ONE of the family members accused of keeping 16 children in deplorable living conditions has been released from jail and hospitalized.
Gary Siders Sr. was among four adults accused of keeping 16 children aged one to 18 in a 12 by 12 room inside an Ohio home.
Siders Sr., 73, was arrested alongside his wife, Christina Siders, 67, his son Gary Siders Jr., 36, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Siders, 33, on June 30 after cops found over a dozen boys and girls living in unsanitary conditions in a home in rural Hamden, Ohio.
Two of the children were flown to level one trauma centers over their injuries, and many were found to be unable to speak.
Siders Sr. was released from jail and taken to a local hospital after he fell and suffered a medical issue while being transported for his preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said.
When he arrived at O’Bleness Hospital in Athens, officials recommended he be taken to a larger hospital for specialized care due to his “serious medical condition,” the prosecutor said.
Following the medical episode, Judge Laina Rogers allowed Siders Sr.’s $300,000 cash bond to be changed to a recognizance bond of the same amount.
Archer didn’t provide more details of the 73-year-old’s health issues, but said the care required would be costly.
“Based the information that we were provided, his medical care could potentially bankrupt Vinton County,” he said.
When a person is in custody in the county, it is up to the county to pay for their medical expenses.
“We were not going to put that burden also on our local taxpayers,” he continued.
“It was agreed that we would do a recognizance bond, so he could get the medical treatment that the doctors say he needs and won’t cost the county that money.”
Under a recognizance bond, a person must sign an agreement to return to court and follow any conditions set by the judge instead of posting cash bond.
Archer said if the man is released, he will then be equipped with a GPS monitor.
All four of the adults are facing 16 second-degree child endangerment felony charges, to which they have pleaded not guilty.
Each also waived their right to a preliminary hearing.
Siders Sr.’s attorney asked for a competency hearing in a recent filing and is reportedly considering using a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said “you cannot even imagine” the conditions inside the home.
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain said there was an abundance of human waste and excrement inside the home while Wilson said the children were “literally about to fall through the floor.”
Law enforcement officials described the scene as “pure evil,” revealing the children had been kept in an area no bigger than 12 feet by 12 feet for most of the last four years.
“Most of the livestock was kept in better condition than the children,” Cain said.
Most of the children were unable to speak, and the 18-year-old couldn’t spell her own name.
Seven children were taken to local hospitals after being rescued, with one intubated in the ICU.
A Dollar General employee in Hamden, Ohio, said she saw Gary and Elizabeth just one day before they were arrested.
“It was mind-blowing once I saw the mugshot. I just saw them on Monday. They were my last customers,” Ariel Gutierrez told ABC affiliate WSYX.
Gutierrez claimed one of the children was kept close to the adults and was not allowed to speak to anyone inside the store.
She noticed the children appeared extremely thin and often had their hair covering their faces.
Employees at the Dollar General believed the family was struggling and tried helping by giving them clothes and hygiene items, but they reportedly never saw the items used.
“The smell will never leave my mind. It was so potent.”
Officials believe the younger Sider couple are the parents of the children.
Reports surfaced soon after the case picked up nationwide attention revealing Elizabeth delivered conjoined daughters in November 2022.
Bailey Lee and Faith Lee were born at just 24 weeks and were joined at the faces and chests.
The twins died from natural causes on the same day they were born, per documents obtained by WOWK.
