‘Pure evil’: 16 children rescued from ‘deplorable’ conditions in home; 4 adults arrested

VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - Officials say 16 children were rescued from “deplorable” conditions in an Ohio home, and four adults are facing charges.

The Vinton County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation executed a search warrant Tuesday morning at a home in Hamden, Ohio. Sixteen children ranging in age from 1.5 to 18 years were found inside the home in what officials described as “deplorable” conditions.

“Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children living in,” said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson at a Tuesday evening news conference.

Wilson said several of the children were in serious condition, and two were flown to the hospital due to how severe their conditions were. All 16 children are being medically evaluated.

“This is pure evil what we saw down here today,” said Wilson, who described it as one of the worst scenes he has ever seen.

Four adults - Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Elizabeth Siders and Christina Siders - were taken into custody. They are being charged with 17 counts of child endangerment, one for each of the children found and one additional because it involves serious physical harm.

Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said the charges will eventually be dropped to 16 counts.

Wilson said the suspects are not from Vinton County. Officials did not reveal their relationships to the children but stressed that rumors of a human trafficking ring are unfounded.

Investigators say evidence of other crimes was discovered at the home.

A second search warrant has been issued on the property. Wilson said analysts are assigned, and computer forensic and lab personnel will be assigned to the case.

Wilson said that these are serious crimes and allegations that will be investigated fully, and he has also been in contact with the governor’s office for support.

All four suspects will be arraigned Wednesday morning.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine released the following statement about the situation:

“Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has kept me informed about the tragic situation in Vinton County. I have talked to Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain to offer any help that we might be able to provide. The Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, Kara Wente, has been working today to assist Vinton County Children’s Services, and will continue to help in the days ahead.

“It is heartbreaking to learn the conditions that these children were living in, and to learn of their medical conditions. Attorney General Wilson is an experienced prosecutor and he has told me he has never seen anything like what he saw today. Fran and I pray for these children, and thank the children’s services workers, law enforcement officers, and medical personnel who are helping them.”