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Published 16:26 08 Jul 2026 GMT
Officials are preparing to allocate $1 million to support the 16 children who were "left to rot" in the "house of horrors".
On Tuesday (June 30), the Vinton County Sheriff's Office arrived at a small home in Hamden to execute a search warrant connected to an unrelated criminal investigation that had been underway for several weeks.
Instead, they made a disturbing discovery as they found 16 children, ranging in age from one to 18, confined to a single 12-foot-by-12-foot room surrounded by human waste.
According to court records, the children are aged 18, 16, 15, 14, 13, 11, 10, 8, 6, 5, four-year-old twins, two-year-old twins, and one-year-old twins.
Seven of the children were taken to hospitals in the Columbus area following the rescue, while two were airlifted to Level I trauma centers by helicopter. One child was reported to be in critical condition.
Police in Ohio arrested the children's parents, Gary Siders Jr., 36, Elizabeth Siders, 33, as well as the grandparents, Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67, at the scene. They have each been charged with 16 counts of child endangerment.
During a court hearing on July 1, all four defendants formally pleaded not guilty.
Judge Laina Fetherolf Rogers ordered that they have no contact with one another or with any of the children if released from custody.
The judge confirmed that all four bonds are set at $300,000, and each charge could land a prison sentence of two to eight years.
Elizabeth's attorney, Thomas Stolly, has confirmed that the kids are hers and that she married Siders Jr. when she was just 15 years old.
According to NBC4i, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) is seeking $1 million in emergency funding to help support the rescued children through foster care placements and court proceedings. The funding would cover care through the end of the current fiscal year, preventing Vinton County from bearing the costs alone.
"We are having discussions with the DeWine administration and our legislators who represent that area regarding funding support in response to the deplorable situation in Vinton County," Ohio House Republicans spokesperson Olivia Wile said.
Vinton County is home to around 12,800 residents, making it Ohio's smallest county by population.
It's been reported that the rescue has placed immense pressure on the child welfare system.
According to the funding request, taking custody of the 16 children increased the county children's services agency's caseload by 55% and more than doubled the number of children in its care.
State Representative Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe), who represents the area, said the area is home to "some of the best people" he has met, but also remains one of Ohio's poorest counties, with limited social services.
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