‘Really looked 3rd world’: 16 children found in Ohio home; 4 adults face judge

VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain, and Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer held a news conference Wednesday regarding the four adults arrested in connection with the 16 children found living in deplorable conditions.

Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, and Elizabeth Siders were arraigned Wednesday morning, and bond was set at $300,000.

They are each charged with 16 counts of child endangerment. Wilson said they are identified as a grandpa, grandma, father, and mother of the children.

The judge ordered the suspects to have no contact with the victims or each other.

According to officials, this was not a human-trafficking case.

Raid at Vinton County home

The adults were taken into custody after the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) conducted a search warrant at their home in the 100 block of Ohmer St. in Hamden Tuesday morning.

We’re told Officials were there for an unrelated investigation when they found the kids.

“This really looked third world,” said Wilson. “It was absolutely terrible.”

Wilson also said if they would have waited another 24 hours to raid the home, some of the children may have died.

“Most of our livestock is kept in better conditions,” said Sheriff Cain. “It was disgusting.”

Conditions of the children

Several of the children were in serious condition and two were flown to hospitals due the severity of their conditions, said Wilson.

“Some of the children could not even speak and looked like feral animals,” said Wilson.

The ages of the children ranged between 1 1/2 to 18 years old, and all 16 of them are being evaluated medically.

“The number one priority is to make sure that these kids are taken care of physically, mentally and emotionally,” said Wilson.

Wilson said the individuals are not from Vinton County, but have been in the area for about four years. The family members are also known to have ties to Gallia County and Wisconsin.

Some of the Vinton County neighbors said they had no idea kids were living there.

“They were good at keeping these kids out of sight,” said Wilson.

The children are currently in temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.

“It appears from the evidence in this case that these kids have been in a position where people they should have been able to trust to take care of them have failed them, not only failed them, but harmed them,” said Wilson.

Ongoing investigation

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 855-BCI-OHIO.

No information was released about the initial investigation during the press conference. Additional charges are expected as more information is uncovered.