The family of 16 children, who were found in a horrifying condition in Ohio, had no clue about the extent of their living situation until they saw news reports. This was revealed by shocked relatives on Monday.
Gary Siders Sr., 73, and his wife Christina “Lynn” Siders, 67, along with their son Gary “Bub” Siders Jr., 36, and his wife Elizabeth Siders, 33, were taken into custody. Authorities reportedly discovered the children, aged between 1 and 18, living in a small, filthy 12-by-12 room at a home in Vinton County just last Tuesday.
Ronnie Fletcher, who is married to one of the Siders’ adult daughters, mentioned they were aware that the Siders had a large family but had assumed there were only about ten kids, not 16.
He expressed disbelief upon learning of the sheer number of children involved after the arrests made headlines. “It’s left our family scared and worried for the children,” he said.
According to officials, the children had been living in deplorable conditions, surrounded by human waste for at least the past four years. The scene was described as “horrific,” with even local livestock reported to be in better circumstances.
“It was shocking for those who had no idea this was occurring,” Fletcher commented. He insisted that if they had known, they would have stepped in to help.
However, it had been almost seven years since they last knew the Siders’ whereabouts, as the family kept a distance. Fletcher remarked, “We might have had an idea of the area, but never truly realized how bad things were,” recounting that they first learned about the house from the news.
“The last time I heard from them was almost a year ago when I gave them a car,” Fletcher shared. “Christina called later asking for money for their water bill, which raised eyebrows.”
He explained that Gary Sr. and Christina had older daughters who were significantly older than their son Gary Jr., which led to less interaction over the years.
Fletcher also pointed out the peculiar situation when Gary Jr. married Elizabeth in 2008, when she was just 15. “She wasn’t happy at home and ended up at Lynn’s place, which seemed normal back then,” he added.
Now, the eldest child, who’s 18, was born just two months after their marriage. Fletcher noted that the Siders used to have a clean, normal household where their older daughters grew into “successful members of society.”
Since the arrests, the family has faced online accusations and rumors of “generational incest.” Fletcher stated, “All this is happening within that house,” echoing comments from the Ohio Attorney General about the nature of the alleged abuses.
Even though he met a few of Gary Jr. and Elizabeth’s children years ago, he never imagined the family could be involved in such horrific circumstances. “I can’t wrap my head around it,” he noted. “We believed they were being homeschooled, even though we knew they didn’t go to school.”
Authorities say the children had never attended school and had minimal communication skills, with some unable to communicate at all. Investigators revealed that the eldest, at 18, is developmentally disabled and cannot even write his name.
After their rescue, the children were taken to various hospitals in Ohio, and some are reported to be in critical condition, with at least one needing intubation. The precise identities of all the children’s parents are still unclear.
Fletcher’s family currently cannot take custody of the kids but hopes they will know they are cared for by distant relatives. “I want them to get the help they need and hopefully become productive members of society,” he stated. “Justice has to be served.”
Last Wednesday, the four defendants pleaded not guilty to 16 charges of child endangerment, with bail set at $300,000 each.
Fletcher is expected back in court on July 14, where he fears he may have suffered a stroke. The others are scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday at 1 p.m., according to court records. If found guilty of all charges, each defendant could face up to 192 years in prison.
