Ohio Mom of 16 Appears Pregnant in Court; Lawyer Cites Lack of Postpartum Care

Elizabeth Siders, the Ohio mother of 16 children discovered in squalid conditions, appeared in court on Wednesday with her attorney raising concerns about her mental state and citing a lack of postpartum care. Siders, 34, was seen cradling a noticeably swollen stomach during her arraignment on 19 counts of child endangerment and sex-related charges involving an underage relative.

Her attorney, Thomas Stolly, declined to confirm speculation about a new pregnancy but stated that Siders has been in a near-constant state of pregnancy since she was 15, with insufficient postpartum care and medical attention. "[Siders] has never fully gone through any postpartum period and has not been receiving regular medical care that would be appropriate for someone who has had 16… 18 children," Stolly told the court. He argued that these circumstances have contributed to her alleged mental health issues and raised questions about her competency to stand trial.

Law enforcement is prohibited from using handcuffs on pregnant women in Ohio, a fact noted by the Columbus Dispatch, which also observed that Siders' co-accused had been cuffed in earlier hearings. Siders pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Siders, her husband Gary II, and his parents, Christina Siders and Gary Siders Sr., were initially charged with 16 felony counts of child endangerment and neglect. The 16 children, aged 20 months to 18 years, were found in what authorities described as a "house of horrors" in Hamden, Ohio. The children were reportedly unable to communicate effectively, with some unable to speak at all, and had never been enrolled in school. The eldest child, 18, has developmental disabilities and cannot write her name.

In August, Siders and Gary II were indicted on additional charges, including sexual battery and two counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor. Siders remains in custody on a $550,000 bond. A previous request by Siders, made through her lawyer in July, to see her children was denied by the court, which has maintained a strict no-contact order.