A town in southern Ohio is reeling after over a dozen children were discovered living in a putrid house where they lived in squalor for many years.
Sixteen minors, aged 1-18, many of whom looked like “feral animals,” were saved from this house of horrors when police showed up to conduct a search warrant in an unrelated probe.
Ohio’s Attorney General called it a scene reeking of “pure evil.”
The childrens’ parents and grandparents, who all lived in the house, have been arrested on serious charges.
Take a look at their mugshots here:
New details in the horrific case involving 16 children out of Ohio.
• Vinton County authorities discovered 16 children (ages roughly 18 months to 18 years) living in dire, "third world" conditions inside a home in Hamden, Ohio.
• The 16 children were allegedly confined to a… pic.twitter.com/LuvgP3bLvK
— Robbie Harvey (@therobbieharvey) July 2, 2026
New details in the horrific case involving 16 children out of Ohio.
• Vinton County authorities discovered 16 children (ages roughly 18 months to 18 years) living in dire, “third world” conditions inside a home in Hamden, Ohio.
• The 16 children were allegedly confined to a single small 12 ft by 12 ft room for the past four years, amid human feces, urine, filth, bacteria, and overpowering odors.
• Officials described the conditions as worse than livestock. Some children reportedly could not speak and appeared “almost feral.”
• The family had allegedly moved around southern Ohio for two decades, intentionally avoiding medical and government records.
• Neighbors say they saw no kids at all.
• Seven children were hospitalized (some flown by helicopter to Columbus trauma centers). One was initially in critical condition.
• Four adults (described as parents and grandparents) were arrested: Gary Siders Sr. (73), Gary Siders, Jr. (36), Christina Siders (67), Elizabeth Siders (33).
ADVERTISEMENT• It’s reported that all 16 children belonged to Gary Sider, Jr. and Elizabeth Siders.
The New York Post shared more details on the deplorable conditions these poor children were forced to live in:
The victims, ages 1-18, were taken from the deplorable house, where they spent most of the past four years living in squalor and largely confined to a cramped, 12-by-12 room that was littered with human waste, authorities explained as new details emerged in the shocking case.
The disturbing discovery ruffled neighbors, who couldn’t believe the kids were subjected to such horrific conditions “right under our noses.”
Ohio Attorney General Alan Wilson said investigators were forced to wear masks when entering the trash-stacked house — and couldn’t even reach some parts of it.
“This case continues to reveal the unimaginable conditions these children were forced to endure,” Wilson said Wednesday, according to WCMH.
“I said that what investigators encountered was pure evil, and the evidence we’ve uncovered since only reinforces that assessment.”
The children’s grandparents — Gary Sides Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67 — and their parents — Gary Siders Jr., 36, Elizabeth Siders , 33 — are facing a slew of charges after authorities descended on the house to conduct a search warrant for an unrelated probe and stumbled on the sickly children whom Wilson said “looked like almost feral animals.”
ADVERTISEMENTHeaps of trash mixed with kids’ toys were spotted from outside the property, while a wood deck and backyard had old tires, a high chair and other garbage strewn around.
The 20 family members lived in the house, which had just five rooms and one bathroom in the 1,336-square-foot layout with another 518 square feet in the basement, WCMH reported, citing Vinton County property records.
This is such a sad and disturbing case.
These kids were essentially living in the shadows. They did not attend school or appear in public.
Neighbors claimed they had no idea that children were even living inside the home, which sat right inside an idyllic, “Hallmark-Channel-like” small town.
AP News has more:
Just days after authorities removed 16 siblings from a squalid home and arrested their parents and grandparents, the question looms over their southern Ohio village: How could this have happened, for years, unnoticed, right here?
Neighbors of the family in tiny Hamden, employees at local stores where they shopped and even the investigators who responded to the scene have been left to wonder that aloud and to themselves, and the limited information shared by investigators doesn’t offer a full answer.
The children weren’t enrolled in school, the family moved around over the past two decades, and neighbors said they’d never spotted the kids. The children remained mostly confined to a small room in the house, investigators said, under deplorable conditions.
“Right under our noses and nobody was able to help them sooner,” said Emily Collins, 27, owner of VC Farm & Floral in nearby McArthur, as she lamented how the case goes against the grain of the tight-knit community.
“It’s just crazy with all the wonderful things going on in our little Hallmark town and this is what puts us on the radar. It’s really sad,” said the mother of three, who pulled out her chalk and decorated the sidewalk in front of her shop with bright flowers and stars drawn for the Fourth of July to cheer herself up.
Authorities said they had gone to the home Tuesday on an unrelated investigation and discovered the children — ages 1 1/2 to 18 years old — some of whom were unable to speak.
ADVERTISEMENTSeven were taken to hospitals, including one who was in critical condition, investigators said. Their current conditions weren’t immediately known Thursday. Child welfare officials have temporary custody of the children.
ABC News provided further coverage here:
Four people have been charged with child endangerment after 16 children were removed from a home in Ohio where officials say they were living in "deplorable conditions." pic.twitter.com/3rdUfj9eC4
— ABC News (@ABC) July 2, 2026
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