted on 19 counts of child endangerment and Gary Siders Sr. was indicted on 16 counts of child endangerment, according to Wilson’s office.
Wilson said, “The indictments in this case include charges in the alternative, meaning that multiple counts or different theories of a crime have been charged for the same acts. Doing so allows for a more complete and appropriate presentation of evidence to the court and jury,” WATE reports.
The Siders family was reportedly discovered through an investigation into alleged sexual abuse of two children by an uncle, 40-year-old Brandon Henderson Sr., and another man, 23-year-old Josh Saunders, according to Wilson’s office. In that case, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders were each indicted Aug. 21 on two counts of sexual battery and unlawful sexual contact with a minor who is allegedly not a member of their immediate family.
Public records say Saunders is the Siders children’s cousin and Henderson is reportedly their aunt’s partner, WCMH reports.
Newly released court documents obtained by WLWT reveal multiple investigations into the children’s welfare in 2020 and 2021 in Gallia County, Ohio, where the family used to live. The first investigation began in March 2020 because the children were struggling with virtual schooling or not attending school at all.
That investigation concluded a 7-year-old child was allegedly unable to speak in complete sentences and an 11-year-old was allegedly unable to write the alphabet and could only count to 12, WBNS reports.
The children were ordered to stay with their parents under protective services from the county, per WLWT. That order expired in October 2020. The parents allegedly completed parenting classes and found appropriate housing.
A case worker who visited the home in December 2020 said 10 children lived with Gary Jr. and Elizabeth Siders at the time and the conditions in the home were dangerous, per WLWT. There was lead present in the children, according to medical exams, and the home was allegedly infested with roaches and other insects. In addition, the children allegedly showed signs of potential abuse, such as scratches and bruises.
A judge ordered protective services for the children in January 2021 but did not remove them from the home, according to WLWT. The case was closed in May 2021 after the courts said the parents made progress.
According to WCMH, all 16 Siders children are currently in state custody.
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