A group of 16 children, described as “nearly feral,” were rescued from a disturbing situation in Ohio, where they were found in another dreadful setting, covered in urine and feces.
Records indicate that the Siders family had resided in nearby Gallia County between 2020 and 2024.
“I had no idea they had been living apart for so long,” remarked neighbor Melissa Edmonds, who lived near the Siders.
After a judge ruled on the property, a new owner took possession of the two-story home in May.
Bruce Garrick, who was working on renovations at the former Sider residence, noted there were children’s clothes scattered in the attic, suggesting someone had been living there recently. “It was pretty tough because the whole house was just urine and human and pet feces,” he recalled.
Authorities mentioned that the Siders had moved around before ultimately settling in their now well-known home in Hampden. However, court documents reference an address in Cheshire, Ohio, also located in Gallia County.
The mother of the rescued children, Elizabeth Siders, 33, provided a Wisconsin address during her pregnancy at a local hospital.
On June 30, Elizabeth and her husband Gary Siders Jr., 36, along with the children’s grandparents, were arrested after police executed a child truancy warrant. All 16 children were found mostly confined to a small 12-by-12 room, littered with waste.
The age range of the children spans from 18 months to 18 years. Following their rescue, they were taken to various hospitals across Ohio, some in critical condition.
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain remarked, “The livestock was kept in better conditions.” Ohio Attorney General Andree Wilson had previously expressed disbelief that a home could be in such unacceptable conditions, especially for children. “They almost looked like wild animals. It was horrible,” he added.
Reportedly, the Siders have been under authorities’ scrutiny for a minimum of five years. Each member of the family faces 16 counts of child endangerment.
