Mother of 16 Children Removed From Ohio Home Asks Judge to Lower Her Bond
A month after 16 children were removed from a home in rural Ohio, the woman believed to be their mother has asked a judge to lower her bond so she can leave jail while her case moves forward.
Elizabeth Siders, 33, is one of four family members charged with 16 counts of child endangerment after authorities removed the children, ages 18 months to 18 years, from a home in Hamden, a small village in Vinton County, on June 30.
What Investigators Found
Officials say the family had lived in the home for roughly four years, and that most of the children spent that time largely confined to a single room, about 12 feet by 12 feet. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described conditions inside the home as deplorable, including a strong presence of human waste.
Several of the children could communicate only in a limited way, and some not at all, according to authorities. None were enrolled in school.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has called the evidence in the case “beyond comprehension,” and said investigators believe the children’s lives were in danger by the time they were found.
Four Family Members Charged
Gary Siders Jr., 36; Elizabeth Siders, 33; Gary Siders Sr., 73; and Christina Siders, 66, were each charged with 16 counts of second-degree felony child endangering. Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer has described the case as an “intra-family situation,” and said there is no evidence it involves human trafficking.
All four entered not guilty pleas on July 1. A judge set bond at $300,000 for each defendant. Gary Siders Sr.’s bond was later changed to a recognizance bond after he was hospitalized following a fall in custody.
Seven of the children were taken to hospitals after their removal, and two were airlifted, according to officials. The state has since approved roughly $1 million to help cover foster care and court-related costs for the children, who remain in state custody.
“Her Principal Desire Is to Reunite With Her Children”
On July 8, Elizabeth Siders’ attorney, J. Thomas Stolly, filed a motion asking the court to lower her bond. The filing argues that holding her on $300,000 amounts to unconstitutionally excessive bail, given that she has no known criminal history and comes from what the filing describes as a background of extreme poverty.
“Through conversations with Counsel, the Defendant maintains that her principal desire is to reunite with her children,” the filing states, adding that she understands reunification is impossible if she does not appear in court.
Stolly has said Siders has offered to wear a GPS monitor and provide the court with a stable address as conditions of her release. He has also pushed back on some characterizations of the case, telling reporters there is no indication the children were prevented from moving around the home or going outside.
A Case Still in Its Early Stages
A judge has not yet ruled on the bond motion. Gary Siders Sr.’s attorney has separately requested a competency evaluation for his client.
Prosecutors have said the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges are possible as more evidence is reviewed. For now, the 16 children remain in the state’s care, and the four adults charged in the case are due back in court as the process continues.
