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Law enforcement arrested the children’s grandfather, grandmother, father and mother: Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders.
All suspects appeared via Zoom in court Wednesday, where the judge set bonds for all at $300,000 cash surety. All entered pleas of not guilty.
Vinton County prosecuting attorney William Archer said they were being charged with 17 second-degree felony child endangering counts because the situation involves “serious physical harm.”
Each faces a minimum of two to eight years and a maximum of 12 years in prison on each charge if convicted.
Additional charges are expected to be brought by the Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office as more information is uncovered.
Children kept in ‘deplorable conditions’
The children ranged from ages 1 1/2 to 18 and included both boys and girls, officials said. Several were in serious condition when found, and two had to be flown to level one trauma centers because of their injuries.
Wilson said it was the worst scene he had ever encountered in his entire career, describing what he saw as “pure evil.”
Law enforcement was also executing a secondary search warrant at the home Tuesday, and the investigation is ongoing.
After observing more evidence, Wilson called what he saw as “third world” calling it “beyond comprehension.”
“If they had waited 24 hours, there is a very high probability that we’d be dealing with a death, or multiple deaths, of these children,” Wilson said.
“Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children,” said Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain. “Just a disgusting scene.”
Cain said the 16 children appeared to have been kept in a 12-by-12-foot area for “most of the last 4 years.”
Wilson said the children were “literally about to fall through the floor.”
He said that some of the children were unable to speak, saying the 18-year-old child was unable to spell her name.
Since the discovery, Wilson said the number one concern is the physical well-being of the children. All children were examined, seven of them were taken to Columbus hospitals, and two were transported by Care Flight. One of the children was in the ICU and had to be intubated.
Children in state custody
Officials said the children are now safe and in a good situation.