Sixteen children from the same family were rescued from a dilapidated home in rural Ohio, where they lived in wretched conditions with human waste throughout and were confined to one room over much of the past four years, authorities said Wednesday.
Children Found in Horrific Conditions
Some of the children discovered Tuesday were unable to speak, and one 18-year-old who was developmentally disabled could not write her name, investigators said. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain stated, "Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children. Just a disgusting scene."
The children's parents and two grandparents were charged with felony child endangerment, a prosecutor said. Authorities found the children while executing a search warrant in an unrelated investigation, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said Wednesday at a news conference.
Isolated from the Outside World
Officials said it seemed as if no one outside the family knew about the children, who were not enrolled in school. Wilson said, "We didn't know there were going to be 16 kids there. It's the type of thing that we're not used to seeing here in America."
The sheriff said the children appeared to spend most of their time in a room roughly 12 feet by 12 feet (3.5 meters by 3.5 meters). He did not disclose how the kids were kept inside but said no cages were found. The children ranged in age from 1.5 to 18 years old, including both boys and girls. Seven were transported to hospitals in Columbus, two by helicopter. One was in critical condition Tuesday, while others were admitted for care.
Children Described as 'Feral Animals'
Wilson described the children as looking "almost like feral animals. It was terrible." The children were in temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.
Vinton County prosecuting attorney William Archer said the four adults were charged with second-degree felony child endangering involving serious physical harm. Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders appeared in court Wednesday, where a judge entered not guilty pleas and set bond at $300,000 each. They have not yet been assigned lawyers.
Neighbor Unaware of Children
Neighbor Joseph Stewart, 60, said he saw "no kids at all" since the family moved in three houses down. He could clearly see the house and yard when passing by. "It's a sad situation," he said. Stewart has lived on the street for six years and called it a quiet neighborhood.
The house sits on a road tucked away alongside a steep railroad embankment in Hamden, a village of fewer than 1,000 people about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southeast of Columbus. An open door revealed trash inside, while the yard was filled with discarded tires, a high chair and other debris.
Family Avoided Records
Investigators said the family moved around southern Ohio over the past two decades and appeared to avoid setting up medical and government records. Wilson said, "These folks were pretty good at hiding these kids." Investigators were reviewing whether the family was reported to any children's services agencies previously.
The discovery is reminiscent of past horrific cases, such as the Turpin family in California, where 13 children were shackled, starved and given minimal education. David and Louise Turpin pleaded guilty in 2019 and were sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years.
