Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer provided a brief update on the ongoing investigation into what authorities allege were “deplorable” conditions 16 children were found in a Hamden home but was unable to provide many new details.
Archer spoke July 8 in Vinton County. He said Kara Keating, an assistant Ohio attorney general, will assist him in the prosecution of the four members of the Siders family who each face 16 counts of felony child endangerment.
The charges each pertain to one of the 16 children found on June 30 inside one of the five rooms at the one-story home on the 100 block of Ohmer Street in Hamden, part of Clinton Township.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the conditions the children were found in as being “deplorable” and unlike anything we expect to see in America. He said some of the children, who range in age from about 18 months old to 18 years old, were unable to speak or walk.
Elizabeth Siders, 33, is believed to be the biological mother of all 16 children, as well as conjoined twins born at 24 weeks who died shortly after birth in November 2022.
Police arrested her, along with her husband, Gary Siders Jr., 36, and his parents, Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67, on June 30 while searching the home in connection with another investigation.
Elizabeth, Gary Jr. and Christina all remain in custody in lieu of $300,000 bond each. On July 8, a Vinton County judge modified Gary Sr.’s bond to a recognizance bond but noted in her court order that he is currently hospitalized for treatment of an undisclosed medical condition.
Archer said Gary Sr.’s medical condition is related to a fall on July 7 at the facility where he was incarcerated. Part of the reasoning for modifying his bond is that if he remained in custody, Vinton County would be required to pay any costs associated with his medical care, Archer said.
Any other updates on the specifics of his medical condition were barred from release based on privacy laws, Archer said.
Archer also addressed some of the speculation about the case that has been circulating on social media. He said photographs of the children in cages or with their mouths taped shut are inaccurate.
“The thing about social media is you don’t have to be telling the truth,” he said.
The Siderses are not believed to be family members of the homeowners and were paying rent, not squatting, Archer said.
The two elder Siders family members are believed to be have been receiving some state benefits at the time the search warrant was executed, he said.
The investigation remains ongoing and active.
Vinton County Common Pleas Court records on July 7 show Archer filed an application that was granted for a special prosecutor to be appointed to handle all four cases.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: WATCH: Vinton County prosecutor to provide child abuse case update
Reporting by Bethany Bruner, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Bethany Bruner, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
