Ohio authorities have charged four adults after rescuing 16 children from what officials described as horrific living conditions inside a rural home in the village of Hamden.
The children, aged between 18 months and 18 years, were found on Tuesday when investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant as part of an unrelated investigation.
Instead of the evidence they were expecting, officers uncovered a scene that Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson called the worst he had witnessed in his entire career.
“Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in,” Wilson told a news conference. He later described the scene as “pure evil” and said the children appeared “almost like feral animals.”
Authorities arrested Gary Siders Jr, Gary Siders Sr, Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders. Prosecutors later confirmed that the four adults include the children’s parents and two grandparents.
The suspects appeared in court on Wednesday, where a judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf. Each was granted bail of $300,000. They have not yet been assigned lawyers.
Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said they have each been charged with second degree felony child endangering because the children suffered serious physical harm. Investigators said additional charges could follow as the investigation continues.
Officials said several of the children required urgent medical treatment. Seven were taken to hospitals in Columbus and two were airlifted to Level One trauma centres because of the severity of their injuries. At least one child was listed in critical condition after the rescue.
The children have since been placed in the temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Sheriff Ryan Cain painted a grim picture of the conditions inside the home.
“Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children,” he said. “Just a disgusting scene.”
Cain said investigators believe the children spent most of their time confined to a room measuring about 12 feet by 12 feet. Although officers did not find cages inside the property, he declined to explain exactly how the children had been restrained or confined.
Authorities said the children were not enrolled in school and it appeared that almost nobody outside the household knew they were living there.
“We did not know there were going to be 16 kids there,” Wilson said. “It is the type of thing that we are not used to seeing here in America.”
Officials stressed there is no evidence the case involves human trafficking. They said the adults were not local residents and appeared to have been travelling before settling at the property.
Hamden, a village of fewer than 1,000 residents, is located about 60 miles southeast of Columbus in one of Ohio’s poorest counties.
Investigators were continuing to search the property on Wednesday as they worked to establish exactly how long the children had been living in the conditions and whether any additional criminal offences had been committed.
Wilson vowed that those responsible would be held accountable.
“Justice will be served for these children,” he said.
