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Published 16:15 06 Jul 2026 GMT
A psychologist analyzing the case of 16 children found inside a home in Ohio has offered an interesting theory for how the family lived in those conditions.
On Tuesday (June 30), the Vinton County Sheriff's Office discovered 16 children, aged between one and 18, at a small home in Hamden after executing a search warrant linked to a separate criminal investigation that began four to six weeks earlier.
The children were allegedly confined to a single 12-foot-by-12-foot room surrounded by human waste.
The reported parents, Gary Siders Jr., 36, and Elizabeth Siders, 33, along with grandparents Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 77, were arrested at the scene and each charged with 16 counts of child endangerment.
All four have pleaded not guilty and are being held on $300,000 bond.
Dr. Todd Grande analyzed the case in a YouTube video, where he suggested the family may have had what psychologists describe as "low disgust propensity and sensitivity".
According to Grande, disgust propensity refers to how easily someone experiences disgust, while disgust sensitivity describes how much a person is bothered by those feelings.
"There are three dimensions of disgust propensity and sensitivity: pathogen, sexual, and moral. The domain related to squalor cases is pathogen disgust. This is the normal avoidance response to feces, urine, rotten food, vomit, insects, parasites, bad smells, and visible contamination," he said.
He explained that people with low levels of pathogen disgust can tolerate conditions that most people would immediately find unbearable.
Grande added that this personality profile is often associated with "poor insight, lack of shame, lack of concern, and refusal of assistance".
"They may not see themselves as needing help from anyone. Again, they view their circumstances as normal," he shared.
Grande also suggested the children themselves may have developed similar attitudes because they had never been exposed to life outside the home.
"They grew up in an environment where no effort was made to avoid that stimuli. The isolation component prevented them from having sufficient contact with non-family members to learn values outside the family. For instance, if they had gone to school, they would have quickly learned that terrible odors are not acceptable," he said.
Police in Ohio believe the children had been isolated for years, with many reportedly unable to communicate normally.
The oldest, an 18-year-old, was reportedly unable to spell her own name.
Officials said two children suffered such serious physical harm that they had to be airlifted to specialist trauma centers, while another seven were taken to hospitals in Columbus.
One child was admitted to intensive care in serious condition, per The Guardian.
Elizabeth Siders' attorney, Thomas Stolly, said his client was "crying and exhausted" when he met her in jail.
Rather than asking about the charges against her or when she might be released, Stolly said her first concern was for her children.
"In fact, my client's first question to me when I walked into the jail and introduced myself was about her kids. She asked if her children were ok, she asked if I knew where they were, and she asked when she'd be able to see them again," he told Associated Press.
"I thought it was telling that her first concern was not, 'When can I get out of jail,' but was 'Are my children ok?'"
Stolly said he believes the situation is far more complicated, saying that "evil requires malice" and he "did not see any malice in Elizabeth".
"I think that this is more so a case of isolation than a case of evil, and I think that there’s an important distinction there. Because if that’s all you know - and you have to think someone at 15 years old doesn’t know a whole lot about being an adult, about being a mother, about being a wife - and that’s been your worldview for the past 17 or 18 years, you get shaped by that," he continued.
The attorney added that while the mom did not present herself as a victim, "it may be too early to actually determine what was going on there".
"While the headlines may be sensational, there's a real human component to this and so I would ask people to give this process time to play out," he said.
He also confirmed that Elizabeth told him all 16 children are hers and that she married Gary Siders Jr. when she was just 15 years old, per The Tab.
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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.
Per Associated Press, she said: "They [prosecutors] are asking that you have no contact with your co-defendants – that means each other. I presume the jail will keep you from having contact with the other two co-defendants if you remain in jail.
"No contact with the alleged victims of the offence; and if you are released, that you be fitted with a GPS monitor at state’s expense."
The judge also explained the legal meaning of each plea available to the defendants.
"You have four pleas available to you. A plea of guilty is a complete admission of your guilt. A not guilty plea is a complete denial of your guilt. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is an admission to the facts that underlie the complaint," she said.
"If you plead no contest, the state would give me a statement of facts, and it would be up to the court to determine whether or not you were guilty of the charged offences based on those facts."
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.
If each of the four family members is found guilty on all counts, they could face 192 years in prison individually.
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Published 16:03 03 Jul 2026 GMT
New details have emerged after 16 children were rescued from what authorities have described as a "house of horrors" in rural Ohio, with many people online drawing comparisons to one of Europe's most infamous captivity cases.
Four adults have now been charged after investigators discovered 16 children allegedly living in appalling conditions inside a home in Hamden, Ohio.
According to officials, those arrested are Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders, who have been identified as the children's parents and grandparents. They are all facing felony child endangerment charges.
The children, whose ages range from just 18 months to 18 years old, were allegedly confined for much of their lives inside a single 12-by-12-foot room contaminated with human waste.
Speaking to WCMH, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the children as being "almost feral."
The case has stunned the local community, with neighbors telling the Associated Press they had no idea so many children were living inside the property. The children were also reportedly not enrolled in school.
As investigators continue piecing together what happened, experts have questioned how such a large family managed to avoid detection for so long.
