HAMDEN, Ohio (AP) — Sixteen children from the same family were rescued from a home in rural Ohio where they lived in poor conditions, authorities reported on Wednesday. The children were found confined to one room for much of the past four years, surrounded by human waste. Some of the children were unable to speak, and one 18-year-old with developmental disabilities could not write her name, according to investigators. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described the scene as distressing, stating, "Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children."
The children's parents and two grandparents have been charged with felony child endangerment. The children were discovered during a search warrant executed in an unrelated investigation, as stated by Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson. Officials indicated that it appeared no one outside the family was aware of the children's existence, as they were not enrolled in school.
The sheriff noted that the children spent most of their time in a room measuring approximately 12 feet by 12 feet. Seven of the children were transported to hospitals in Columbus, with two being flown by helicopter; one child was reported in critical condition.
The children are now in the temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. The adults charged, Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, and Elizabeth Siders, appeared in court where not guilty pleas were entered on their behalf, and bond was set at $300,000 for each. Investigators are looking into whether the family had been reported to any children's services agencies in the past.
Neighbors reported not seeing any children at the residence, which is located in a quiet area of Hamden, a village with a population of less than 1,000 people, about 60 miles southeast of Columbus. The situation has drawn comparisons to past cases of family abuse, including the Turpin case in California, where children were subjected to severe mistreatment.