Authorities in Vinton County, Ohio, say the investigation into how 16 children were allegedly abused, neglected and kept in disturbing living conditions could take a long time. During a Wednesday press conference, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson and Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain said the case presents several challenges, including the children’s limited ability to communicate.
Officials described the situation as deeply troubling and said investigators are still working to understand how the children allegedly went unnoticed inside a Hamden home for about four years.
Officials Say Children Have Limited Communication Abilities
One of the main reasons the investigation may take time is the condition of the children themselves. Authorities said several of the children have very limited communication skills, and some may not be able to communicate at all.
At one point, officials described the children as “feral,” highlighting the severity of their alleged isolation and lack of development.
It is still unclear whether any of the children received formal education. The Vinton County School District said it has no records showing that any of the children involved were enrolled as students.
Children Allegedly Kept in Small Room
Wilson said investigators believe most of the alleged victims spent much of their time inside a 12-by-12 room in a home on Ohmer Street in the Village of Hamden, Ohio, located north of Wellston.
Authorities are still trying to determine how 16 children could have remained mostly undetected in the home for years.
According to court records reviewed by NBC4, the children range in age from 18 years old to 1.5 years old. Their ages are listed as 18, 16, 15, 14, 13, 11, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4-year-old twins, 2-year-old twins and 1.5-year-old twins.
Four Adults Arrested and Charged
Four adults have been arrested in connection with the case:
- Gary Siders, 73
- Christina Siders, 66
- Gary Siders II, 36
- Elizabeth Siders, 33
Each was charged with 16 counts of endangering children.
All four suspects pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. As of Thursday morning, three of the four had been assigned legal counsel.
Judge Laina Fetheroff Rogers set bond at $300,000 each. Each charge carries a minimum prison sentence of 2 to 8 years, with a possible maximum sentence of 12 years.
Family of 20 Lived in Five-Room Home
Officials have not yet confirmed the parents of all 16 children, but Wilson said the case appears to involve members of the same family.
Property records show the family of 20 lived in a home with five total rooms and one bathroom. The house includes 1,336 square feet of living space, plus an additional 518 square feet in the basement.
The property is held in a trust under the name of a Hamden woman who died in April 2025. Property taxes were current, with the most recent payment of $960.88 made in February.
According to the Hamden Village Water Department, the home had running water, along with sewer and trash service, all listed under the name of Christina Siders.
Marriage Records and Family History
An employee with the Mason County Clerk of Courts confirmed that Gary Siders II and Elizabeth Siders were married on March 31, 2008.
At the time, Gary Siders II was 18, and Elizabeth Siders was 15. The oldest child found inside the home was born two months later, on May 30, 2008.
Mason County borders Gallia County, Ohio, where court records indicate the Siders family spent time as early as 2005 and as recently as 2017. Wilson also said the family has connections to Jackson County, Pike County and possibly Wisconsin.
Search Warrant Led Deputies to Children
Authorities said the arrests happened after a warrant was issued in what the sheriff’s office described as a parallel investigation.
The court-approved search warrants were connected to an ongoing investigation into allegations of domestic abuse and child neglect, but officials said that investigation was separate from the current case.
Authorities said no one knew children were inside the home before deputies arrived.
Additional Charges Against Gary Siders II
Court records also show that Gary Siders II had an active warrant related to an indecent exposure charge from May. That warrant was filed on Monday.
He is facing four indecent exposure charges. Two stem from an alleged incident on May 23, while the other two are connected to incidents on May 27 and May 29.
Records state all four alleged incidents happened at the Ohmer Street home and involved people who were not members of his household.
Neighbors Say Home Appeared Abandoned
Vinton County resident Josh O’Dell said the home appeared abandoned and that he had never seen children in the yard.
He described the discovery as shocking because there had been no obvious signs of activity from the house.
Investigators Describe Deplorable Conditions
When deputies entered the home, investigators reportedly had to wear masks because of the conditions inside.
Authorities said they saw stacks of garbage inside the house. Wilson added that the conditions were so poor that agents could not access certain areas of the home.
Wilson described what investigators found as “pure evil” and said evidence uncovered since the initial search has only strengthened that assessment.
Children Being Placed in Protective Custody
Vinton County prosecutor William Archer said the children are being placed in protective custody through Ohio Job and Family Services.
He said no other families or children in the area are believed to be at risk.
Sheriff Cain said the allegations are horrific and that the children’s limited ability to communicate creates major investigative challenges.
Archer also said the oldest child is developmentally still a minor and could not spell their own name.
Several Children Hospitalized
Several of the children were reportedly hospitalized with serious injuries.
Authorities said two of the children had to be airlifted to trauma centers in Columbus.
Officials have not released full medical details, but the injuries add to the seriousness of the investigation.
Defense Attorney Urges Public to Wait for Legal Process
Gary Siders’ attorney, Dorian Baum, issued a statement in response to NBC4, noting that the case is still in its early stages.
Baum said the case has received heavy media attention and online speculation but asked the public to allow the legal process to unfold.
He emphasized that his client is entitled to the presumption of innocence, just like anyone charged with a crime.