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Published 10:47 16 Jul 2026 GMT
A disturbing Facebook post allegedly written by the mother of the 16 children recently rescued from an Ohio home has resurfaced, years before she and three of her relatives were charged over the children's living conditions.
Elizabeth Siders, 33, along with her husband, Gary Siders Jr., 36, and his parents, Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67, have each been charged with second-degree felony child endangering after authorities discovered 16 children living in squalid conditions inside a property in rural Vinton County.
Investigators said the children, who range in age from 18 months to 18 years old, had reportedly been confined to a single room for much of the past four years.
The home was littered with human waste, and officials said several of the children showed severe developmental delays.
One 18-year-old with developmental disabilities was reportedly unable to write her own name, while some of the younger children were unable to speak.
Describing the scene officers encountered, Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain said: "Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children."
Authorities are now reviewing a proposed $1 million emergency funding package to support the children following their rescue on June 30.
As the investigation continues, attention has turned to an old Facebook post published on June 5, 2014, from Gary Siders Jr.'s account, which was allegedly written by Elizabeth Siders.
The post read: "this is elizabeth i dont want any one putting pictures of me on facebook every one if you have any pictures of me on here please take them off here !"
Elizabeth would have been 21 years old when the message was posted.
According to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office, investigators only uncovered the children after executing a search warrant as part of an unrelated investigation.
Officials admitted they had no idea what they were about to find.
"We didn't know there were going to be 16 kids there," Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said during a press conference.
Reflecting on the conditions inside the property, Wilson added: "It's the type of thing that we're not used to seeing here in America."
Authorities believe the children spent most of their time inside a room measuring roughly 12 feet by 12 feet. While Sheriff Cain declined to explain exactly how they were kept there, he confirmed investigators did not discover any cages inside the house.
Several of the children required urgent medical attention after they were rescued. Seven were taken to hospitals in Columbus, while two others were airlifted by helicopter. Officials said one child remained in critical condition.
Wilson described the children's appearance as shocking.
"They looked like almost feral animals," he said. "It was terrible."
The children have since been placed in the temporary care of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said the four adults face second-degree felony child endangering charges because the allegations involve "serious physical harm."
During an initial court appearance on July 1, a judge entered not guilty pleas on behalf of all four defendants and set bond at $300,000 each. Although preliminary hearings had been scheduled for July 7, the defendants later waived their right to those hearings.
Investigators are still working to establish how all 16 children are related. Steve Irwin, a spokesperson for the attorney general's office, declined to confirm whether they are all siblings.
Authorities believe the family moved between communities in southern Ohio over the past two decades while avoiding contact with schools, healthcare providers and government agencies.
"These folks were pretty good at hiding these kids," Wilson said.
Investigators are also examining whether the family had ever previously come to the attention of child protection services.
One neighbour, Joseph Stewart, who has lived on the street for six years, said he had never seen any children at the property despite passing it regularly.
"No kids at all," Stewart said, describing the area as "a quiet neighborhood." He added: "It's a sad situation."
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Published 10:36 16 Jul 2026 GMT
The brother of Elizabeth Siders has revealed more about his family in numerous Facebook posts, after 16 children were found in a feces-filled 12x12ft room in rural Hamden, Ohio.
Aged between 18 months and 18 years old, the children were being held in decrepit conditions for years.
Legal experts have shared what they really think about Elizabeth, the mother of the kids, but more is being unravelled about the family.
Officials found the neglected children during an unrelated police raid of the home, which is now widely known as the 'house of horrors'.
The conditions were said to be similar to the "third world," as others claimed that the children were being "kept in worse conditions than livestock,” with some found to have suffered “serious physical harm.”
As a result, four family members, said to be the children's parents and grandparents, Gary Siders Jr, 36, Elizabeth Siders, 33, Gary Siders Sr, 73, and Christina Siders, 67, have been arrested and charged with 16 counts of second-degree felony child endangerment.
Jeremy Russell, who says that he is Elizabeth's brother, has published numerous posts about the family, reflecting his own views and experiences.
He defended his side of the family and praised his father in one post, writing: “My family been actin super immature. Giving the Russell’s a bad name. We really do seek respect.” (sic)
Russell then opened up about his father's childhood: “My dad has earn his life from the bottom. With no parents. Father not capable. Mother deceased age two. Grandparents deceased eight. Homeless children’s home there on after. -18. Sister was murdered. He was a teenager at the time.
“My father is a warrior. Smiles every day.” (sic)
He then wrote about the case in another post, penning: “This what I think. Slap on the wrist. You can not be charged for ignorance,
“The horror stories is not true [sic], nothing is true.”
He added: “My sister and her husband really did do their best to their iq. Allowance is the one to blame. Low IQ, getting that money.
"Everything is misunderstood. Their hygiene. Low IQ. The man of the house is responsible at most. He is the leader, leading followers. That’s what I think.”
Investigators are yet to comment on his claims.
