US3 min(s) read
Published 11:33 03 Jul 2026 GMT
After 16 children were discovered in beyond inhumane conditions this week, an attorney representing one of the adults responsible, their grandfather, has urged the public to “step back” and allow the authorities to get to the bottom of the case.
The severely neglected children were held captive in a small room for most of the last four years, which was reportedly no larger than 12 by 12 feet and had a high presence of human excrement.
Heartbreakingly, the children had suffered such “serious physical harm” that immediately after they were found on Tuesday, June 30, two had to be flown to specialist trauma centres, while another seven were taken to Columbus Hospitals, with one admitted to the ICU and intubated.
Although the neglected brood were only thought to have been held in the decrepit Ohio property for four years, it is presumed that they had been mistreated and kept captive for the majority of their short lives, as the 18-year-old could not spell her own name and many of the others were completely mute.
The family is believed to have moved around the state of Ohio a lot over the last two decades, but it is still remarkable that there is little to no record of the children’s existence, as they have never been enrolled in a school or attended doctor's appointments.
According to WBNS, neighbours told authorities that they were completely unaware of any children living in the home and believed that the adults who were keeping them captive were not locals and appeared to be travelling.
Four family members, the children’s parents and grandparents, Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders of Hamden, Ohio, have been arrested on child endangerment charges.
Each sickening adult faces a minimum of two to eight years and a maximum of 12 years in prison for each of the 17 charges.
It has been reported that the children were discovered in decrepit conditions when law enforcement officers were investigating an entirely separate crime.
Although authorities have not officially shared details about the investigation that led to the house being searched, court documents prove that a warrant was issued for Mr Siders Jr on misdemeanour indecent exposure charges related to alleged incidents on four days in May.
An attorney representing Mr Siders has urged the public to keep their noses out of the investigation and let authorities handle it properly.
Dorian Baum told the Associated Press: "We ask that the community at large, as well as anyone who might have an interest in this case, to take a deep breath, step back, and let the case play out, and the facts play out."
