16 children discovered like ‘feral animals’ in house of horrors will receive $1 million support fund
Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Ohio officials have confirmed a positive update in the 'house of horrors' case which saw 16 children living in 'disgusting' conditions discovered recently.
There was widespread shock across the world when the children, who were aged between 18 months and 18 years, were found in late June, with officials suspecting that they had been living in the tiny faces-covered room for much of the past four years.
Many of the children were unable to speak and it seems as if none have ever attended a school, which naturally saw four people arrested and charged as officials struggled to come to terms with the living circumstances that these children have had to deal with.
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Although the children's parents and two grandparents, Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders have pled not guilty after being charged with felony child endangerment, it seems clear that the children will be given new homes no matter what occurs in the court case involving their supposed carers.
And after the news attracted widespread concern and media attention, the county's main concern is now ensuring that the children are well looked after and it seems as if it could have some significant help.
According to NBC4i, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) is now seeking $1 million in emergency funding to help support the rescued children through foster care placements and court proceedings.
This would prevent Vinton County from having to bear the costs alone, and hopefully ensure that the children can be given a new start and a genuine chance in life, with reports suggesting that the 18-year-old who was discovered couldn't even write her own name.
"We are having discussions with the DeWine administration and our legislators who represent that area regarding funding support in response to the deplorable situation in Vinton County," Ohio House Republicans spokesperson Olivia Wile said.
The emergency funding would support the children until the end of the fiscal year at least.
Meanwhile, the firefighter who was one of the first people on the scene on 30 June when the children were discovered, has revealed the thing that haunted him the most as he drove the children to hospital.
He said: “You can see the cockroaches and stuff like that, bugs in general. Bugs get on the children and scratch and bite, so their condition wasn’t the greatest. As far as the smell, it’s just a certain type of smell. It’s not very pleasant.
“Typically, I wear a mask if I endure those kind of conditions to kind of helps cover that up because it’s awful. It sticks with you. It sticks on your clothes and you can smell it for hours afterwards until you can go and change. Our livestock around here live in better conditions.
He added: “It was just quiet. That’s what it was. Blank expressions. Of course they were scared. They’ve never endured anything like that before.
"They didn’t know where they were going. They didn’t speak to me. I tried to have limited contact unless I was asked to help with the children.”
A timeline of the allegations against the Siders family
31 March 2008
Gary Siders Jr, 18, and Elizabeth Siders, 15, are married in Mason County, West Virginia with the consent of Elizabeth’s parents
30 May 2008
The couple’s eldest child is born. More children are born in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022 (twins), 2024 (twins), and 2025.
2021
The superintendent of the Gallia County Local Schools in southeast Ohio told WSAZ3 there are records from this year showing Gary Jr. and Elizabeth were parents with a local school at the time.
10 November 2022
Elizabeth Siders prematurely delivers conjoined twins, who die an hour after they are born. Named Faith Lee and Bailey Lee Siders, they were joined at the chest, face-to-face, according to birth certificates obtained by WCMH.
2022
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the Siders family moved to Vinton County, again in southeast Ohio, around this time.
23 and 27 May 2026
A criminal complaint against Gary Siders Jr accused him of ‘recklessly exposing his private parts’ on two occasions on these dates.
30 June 2026
An arrest warrant is issued for Gary Siders Jr related to four alleged counts of public indecency.
Police attend the Siders’ home in relation to this investigation and find 16 children living in what police describe as deplorable conditions.
Authorities claim the children were confined to a 12-foot by 12-foot space for four years.
Gary Siders Sr, 73, Christina Siders, 67, Gary Siders Jr, 36, and Elizabeth Siders, 33, are arrested and charged with 16 counts of endangering children, second degree felonies. All have since entered not guilty pleas.
3 July 2026
In an interview with WSYX ABC 6, Elizabeth Siders’ lawyer Thomas Stolly said on meeting his client for the first time: “I met a woman who was timid and who was exhausted. It looked like she had been crying quite a bit. She looked distraught.”
When asked if Elizabeth is also a victim in the case, he says: “I don’t think she would classify herself as a victim.”
He says the initial coverage of conditions at the Siders’ home is ‘not the whole story’.
7 July 2026
All four of the defendants waive their right to a preliminary hearing, meaning the case will now go before a grand jury.
They will decide whether to indict the four accused family members.
On the same day, Gary Sr.’s legal team ask for his $300,000 bail to be waived. They argue it is excessive, saying the 73-year-old has ‘significant health issues’ and ‘very limited mobility’, and doesn’t have the capacity to post any bail money.
His lawyer, Dorian Keith Baum, says Gary Sr. ‘has denied any and all allegations against him’ and has ‘a vested interest… to clear his name’.
Baum also says he has concerns about Gary Sr’s competency to stand trial.
That day, Gary Sr. is transported to OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital in Athens. If released from hospital, he will be required to wear a GPS monitor. His bond is changed to a recognizance bond, which means he doesn’t have to pay the money upfront.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
Topics: US News
James Moorhouse