‘Pure evil’: 16 children found in Ohio home; 4 arrested on child endangerment charges

VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) - The Vinton County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) conducted a search warrant at a Southeast Ohio home Tuesday morning.

According to the Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, the search warrant was executed at 182 Ohmer St. in Hamden, Ohio.

16 children were discovered inside the home, and the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office said that evidence of other crimes were also discovered.

Several of the children were in serious condition, and two were flown to hospitals due to how severe their condition was, Wilson said.

The ages of the children ranged between 1 1/2 to 18 years old, and all 16 of them are being evaluated medically.

Four people were taken into custody:

• Gary Siders, Jr.
• Gary Siders, Sr.
• Elizabeth Siders
• Christina Siders

All four of the individuals are being charged with 17 counts of child endangerment, one for each of the children found and one additional because it involves serious physical harm.

Wilson said the individuals are not from Vinton County.

Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said the charges will eventually be dropped to 16 counts.

“I’ve been doing these types of cases for a long time, a big portion of my career dedicated to prosecuting these types of cases,” Wilson said. “This is pure evil what we saw down here today.”

A second search warrant has been issued on the property, and Wilson said analysts are assigned and computer forensic and lab personnel will be assigned to the case.

Wilson said that these are serious crimes and allegations that will be investigated fully, and he has also been in contact with the governor’s office for support.

Governor Mike DeWine released the following statement about the situation.

“Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has kept me informed about the tragic situation in Vinton County. I have talked to Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain to offer any help that we might be able to provide. The Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, Kara Wente, has been working today to assist Vinton County Children’s Services, and will continue to help in the days ahead.

“It is heartbreaking to learn the conditions that these children were living in, and to learn of their medical conditions. Attorney General Wilson is an experienced prosecutor and he has told me he has never seen anything like what he saw today. Fran and I pray for these children, and thank the children’s services workers, law enforcement officers, and medical personnel who are helping them.”

The four individuals will be arraigned in the Vinton County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

The sheriff’s office said the scene was horrific and these are horrific allegations, but is still an ongoing investigation.

It is the sheriff’s office mission to protect the citizens and children of Vinton County, and will hold these individuals accountable to justice.

There is no ongoing threat to the community, the sheriff’s office said.

This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.