Elizabeth Siders, the mother of 16 children found living in squalid conditions in Vinton County, Ohio, has requested a mental health evaluation to determine her competency to stand trial. Her attorney, Thomas Stolly, filed a motion arguing that Siders may be suffering from mental health issues that impede her ability to assist in her own defense and understand the wrongfulness of her alleged conduct.
If the motion is approved, Siders, 33, will undergo an evaluation by a psychiatrist within 30 days. She is currently held at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
Authorities discovered the children, aged 1 to 18, living in deplorable conditions on June 30, 2026. They were reportedly found in a cramped 12-by-12 room in a house described by Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson as a scene of “pure evil.”
Siders, her husband Gary Siders Jr., 37, and her parents-in-law, Christina Siders, 67, and Gary Siders Sr., 73, were arrested following the discovery. All four are facing 16 counts of child abuse charges.
Christina and Gary Siders Jr. were previously cleared for competency evaluations. Gary Siders Sr. has since been released from custody due to a medical emergency.