Authorities said several children needed urgent medical care after a search in the Vinton County village of Hamden.
HAMDEN, OH — Four adults were arrested Tuesday after authorities found 16 children living in what officials called deplorable conditions inside a home in this southern Ohio village, with several children taken to hospitals for treatment.
The case drew a large response from local and state officials because of the number of children, the severity of their medical needs and the condition of the home. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the search was part of an ongoing investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office. Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said the adults face felony child endangerment charges tied to serious physical harm.
Authorities said investigators executed a search warrant Tuesday at 182 Ohmer St. in Hamden, a small Vinton County village southeast of Columbus. The children ranged in age from about 1 1/2 to 18, officials said. They included boys and girls. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said at a Tuesday evening news conference that the children were found in conditions “you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in.” Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain called the scene horrific and said the allegations were severe. Officials said all 16 children were removed from the home and medically evaluated. Several were in serious condition, and two were flown to level one trauma centers because of their injuries or medical condition.
The four adults arrested were identified as Gary Siders Sr., Gary Siders Jr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders. Authorities said they were taken into custody after the search. Officials did not publicly confirm the relationship between the adults and the children. They also said the case was not being treated as human trafficking, pushing back on rumors that spread after law enforcement activity drew attention in the village. Archer said the defendants were expected to face second-degree felony child endangering charges because the case involved serious physical harm. Some reports said 17 counts were initially listed, with officials saying the number was expected to be adjusted to 16 counts, one for each child. The suspects had not been arraigned as of the first official briefings.
Wilson said the adults were not from Vinton County and appeared to have been traveling. Officials did not say how long they had been at the Hamden property or how long the children had been in the home. Investigators said evidence of other possible crimes was found during the search, but they did not release details Tuesday. A second search warrant was being carried out at the property as the investigation continued. Wilson said computer forensic workers, analysts and lab personnel were expected to assist with the case. He described the scene as among the worst he had encountered in his career and said, “This is pure evil.”
Neighbors said the case shocked Hamden, where residents described the street as quiet and the village as close-knit. Daniel Harmon, who lives nearby, said the allegations were hard to process. “It’s horrific,” Harmon said. Larry Brown, another nearby resident, said he often traveled along the street and had not seen children outside the home. Brown said the discovery was especially unsettling because of the small size of the community. Other residents said they had heard reports of animals inside the house, though officials had not fully detailed the condition of the property or what else investigators found there. Authorities did not release the children’s names or specific injuries.
Gov. Mike DeWine said Wilson kept him informed about the case and that he spoke with Sheriff Ryan Cain about possible state help. DeWine said Kara Wente, director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, was working to assist Vinton County Children’s Services. The governor called the children’s conditions heartbreaking and thanked children’s services workers, law enforcement officers and medical personnel who responded. The state response underscored the size of the child welfare and criminal investigation now underway in a rural county with limited local resources.
The four defendants were scheduled for arraignment Wednesday morning in Vinton County Court of Common Pleas. Prosecutors were expected to outline formal charges as investigators continued reviewing evidence from the home. Officials said the children remained the focus of the response, with medical care and child welfare placement decisions moving alongside the criminal case.
Author note: Last updated July 1, 2026.