Sixteen children were discovered living in deplorable conditions in a rural southern Ohio home, leading to the arrest of four adults on felony child endangerment charges, according to officials. The children, ranging from 1.5 to 18 years old, were found in dire need of medical treatment when law enforcement searched a property in the small village of Hamden on June 30.
The Ohio Bureau of Investigation and the Vinton County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at the home, uncovering what they described as deplorable living conditions. Several children were in serious condition, and two required airlift to level one trauma centres due to their injuries.
Arrests and Charges
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson stated at a news conference: “Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in.” Law enforcement arrested Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, and Elizabeth Siders. They have not yet been arraigned and have not been assigned public defenders.
Vinton County prosecuting attorney William Archer confirmed the charges are second-degree felony child endangering, which involves “serious physical harm.” The adults are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning (July 1).
Investigation Details
Officials did not confirm whether the children were related but clarified the situation did not involve human trafficking. They noted the adults were not from the local area and appeared to have been travelling. Law enforcement executed a secondary search warrant at the property on Tuesday, and the investigation is ongoing.
Hamden, with a population of less than 1,000, is located approximately 60 miles southeast of Columbus.
