Disturbing reason police turned up to 'horror house' and uncovered 16 children living like 'feral animals'
On 30 June, four adults were arrested in Ohio on felony child endangerment charges after 16 children were found in ‘deplorable’ conditions.
In what has since been dubbed the ‘Ohio House of Horrors’, it’s believed the children, ranging from 18 months to 18 years old, were kept in a roughly 12-by-12-foot room for most of the past four years.
But when Vinton County Sheriff’s deputies visited the home at the end of June, they had not been prepared to find the kids.
The police had shown up at the address in rural Ohio for a different reason relating to Gary Siders Jr., 36.
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He is the husband of Elizabeth, 33, who married into the family when she was a teenager. His parents, Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67, were also at the property and arrested.
Authorities had executed a warrant at the property in Hamden on unrelated indecent exposure charges against Siders Jr. Court documents allegedly show the arrest warrant was issued on four counts.
It is alleged Siders Jr. exposed himself to others not in his household outside of the family’s home on separate occasions in May. He has reportedly pleaded not guilty.
During a news conference on 1 July, Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain explained the force did not know that 16 children were going to be at the property when they visited the home.
“Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children. It was just a disgusting scene,” he said.
And Attorney General Andy Wilson claimed the children were in such bad condition they looked ‘like almost feral animals’.
He added that the children were in urgent need of medical care, with seven taken to hospitals in Columbus and two flown out to Level 1 trauma centres.
“In what I’ve seen up to this point, I think if they would have waited another 24 hours, there was a very high probability that we'd be dealing with a death or multiple deaths of these children,” Wilson said.
The children have been placed in temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.
Some of the kids were reportedly unable to speak and an 18-year-old is said to be unable to even write her name.
“It's going to take a lot of work to address the emotional harm and some of the issues that are going to result from this,” Wilson added.
All four of the adults pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of child endangerment and a judge set bond at $300,000 each. On 7 July, they all waived their right to a preliminary hearing.
Elizabeth’s attorney, Thomas Stolly, told WBNS-TV that his understanding is she is the mother of all of the children.
“I have previously stated she does not characterise herself as a victim, but the investigation from the prosecutor’s office and my office is still ongoing,” he added.
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.
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.
Jess Battison