Sixteen children were rescued from a rundown Ohio home, and their parents and grandparents face charges after authorities alleged they found the children living in a space littered with human waste. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the children as looking like "almost feral animals."
Deplorable conditions discovered during unrelated investigation
Authorities made the disturbing discovery while executing a search warrant in an unrelated investigation at the home in Hamden, Ohio, about 96 km southeast of Columbus. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain alleged at a news conference that the children were confined to a 12-by-12-foot room for nearly four years. "Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children," Cain said, according to NBC News.
The children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years old, were not enrolled in school, and some were unable to speak. The eldest child was described as developmentally disabled and could not write her own name.
Hospitalizations and critical condition
Seven of the children were taken to hospitals in Columbus, with two airlifted due to their injuries. One child was in critical condition. Wilson stated, "I think if they would have waited another 24 hours, that there was a very high probability that we'd be dealing with a death or multiple deaths of these children," per ABC News.
Charges and court appearance
The accused are Gary Siders Sr., 73; Christina Siders, 67; Gary Siders Jr., 36; and Elizabeth Siders, 33. They have been charged with felony child endangerment. All four appeared in court Wednesday, where a judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf and set bond at US$300,000 each.
