Ohio grandparents and adult children charged in case involving 16 children found in cramped home

Grandparents Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina “Lynn” Siders, 67, were arrested along with their son Gary “Bub” Siders Jr., 36, and his wife Elizabeth Siders, 33, after police discovered 16 children, ages 1 to 18, confined to a 12-by-12-foot room in the family’s Vinton County home. The children had been living in unsanitary conditions for at least four years, according to investigators, and were taken to hospitals for treatment, with several requiring intensive care.

A relative, Ronnie Fletcher, said his family was unaware of the full extent of the situation until the arrests were reported in the media. He told local station WOWK 13 that he had believed the Siders family had about ten children and expressed shock at learning that 16 were being cared for in the home.

"If we would have known that it was like that in that home, we would have done something about it – even if it was just to go there and take the kids ourselves or give them money," Fletcher said.

Authorities have described the living conditions as extremely poor and noted that the children had not attended school, with some unable to speak or write. The oldest child, 18, is reported to have developmental disabilities.

All four defendants entered not-guilty pleas to 16 counts of child endangerment. A judge set bail at $300,000 for each defendant. If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of 192 years in prison. Further court dates are scheduled for July.