He posted about the attention he has been receiving, writing: “My story is none your business? Lol go away,
“I love yeh all. Stay positive. What’s your story? I got a lot going on. I consider that noise. These conversations tangling hours of my life. I’m doing just fine, thank you for asking.” (sic)
Russell then also said he wished he "could have been there to prevent this," saying that he felt sorry and that his "father’s name will go down as a disgrace."
Then, in a number of vague posts where it is not clear who he is referring to, he wrote: “I hope you got what you want. When you are left nowhere to go. Do not even think about it. Your anger won’t be long you be askin for help. If I allow it, I will not.”
He then put up another post, speaking about the repercussions of something.
“This is how you end up homeless. It’s gonna be cold man. Are you not thinking. Your employment record is shot no IQ. Like that equals homeless," he wrote.
"Your anger will put you there within two years. After you get back out of prison. That’s exactly what it is.”
He is yet to confirm who this is about.
Published 11:10 14 Jul 2026 GMT
On June 30, 16 children, aged between 18 months and 18 years old, were discovered and rescued after spending at least four years “kept in worse conditions than livestock”, and their responsible adults were arrested in Ohio.
The children's father, Gary Siders Jr., 36, mother Elizabeth Siders, 33, and grandparents Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 77, were arrested and charged with 16 counts of child endangerment.
It was revealed that Elizabeth married Gary Jr. in 2008, when she was just 15, and their eldest daughter was born just two months later, leaving many members of the public fascinated by the case, claiming that she could have been indoctrinated by the Siders family.
As the expectant teenager was underage, both her parents, Brian Russell and Lori Ann Russell, would have had to sign the marriage certificate, as would Gary Jr’s parents, the Siders.
Reportedly, the young mother has been estranged from her family since she joined the Siders family as a teenager, but a social media post made by Elizabeth’s mother, which has recently resurfaced, appears to prove otherwise.
A few years ago, Lori Ann Russell posted a picture of Elizabeth in which she looks unrecognizable in comparison to the mugshot that has circulated the internet. The photograph of a blonde, healthier, and less gaunt-looking Elizabeth was captioned with "Happy Birthday to my daughter Elizabeth it hard to believe. My youngest is 28 today love you, mom and dad."
Sadly, authorities allegedly did not investigate the child marriage or the fact that she gave birth to her first two babies when she was still a child herself.
According to legal expert Ron O'Brien, this should have been a significant red flag for possible statutory rape, warranting questions and potentially a report to authorities.
However, this was just the first of many signals that something was reportedly seriously wrong with the family. Over the next decade and a half, Elizabeth delivered nine more children at the same hospital. She then changed healthcare providers and gave birth to another four at a different hospital.
While a major investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of 16 children who resembled “feral animals” after being kept in a room of just 12 feet by 12 feet for at least four years, it is a complicated case and expected to take some time.
During a press conference just days after the gut-wrenching discovery, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson and Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain warned the public, who have been gripped by the case, that the investigation could take some time.
The primary reason for the expected delay in prosecution is that the children are believed to have very limited communication skills, with some of the 16 children being completely mute.
Published 13:33 07 Jul 2026 GMT
Following the arrest of four family members after 16 children were found “kept in worse conditions than livestock”, questions have been raised over the welfare of the mother who began birthing the brood aged just 15.
The children, aged between one-and-a-half and 18, were discovered inside a crumbling house by the Vinton County Sheriff's Office in Ohio on Tuesday, June 30, and were described as being "kept in worse conditions than livestock”.
Heartbreakingly, the children had suffered such “serious physical harm” that 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.
The children's father, Gary Siders Jr., 36, mother Elizabeth Siders, 33, and grandparents Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 77, were arrested and charged with 16 counts of child endangerment. However, they have all since pleaded not guilty.
Elizabeth’s attorney Thomas Stolly told the Associated Press that Elizabeth married Gary II in 2008, when she was just 15, and their eldest daughter was born just two months later.
As she was underage, both her parents, Brian Russell and Lori Ann Russell, would have had to sign the marriage certificate, as would Gary Jr’s parents, the Siders.
The elder Siders are believed to have four daughters “quite a bit older” than Gary Jr, who did not remain in close contact with their parents and were shocked when they found out about the hidden children and subsequent arrests.
Ronnie Fletcher, the husband of one of Siders Sr. and Christina’s daughters, claimed his family was completely unaware of the horrific conditions at the Ohio home and only learnt about the arrests through news reports.
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The estranged family member told WOWK-TV that he was “Horrified. Worried about the kids.”
“It’s hard to explain the action when you’re distant family. What can I do to help? That was the original reaction to it,” he added.
Fletcher also revealed that Elizabeth had a difficult home life before marrying into the Siders family, saying: “She’s willingly there at the home. She did not have a very good home life when they got together, and she escaped.”
Another man who claimed on social media to be Elizabeth’s brother said she had been “indoctrinated” by the family before she became pregnant and married into the family as a teenager.
