Four adults have been arrested on felony child endangerment charges after authorities discovered 16 children in a rural Ohio home under what officials described as "deplorable" conditions. The children, ranging in age from 1.5 to 18, required medical treatment upon discovery by investigators Tuesday in the small village of Hamden.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson stated at a news conference that the scene was the worst he had encountered in his career, calling it "pure evil." Vinton County prosecuting attorney William Archer confirmed the four arrested individuals—Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, and Elizabeth Siders—are being charged with second-degree felony child endangering due to the "serious physical harm" to the children.
Two of the children required transport to level one trauma centers due to their injuries. Officials confirmed that the situation did not involve human trafficking and that the adults appeared to be transient, not local residents.
Investigators executed a secondary search warrant at the property, and the investigation is ongoing. The four adults were awaiting arraignment and the assignment of public defenders. They were scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning, with Wilson vowing that "justice will be served for these children."