Four people were taken into custody after authorities discovered 16 children living in what officials described as “deplorable” conditions inside a rural Ohio home, with several of the children requiring medical care, officials said Wednesday.
The children were located during a search at a residence in Hamden, a village about 60 miles southeast of Columbus, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said during a news conference.
Wilson described the scene in stark terms, saying the children were found in “conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in.”
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson and law enforcement officials detailed the arrest of four people after 16 children were found living in “deplorable” conditions inside a rural home. (Office of Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson)
Authorities removed the children from the home, and Wilson called the case the worst scene he has encountered in his career, describing it as “pure evil.” Several children were reportedly in serious condition when they were found, and two were airlifted to Level 1 trauma centers because of their injuries.
“If they had waited 24 hours, there is a very high probability that we’d be dealing with a death, or multiple deaths, of these children,” Wilson said.
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain also described the conditions inside the home as horrific, saying investigators found a heavy presence of feces and bacterial matter.
This image taken from video released by the Office of Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson shows Wilson speaking during a press conference Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Office of Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson via AP)
“Most of the livestock was kept in better condition than the children,” Cain said.
The suspects — Gary Siders Sr., Gary Siders Jr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders — were charged with 16 counts of second-degree child endangering. A judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf during a Wednesday court hearing and set a $300,000 bond for all four.
Officials didn’t confirm if the children were related, but said they ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years old and included both boys and girls.
“Justice will be served for these children,” Wilson said.
Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer clarified that the suspects are not originally from Vinton County.
“This is an intra-family situation. This is not human trafficking. There is nothing to put our other children at risk,” Archer said.
On Tuesday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he was being kept informed on the case.
“It is heartbreaking to learn the conditions that these children were living in, and to learn of their medical conditions,” he said. “Attorney General Wilson is an experienced prosecutor, and he has told me he has never seen anything like what he saw today. Fran and I pray for these children, and thank the children’s services workers, law enforcement officers, and medical personnel who are helping them.”
