Authorities in Hamden, Ohio, discovered 16 children living in squalid conditions, described by the state's attorney general as 'pure evil.' The children, ranging in age from 17 months to 18 years, were found in a 1,300-square-foot home that was reportedly filled with human waste, filth, and trash.
Christina Siders, 67, and her husband Gary Sr., 73, along with their son Gary Jr., 36, and his wife Elizabeth, 33, have each been charged with 16 counts of child endangerment. All have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Seven of the children were taken to the hospital following the discovery on June 30. Officials reported that some of the children could not speak or walk and appeared to be in a state of severe neglect. None of the children were enrolled in school.
Investigators found the children confined to a 12-foot-by-12-foot room, one of five rooms in the house that contained only one bathroom. The discovery was made by chance when sheriff deputies executed a search warrant for a separate investigation.
Christina Siders had reportedly been visiting a local foodbank for two years, collecting significant amounts of food for her 16 grandchildren. A pastor who knew her described her as a 'caring' grandparent, stating she would collect produce, vegetables, fruit, breads, pastas, and meat. He noted that her requests for food became so large that he began to question how one family could consume such quantities.
Neighbors reported having little knowledge of the extent of the family living in the home. Some recalled seeing a few of the children shortly after the family moved into the residence, describing them as quiet and shy. Others noted seeing Elizabeth Siders pregnant but never saw any babies. One store employee recalled seeing four of the children who were pale, skinny, and seemed to cover their faces with their hair, avoiding interaction.
Court documents indicate that Gary Sr. requires a mental evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial. Gary Jr. is also facing separate public indecency charges related to incidents outside the home.
Elizabeth Siders' attorney, Tommy Stolley, has suggested that his client might also be a victim, stating that she and her husband wanted a large family and that she has been consistently asking about her children. He pushed back against characterizations of the children being 'feral' and the conditions being 'pure evil,' suggesting the situation may involve poverty and isolation rather than malicious intent. Stolley also revealed that the children had phones and access to social media.