Authorities arrested four adults on felony child endangerment charges Tuesday after 16 children were found inside a rural southern Ohio home in what officials described as severe and disturbing conditions.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and local sheriff’s deputies searched the Hamden residence, where officials said they discovered children in need of medical care.
“Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in,” Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said during a news conference.
Authorities arrested Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders. The four adults have not yet been arraigned and were expected to appear in court Wednesday.
Vinton County Prosecuting Attorney William Archer said the charges are second-degree felony child endangerment allegations because the case involves claims of “serious physical harm.”
Officials said the children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years old, included both boys and girls. Several were found in serious condition, and two children were taken by helicopter to level one trauma centers for treatment.
Authorities did not confirm whether the children were related to the adults involved. They also said the case does not appear to involve human trafficking and that the adults were not local residents.
Wilson described the scene as one of the most troubling investigations he has encountered in his career.
“I’ve been doing these types of cases for a long time,” Wilson said. “I spent a big portion of my career dedicated to prosecuting these types of cases. And I can tell you this is pure evil. What we saw down here today is pure evil.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement conducting additional searches of the property.
“Justice will be served for these children,” Wilson said.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called the discovery heartbreaking and thanked the law enforcement officers, child services workers and medical personnel responding to the case.
“It is heartbreaking to learn the conditions that these children were living in and to learn of their medical conditions,” DeWine said in a statement.
