A relative of 16 children found living in squalid conditions in an Ohio home has reported receiving death threats, stating that his family is being targeted despite having no prior knowledge of the situation. Ronnie Fletcher, married to a daughter of Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders, expressed horror at the allegations.
Fletcher told WOWK that his family has faced severe threats, including being told they should be executed. He noted that even his children have been targeted, forcing his family to adopt a reclusive lifestyle, removing photos from social media accounts and deleting their online presence. His wife, who works in public-facing roles, is afraid to go to work, impacting the family's income.
"It's to the point we've had our pictures taken off our accounts and we've had to delete all our social media. It's been awful," Fletcher stated. "My wife's not being able to go to work because she works within the public and she's scared."
He emphasized that he would have intervened if he had been aware of the true extent of the conditions. Fletcher believed only 10 children lived in the home, not 16. "If we would have known that it was like that in that home, we would have done something about it, even if it was just to go there and take the kids ourselves or give them money," he said.
Gary Siders, 73, Christina Siders, 67, Gary Siders Jr., 36, and Elizabeth Siders, 33, have been arrested and charged with 16 counts of child endangerment. Authorities discovered the children while executing a warrant for an unrelated investigation at the Hamden residence.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the scene as horrific, with investigators wearing masks due to the unsanitary conditions. The children, who were described as "almost feral," were found in a cramped 12-by-12 room. The oldest child is 18, and none of the children were enrolled in school. Officials noted that the children have limited communication abilities, with some unable to communicate at all. Feces were found inside the home, posing a contamination risk.
William Archer, the Vinton County prosecutor, clarified that the situation is an internal family matter and not human trafficking. The ages of the children range from 1 to 16, including sets of twins aged 4, 2, and 1. Several children required hospitalization, with some in serious condition, including two airlifted to trauma centers and at least one intubated.
All four suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
