HAMDEN, Ohio (AP) — Sixteen children from the same family were rescued from a home in rural Ohio where they were living in poor conditions, according to authorities. The children were found confined to a single room for much of the past four years, with human waste present, as reported by officials on Wednesday.
Some of the children were unable to speak, and one 18-year-old, who is developmentally disabled, could not write her name, investigators stated. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described the scene as alarming, noting that the conditions were worse than those for livestock.
The children's parents and two grandparents have been charged with felony child endangerment, according to a prosecutor. The children were discovered during the execution of a search warrant related to 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. Wilson expressed surprise at the number of children found, stating, "We didn’t know there were going to be 16 kids there."
The sheriff reported that the children spent most of their time in a room measuring approximately 12 feet by 12 feet. While he did not disclose how the children were kept inside the home, he confirmed that no cages were found.
The children, aged between 1.5 years and 18 years, included both boys and girls. Seven were taken to hospitals in Columbus, with two transported by helicopter; one child was reported in critical condition.
The children are currently in the temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. The four adults charged with second-degree felony child endangerment appeared in court, where a judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf and set bond at $300,000 for each.
Neighbors reported not seeing any children since the family moved in, with one neighbor describing the situation as sad. The house, located in a quiet neighborhood, was found with trash and discarded items in the yard, indicating neglect.
Investigators noted that the family had moved around southern Ohio over the past two decades and appeared to have avoided establishing medical and government records. They are reviewing whether the family had been reported to any children’s services agencies in the past.