Police executed a search warrant at a residence on Ohmer Street in Hamden, Ohio, Tuesday morning, uncovering conditions described as “pure evil” for 16 children.
Inside the home—a cramped space of just 1,300 square feet with five rooms—the children, ranging in age from one to eighteen years old, were found living in a single 12-by-12-foot area surrounded by human feces. Two children suffered severe injuries requiring immediate flight to level one trauma centers, while others received emergency care at local hospitals. Several children were unable to speak or spell their names.
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain stated, “Most of the livestock was kept in better condition than the children.” He added that the conditions were “horrific,” and he expressed being “sickened” by what they discovered. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the situation as one where children were “literally about to fall through the floor,” emphasizing that he had prosecuted similar cases for decades: “I’ve been doing these types of cases for a long time… What we saw down here today is pure evil.”
The suspects—parents and grandparents Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Siders, Gary Siders Sr., and Christina Siders—were arrested. They face 17 counts of endangering children, a second-degree felony. Investigators revealed that the Siders moved between properties in Ohio since 2008 without establishing government or medical records, and the home was owned by a trust established after the death of a woman.
The case involves prolonged and extreme interfamilial neglect and abuse, not human trafficking. The suspects pleaded not guilty during Wednesday’s court hearing and were released on $300,000 cash bail each. Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office may file additional charges as evidence emerges, with potential sentences of up to 12 years per count—amounting to a total of 204 years in prison if convicted.
