A man with 16 grandchildren, who were discovered living in poor conditions in a rural southern Ohio home, has been deemed mentally incapable of standing trial. This decision came after a judge in Vinton County accepted an evaluation report’s findings for Gary Siders Sr. The county prosecutor did not challenge the determination.
Gary Siders Sr., aged 73, attended court proceedings in a wheelchair. His lawyer, Dorian Baum, noted that Siders’ mental health had been deteriorating over several years and could not be improved. Baum stated, “It’s expected that he’s been found incompetent now,” highlighting Siders’ inability to comprehend the situation fully.
Siders faced charges of 16 counts of child endangerment. The charges relate to the children rescued on June 30 from a residence in Hamden. Hamden is located approximately 80 miles south of Columbus.
Others charged include Siders’ wife, Christina Siders, his son, Gary Siders Jr., and his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Siders. The children’s mother, they have all entered not guilty pleas.
The children were discovered during an unrelated investigation when authorities executed a search warrant on June 30. Investigators found the children confined mostly to a single room in distressing conditions. They were not enrolled in school, and the family had relocated frequently over the past 20 years. Neighbors reported never seeing the children.
At the time of their discovery, the children’s ages ranged from 18 months to 18 years. Some were described as “feral” and unable to communicate verbally. Their medical conditions varied, with Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain stating that the state of the house rivaled that of animal enclosures in terms of cleanliness.
“Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children,” Sheriff Ryan Cain remarked during a July 2 press briefing.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson echoed these sentiments, recounting the poor living conditions and the lack of basic skills in some of the children, such as the inability of the 18-year-old to spell her name.
Wilson emphasized the need to ensure the children’s safety, find suitable therapeutic environments for them, and hold those responsible for their suffering accountable.
Wilson further noted the suspects’ success in keeping the children hidden from local authorities. The eldest child was born in May 2008, following Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth’s marriage when they were teenagers. Court records reveal that since their marriage, Elizabeth has been pregnant nearly every year.
The discovery has raised serious concerns around child safety and the living conditions in rural areas, prompting efforts to raise awareness and strengthen protective measures.
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