Authorities in Ohio have rescued 16 children from a rundown home, where they were found living in squalid conditions. The children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years old, were discovered in a 12-by-12-foot room that was littered with human waste. The conditions were so severe that the local sheriff described them as "disgusting" and likened them to those found in a livestock enclosure, but worse.
The children had been confined to the room for nearly four years, and none of them were enrolled in school. Some of the children were unable to speak, and the eldest child, who is developmentally disabled, was unable to write her own name. The discovery was made by investigators who were carrying out a search warrant at the home, which is located in the town of Hamden, about 96 km southeast of Columbus.
The children were found to be in a shocking state, with one official describing them as looking like "feral animals." Seven of the children were taken to hospitals in Columbus, while two were airlifted due to the severity of their injuries. One of the children was in critical condition, and officials believe that if they had not intervened, there was a high probability that one or more of the children would have died.
The parents and grandparents of the children, identified as Gary Siders Sr, Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr., and Elizabeth Siders, have been charged with felony child endangerment. They appeared in court, where a judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf and set bond at $300,000 for each. The case has shocked the community and raised concerns about the welfare of the children and the circumstances that led to their neglect.
