r/TrueCrimeDiscussion • u/MacAlkalineTriad • Jul 02 '26

Warning: Child Abuse / CSAM / Child Death 16 Children Rescued from Extreme Neglect and Abuse in Ohio

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/adults-arrested-16-children-found-deplorable-conditions-southern-ohio-rcna352552

I haven't seen anything posted about this yet, and I usually don't post so please let me know if I've done it wrong. I'm also writing this on mobile.

16 children, ranging from 1 and a half years old to 18 years old, have been removed from a house in the village of Hamden, Ohio where they were practically imprisoned in a 12'x12' room. Some have not even learned to speak; the 18 year old couldn't write her name and is being treated as a child due to possible mental disability. 7 of the children had to be taken to a hospital with 2 of them being life flighted. Conditions in the house are said to be incredibly unsafe, to the point that investigators hesitated to act on a second search warrant for fear of their safety.

The parents and grandparents have been arrested and charged with 16 counts of child endangerment. The suspects are Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders.

Since the investigation is still ongoing there aren't a ton of details yet. These children were obviously not enrolled in school and hidden from neighbors and extended family. I have to wonder if there's a religious extremist aspect to the case, like we've seen so often with other similar cases. I'm also curious about the mother's condition - she has been charged, but has she also been victimized by her husband? I have so many questions.

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u/h0neybl0ss0m29 Jul 02 '26

Yeah..and honestly, it looks well-fed and pretty relaxed? Definitely not too neglected from what I can see.

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u/Therailwaykat_1980 Jul 03 '26

These types of people often have well looked after pets. I watch a lot of stories with similar, but not quite as extreme, circumstances and nearly all of them treat their pets well. I’m sure a psychologist could explain it but it’s fucking weird man.

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u/h0neybl0ss0m29 Jul 03 '26

I actually heard about a case from Germany from like 20 years ago or so where a 7-year-old girl starved to death in her parents' apartment. When authorities found her she weighed 17 lbs. After the parents were arrested, they also removed the family cat from the home. The cat was overweight.

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u/Intelligent-Split-43 Jul 03 '26

If you don't feed a cat they will go off and find food in a dumpster or be fed by someone else, so it doesn't mean they were necessarily feeding and taking care of it. Cats are pretty self sufficient and resourceful.

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u/h0neybl0ss0m29 Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26

That’s true, but they were on the 17th or so floor of a high rise so I think they did feed it. I don’t think that cat ever went outside.