Officials had no idea 16 ‘almost feral’ children were living in feces-filled house of horrors till unrelated warrant
Horrifying case: 16 children in the US held captive in a 13-square-meter room for four years.
On July 1st, officials in Ohio announced that they had rescued 16 children from a dilapidated house in rural Ohio where they had been held captive for the past four years.
According to American media, the 16 children all belonged to the same family and lived in severely unsanitary conditions, with human feces everywhere. The children ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years, including both boys and girls. Some were unable to speak, while one 18-year-old had a developmental disability and couldn’t even spell her own name.
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain stated at a press conference, “Most livestock are raised in better conditions than these children.” He described the scene as having a large amount of bacteria and human feces. He said, “It was a horrific sight.”
Vinton County District Attorney William Archer said the children’s parents and grandparents are all facing 16 charges of endangering children at the second-degree felony level because the incident resulted in serious physical harm. He also emphasized that this was not a case of human trafficking, but rather an internal family matter.
According to Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, authorities discovered the children during a search warrant related to an unrelated investigation. “We didn’t know there were 16 children there,” Wilson said. He described what he witnessed at the home in the small village of Hamden, in one of Ohio’s poorest counties, as a crime. Wilson said the horrific scene was the worst he had ever seen.
“This is the kind of thing we’re not used to seeing in America,” Mr. Wilson said. He added that nearly 24 hours later, he still couldn’t shake off the foul smell.
According to the police chief, the children appeared to spend most of their time in the room, which was approximately 13 square meters. He did not disclose how the children were held inside the house, but stated that authorities did not find any cages within the property.
Seven children were taken to hospitals in Columbus, and two were airlifted to trauma centers. One was in critical condition on June 30 and required intubation. He said, “They looked almost like wild animals. It was horrific.”
The parents and grandparents of Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, and Elizabeth Siders appeared in court on July 1st. The judge, on their behalf, recorded their pleas of not guilty and set bail at $300,000 each.
Investigators said the family had moved several times in southern Ohio over the past two decades and appeared to be deliberately avoiding medical and official records with government agencies. The children also did not attend school.
“They were very adept at hiding these children from the investigators’ eyes,” Wilson said. He added that it appeared no one outside the family knew of their existence.
Residents of Hamden expressed shock upon learning that children lived in the house. Hamden is a village with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, located about 129 kilometers southeast of Columbus.