Man charged after 16 children found living like 'feral animals' released on bond and is in hospital following medical emergency
One of the suspects charged with child endangerment after 16 children were found in a home in Ohio living like ‘feral animals’ has been released from prison on recognizance bond and taken to hospital following a ‘medical issue’.
Elizabeth Siders, 33, her husband Gary Siders Jr., 38, and his parents Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christine Siders, 67, were taken into custody on 30 June.
The four adults were charged felony child endangerment after police discovered 16 living in truly disgraceful conditions at a property in Vinton County.
The family were each held on $300,000 (£224,482) cash bonds.
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However, Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer announced at a press conference on Wednesday (8 July) that Gary Siders Sr. had now been released on a recognizance bond following a medical emergency which landed him in a hospital.
A recognizance bond or Personal Recognizance/PR bond allows an arrested person to leave jail without paying money.
Archer explained: “First let me explain that the community is not at risk because of this bond,”
He then went on to say that on the way to a preliminary hearing Siders had ‘fell and had a medical issue that required treatment and assessment’.
Siders was taken to a local hospital where medics ran tests and found that he had a ‘serious medical condition’ that requires specialist care in a hospital outside of the area.
Archer then explained that because Siders Sr was housed at a Vinton County jail, the county was responsible for paying for his care and claimed that based on information he had been given it could potentially ‘bankrupt Vinton County’.
“We were not going to put that burden on our taxpayers and so it was agreed that we would do a recognizance bond so he could get the medical treatment that the doctors say he needs and won’t cost the county that money,” Archer said.
“If he's released from then he will then be equipped with a GPS monitor."
The news comes after an attorney for Gary Siders Sr. issued a statement on his clients ‘competence’ and mental health.
Dorian Baum will represent Siders and said he has concerns about client acted during the arraignment.
“Just by looking at him, my first impression is I have concerns about his competence. I have concerns about his mental health. I have concerns about his ability to assist in his own defense. These are all things that are bedrock, bedrock conditions you need to move forward in any case," Baum said.
"So my first initial talking with him essentially is going to be, you know, is this a person who we need to evaluate for whether or not he's competent to stand trial? Is this a person who is potentially not guilty by reason of insanity or any of the other possible defenses?"
Baum also warned that the widespread media attention could complicate the case, emphasising that the Siders are innocent until proven guilty.
"With this media attention, especially in a very small county like Vinton County, it always raises the concern, are you going to be able to find a fair and impartial jury?
“Not only that, you have sort of the state apparatus attempting to, in some ways, try this case in the court of public opinion, using hyperbolic and extreme language to describe this without again, allowing us to even have an opportunity to view any of the evidence ahead of time."
Claire Reid