Appearing on NewsNation's CUOMO, former FBI special agent Jennifer Coffindaffer suggested the family's constant movement may have helped them stay off authorities' radar.
"You get away with it because you conceal it by moving over and over again," Coffindaffer said. "You don't let the children out of the house, and you keep them in that basement."
Criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos said the sheer age range of the children was one of the most disturbing aspects of the case.
"I think probably the thing that strikes me the most is the span of the ages," he said. "Eighteen months to 18 years is just stunning in terms of that."
Authorities have repeatedly described the children as "feral," a term Geragos said unfortunately fit the allegations.
"That's actually a pretty good use of the word," he explained. "It's not civilized, is, I guess, the best way I'd put it."
Coffindaffer also believes investigators could pursue additional charges as the case develops.
"I think there are going to be other charges," she said. "I believe these older children, the females that were able to be of childbearing years, I think they're going to have to do full DNA."
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not said whether the family had previously come to the attention of child protective services.
As more details have emerged, social media users have drawn comparisons to a notorious European captivity case involving an Austrian man, Josef Fritzl, who imprisoned his daughter for 24 years and fathered seven children with her inside a concealed underground space.
While there is currently no suggestion the Ohio case involves the same type of offences, some online have pointed to similarities involving prolonged isolation and children allegedly being hidden from the outside world.
One person wrote on X: "What's scary is that most people don't know their own neighbors…. There was a case like this in Austria a while ago... it was so sad. Prayers for these kids, only God's strength can help them through this. (The survivors... are living quietly, recovery takes years — their privacy is being respected and protected.)"
Authorities have not linked the two cases, and the Ohio investigation remains active as detectives continue gathering evidence.
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 15:28 02 Jul 2026 GMT
A neighbor who lived just a few houses away from the Ohio home where 16 children were discovered living in horrific conditions has revealed he had no idea they were there.
Authorities say the children, who ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years old, had been living in a dilapidated home in Hamden, Ohio, surrounded by human waste and confined to a single room for much of the past four years. Officials said some of the children were unable to speak, while one 18-year-old with developmental disabilities could not even write her own name.
The children's parents, Gary Siders Jr. and Christina Siders, along with grandparents Gary Siders Sr. and Elizabeth Siders, have each been charged with felony child endangering. A judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf Wednesday and set bond at $300,000 each. They have not yet been assigned attorneys.
Neighbor Joseph Stewart, 60, said he was stunned after learning what authorities had uncovered just three houses away.
"I saw no kids at all" since the family moved into the home, Stewart told The Associated Press, explaining that he could clearly see the house and yard whenever he passed by.
"It's a sad situation," he added, describing the area as."
The property sits along a road beside a steep railroad embankment. While neighboring homes are separated by trees and thick brush, the house itself is visible from the road.
On Wednesday, the home's doors and windows were left open as investigators continued their work. Trash could be seen inside, while the yard contained piles of discarded items, including tires, a high chair, two broken bicycles, a plastic play table, a beach pail, and two infant carriers.
Authorities discovered the children Tuesday while serving a search warrant connected to an unrelated investigation, according to Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.
"We didn't know there were going to be 16 kids there," Wilson said.
Officials said the children were not enrolled in school and appeared to have been hidden from public view for years.
"These folks were pretty good at hiding these kids," Wilson said.
Investigators are also reviewing whether the family had ever been reported to children's services agencies.
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain said the children had apparently spent most of their time inside a room measuring roughly 12 feet by 12 feet. Although investigators did not find cages inside the home, Cain described what deputies encountered as shocking.
"Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children," Cain said. "Just a disgusting scene."
Wilson also described the children's appearance after they were rescued.
"They looked like almost feral animals," Wilson said. "It was terrible."
Seven children were transported to hospitals in Columbus, while two others were flown by helicopter. Officials said one child was in critical condition Tuesday, while several others were admitted for treatment. All 16 children are now in the temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.
Vinton County Prosecuting Attorney William Archer said the four adults face second-degree felony child endangering charges because the allegations involve "serious physical harm."
Officials said the children are all members of the same family, although authorities have not disclosed the exact relationship between each child.
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."
Published 10:42 02 Jul 2026 GMT
After 16 children, some with severe injuries, were rescued from a home full of excrement, four people, believed to be their parents and grandparents, have been charged with 17 counts of child endangerment.
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 to be "kept in worse conditions than livestock”.
Law enforcement officers described the scene as “pure evil”, while Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson told a news conference they were found in “Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in.”
Tragically, he added, “Some of these children couldn’t even speak.”
The area the children were held captive in for “most of the last four years” was reportedly no larger than 12 by 12 feet and had a high presence of human excrement.
The house they were found in, which is believed to belong to a deceased owner, was in such terrible condition that the children were “literally about to fall through the floor”, according to Wilson.
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.
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.
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.
The neglected children were only discovered by local law enforcement while investigating another crime entirely.
While officials have not yet commented on the relationship between the children, they did confirm it was not a case of human trafficking, and the four adults responsible for their neglect have been cited as parents and grandparents, so it is assumed that they are a large group of siblings.
Since their arrest on Tuesday, Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders of Hamden, Ohio, entered not guilty pleas at a digital hearing.
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.
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