Ohio Community Stunned by Discovery of 16 Neglected Children
WHO:
AP News - The children involved are siblings, ages 1 1/2 to 18 years old.
AP News - The arrested individuals include Gary Siders Jr. (36), Gary Siders (73), Elizabeth Siders (33), and Christina Siders (67).
AP News - Elizabeth Siders married Gary Siders Jr. when she was 15 years old.
AP News - Elizabeth Siders' attorney is Thomas Stolly.
AP News - Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the family as “pure evil.”
WHAT:
ABC News - Some of the 16 children discovered were unable to speak, and one 18-year-old was developmentally disabled and could not write her name.
ABC News - Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson stated, "It’s going to take a lot of work to address the emotional harm and some of the issues that are going to result from this," regarding the children's recovery.
ABC News - Child welfare officials have temporary custody of the children.
AP News - Seven of the children were reported to have been taken to hospitals, with one child in critical condition, and their current conditions were not immediately known.
AP News - Elizabeth Siders' attorney, Thomas Stolly, stated that she was "crying and exhausted" during their meeting and expressed concern for her children's well-being, asking if they were okay and when she could see them again.
AP News - Stolly mentioned that Elizabeth considers herself a full-time mom and that all of the children were born in area hospitals.
AP News - Authorities removed 16 siblings from a squalid home and arrested their parents and grandparents.
AP News - Four individuals were arrested on child endangerment charges.
AP News - Bond was set at $300,000 for each of the arrested individuals.
AP News - Seven of the children were taken to hospitals, including one in critical condition.
AP News - The children were found confined to a small room under deplorable conditions, with human waste present.
WHERE:
AP News - The incident occurred in Hamden, Ohio, a village with fewer than 1,000 residents.
AP News - The house is located about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southeast of Columbus, Ohio.
WHEN:
AP News - Authorities discovered the children during an unrelated investigation on a Tuesday.
AP News - A warrant was issued for Gary Siders Jr. on misdemeanor indecent exposure charges related to incidents on four days in May.
WHY:
AP News - The family had moved around southern Ohio over the past two decades, avoiding creating a medical or governmental paper trail.
AP News - The children were not enrolled in school, contributing to the lack of awareness about their situation.
HOW:
ABC News - Ohio has a shortage of foster families, making it harder to recruit, which complicates the recovery process for the children.
ABC News - Scott Britton, assistant director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, noted that many children in foster care have significant needs that not all foster families can meet.
AP News - Investigators noted that the family had been effective in hiding the children from the community and authorities, as they had moved around southern Ohio over the past two decades and avoided creating a medical or governmental paper trail.
AP News - Investigators noted that the children spent most of their time in a room that was roughly 12 feet by 12 feet (3.5 meters by 3.5 meters).
AP News - The family appeared to have successfully hidden the children from the community and authorities.
(UPDATED July 3, 2026 08:01 UTC)
Authorities have discovered 16 children, some unable to speak, and an 18-year-old who is developmentally disabled and cannot write her name, prompting Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson to emphasize the extensive work needed to address their emotional harm and recovery. Child welfare officials currently have temporary custody of these children, but Ohio's shortage of foster families complicates their recovery process, as many children in foster care have significant needs that not all families can meet. Assistant director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, Scott Britton, highlighted the challenges in recruiting foster families, which further impacts the support available for these vulnerable children.
--
(UPDATED July 3, 2026 04:18 UTC)
Seven children have been taken to hospitals following a recent incident, with one in critical condition, though their current conditions remain unclear. Elizabeth Siders' attorney shared that she was visibly upset during their meeting, expressing deep concern for her children's well-being and inquiring about when she could see them again. Investigators revealed that the family had been successful in keeping the children hidden from the community and authorities by frequently moving around southern Ohio and avoiding any medical or governmental records.
--
(UPDATED July 3, 2026 01:36 UTC)
Authorities in Hamden, Ohio, have removed 16 siblings, ranging in age from 1 and a half to 18 years old, from a deplorable home where they were found confined under horrific conditions. Four family members, including parents Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders, along with grandparents Gary and Christina Siders, have been arrested on child endangerment charges, with bond set at $300,000 each. Seven of the children were taken to hospitals, one in critical condition, as the family had evaded medical and governmental oversight for years, leaving the children's plight largely unnoticed.