Also, on an episode of Jesse Weber Live, host Jesse Weber and former lead trial prosecutor Tommy Pope debated if her background could act as a legal defense.
Weber said: “So, child bride, indoctrinated, had her first baby, allegedly at 13. Is any of this a defense?”
Pope responded with: “I don’t know that it’s a defense. I think it can break down strategically, even on how you trial them, whether everybody has a separate trial, whether they’re in there together.”
Published 13:32 02 Jul 2026 GMT
Authorities in Ohio have arrested and charged four family members after discovering 16 children living in severe neglect in a rural home. The suspects include the parents, Gary Siders Jr., 36, and Elizabeth Siders, 33, as well as the grandparents, Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67.
All four individuals face charges of second-degree felony child endangering following an investigation in Vinton County.
Law enforcement officials found the boys and girls, who range in age from 18 months to 18 years, inside a small, dilapidated house in the village of Hamden. Investigators stated that the property lacked basic sanitation and showed clear signs of human waste. Several of the children required immediate medical attention upon their rescue and were transported to nearby hospitals.
The investigation indicates that the family had been highly mobile, moving across different parts of the state before arriving in Vinton County roughly four years ago. The children were kept entirely out of the education system, with none of them enrolled in school. The oldest child, an 18-year-old with developmental disabilities, was unable to spell her own name.
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described the residence as "disgusting" and noted that the conditions showed signs of human excrement. He stated that investigators believe the 16 children were restricted to a single 12ft by 12ft room for the majority of the four years they spent at the property. The isolation severely impacted their development, leaving some of the youth completely non-verbal and others with very limited speech capabilities.
"Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children," Cain stated during a news conference detailing the rescue operation, per Sky News.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson expressed shock over the situation, noting that the conditions "really looked third world" and adding that "It's just almost beyond comprehension." Wilson explained that the family managed to keep the children hidden from the community for years, using a home that was owned by a trust.
"Some of these children couldn't even speak," Wilson said regarding the state of the youth. "It was terrible. They looked like almost feral animals. It was terrible."
The children were immediately removed from the home and taken to the hospital for evaluations. While some have been examined and released into protective custody, others required urgent medical interventions. According to state officials, one child was placed in intensive care, and two others had to be flown to trauma centers due to the severity of their injuries.
The four defendants made their first court appearance in Vinton County via a video link from the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail. During the hearing, the judge entered not guilty pleas on behalf of all four family members.
The court set a bond of $300,000 for each defendant. As part of their bail conditions, the judge issued a strict order barring the parents and grandparents from having any contact with the children or with each other while the legal process moves forward.
Published 09:56 13 Jul 2026 GMT
Authorities have spoken out about social media users who have started speculating about the Siders family.
During an unrelated police raid, 16 children were found in a feces-filled rural home in Hamden, Ohio, in what is now widely known as the 'house of horrors' case.
Their living conditions were described as similar to the "third world," with the children aged between 18 months and 18 years old.
The harrowing discovery was made by the Vinton County Sheriff's Office in Ohio on June 30.
In the weeks since, more details have emerged, as children were described as being "kept in worse conditions than livestock,” with some found to have suffered “serious physical harm.”
Four family members, said to be the children's parents and grandparents, Gary Siders Jr, 36, Elizabeth Siders, 33, Gary Siders Sr, 73, and Christina Siders, 67, have since been arrested and charged with 16 counts of second-degree felony child endangerment.
But officials have now warned the public about speaking out about the case.
Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer addressed claims and rumors that are doing the rounds on social media, including the legitimacy of images and videos being shared of the rural home.
Speaking to the public, he stated that a lot of the content being shared is "not truthful and not accurate," warning of the potential effects on the 16 children involved.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson admitted that he "didn’t know there were going to be 16 kids there" prior to the search as it is not "the type of thing that we’re not used to seeing here in America."
He described the scene as "pure evil" and "disgusting," but the Siders' lawyers have since hit back at the "language" being used by authorities when speaking about the case.
They have reminded them and the public that the defendants are innocent until proven guilty, with officials simply suggesting what may have been going on at the home.
Many have been assuming what has happened themselves, while others have started to post doctored photos and videos of the children "caged up."
Archer said at a press conference on Wednesday (July 8): "Our office has specifically not addressed the factual nature of this case because it is still under investigation, there's a lot of information still out there,
"In fairness to the defendants, particularly to the victims and to the community - we're not releasing information until it's appropriate to do so," he said as per The Columbus Dispatch.
He went on: "If you've seen some of the stuff on social media - there were pictures of the kids in cages, caged up in houses.
"The problem with social media is you don't have to be telling the truth, you don't have to say that something is accurate."
"I don't understand why people put stuff like this on there. It's not truthful, it's not accurate," Archer admitted, suggesting it could be AI-generated.
"But I can't stop it. All I can do is shrug my shoulders and say, 'Why are we doing this to these victims?' They're going to be tarnished by this for a long part of their lives."
He confirmed that the children are "all safe and being cared for," since being found in the decrepit home two weeks ago.
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