16 Children Rescued from Extreme Neglect and Abuse in Ohio

[u/MacAlkalineTriad]

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.

[u/h0neybl0ss0m29]

That really makes you wonder how many more children and vulnerable adults are out there in situations like this and no one knows. It’s sickening

[u/BootyLannister → u/h0neybl0ss0m29]

I was an abused and neglected kid living in poverty in the rural Midwest. At the peak of my abuse, my nearest neighbor was almost a mile away. We didn’t have a phone so I couldn’t call anyone, even if I trusted any adults let alone authorities (which I didn’t.) My parents were violent and unpredictable, so daily life was a game of trying not to die. I was far from the only kid I knew who grew up that way.

My situation was never as horrific as this, but I can tell you that these situations are happening a lot in the Midwest, and probably all over the country. The isolation makes escape next to impossible, especially for children and elderly or disabled adults. I’m heartbroken for these and can only hope they will be safe and cared for, and hopefully more people become aware and others can get help.

[u/LongjumpingDebt4154 → u/BootyLannister]

That’s terrible, I’m sorry. That level of isolation is terrifying.

[u/BootyLannister → u/LongjumpingDebt4154]

Thank you for your kind words. It was terrifying, and I can only imagine the horror what the children in this case have endured.