Authorities in Hamden, Ohio say 16 children—some with serious medical conditions—were removed from a home described as “deplorable.” State and local law enforcement executed a search warrant on June 30, and four adults were arrested and charged with felony chi
By the time the warrant was executed in Hamden, Ohio, the adults inside the home were already facing the worst question for families in a small village: what, exactly, had the children been living through.
State and local law enforcement carried out a search warrant on June 30 at a home in the village of Hamden in Vinton County, about 80 miles southeast of Columbus. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the conditions were beyond comprehension.
At a news conference, Wilson described what officials found as “pure evil,” saying it was “the worst scene I have seen in my career.” He added, “Conditions you cannot even imagine people living in, let alone children.”
The children removed from the home ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years, and Wilson said some had serious medical conditions. Two of the children were flown by medical helicopter to Level 1 trauma centers.
Wilson said investigators were not treating the case as human trafficking, though he declined to discuss additional details.
Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain, speaking after the search warrant was executed, called the scene and allegations “horrific,” saying “The scene is horrific, and these are horrific allegations.” He described the warrant as part of an investigation that officials said has been ongoing “for some time.”
As of July 1, authorities said the children were receiving medical care and that they were working to “get them placed.”
Four adults were arrested and charged in connection with what prosecutors characterized as child endangerment. Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said Gary L. Siders Sr., Gary L. Siders Jr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders were arrested and charged with 16 counts of felony child endangerment.
Archer said all four were slated to appear in court on July 1 for arraignment. It was not immediately known whether the people charged had obtained legal counsel.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine offered support for the children in a written statement. DeWine said he and his wife were praying for the victims and thanked child services workers, law enforcement and medical personnel assisting the children.
“It is heartbreaking to learn the conditions that these children were living in. and to learn of their medical conditions. ” DeWine wrote. He also said Wilson is an experienced prosecutor and that Wilson told him he has “never seen anything like what he saw today.” DeWine added that the Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. Kara Wente. was working to assist Vinton County Children’s Services and would continue helping in the days ahead.
The case landed close to home for residents in Hamden. Mark Ousley. 57. who lives one street up from the house where the children were rescued. said the allegations against the four suspects were “very disturbing.” He told The Columbus Dispatch he was “surprised something like that could happen right beside me. ” and he described Hamden as relatively quiet and peaceful.
Another neighbor, Petey Angels, 64, said he was also shocked by the allegations. He said, like Ousley, he never saw children anywhere near the home and “would’ve never guessed” that children were living there.
Records reviewed by The Columbus Dispatch show at least one of the Siders has lived in Hamden since June 2025, and that the Siders had previously lived in other parts of southern Ohio.
The sequence of actions and statements—an investigation extending “for some time. ” a search warrant executed on June 30. children flown to Level 1 trauma centers. and felony charges filed—has left the same central question hanging over Hamden: how long these conditions were allowed to persist before authorities arrived.
Hamden Ohio 16 children rescued Andy Wilson Ryan Cain Vinton County child endangerment felony charges Kara Wente DeWine medical helicopter
How does this even happen in Ohio…
“Deplorable” is putting it mildly. Like are they saying nobody noticed? 16 kids is insane. I can’t even wrap my head around it, and the helicopter flights??
Not sure I buy the whole “not trafficking” part. If it’s “pure evil” and 16 kids with medical stuff, what else is it then? I feel like they always say that at first so they don’t have to explain everything yet.
This makes me mad. Like how do 4 adults get away with something like that for “some time” in a small village. I keep thinking about the kids being 18 months up to 18 years like… that’s a whole range. Also “deplorable” sounds like they’re cleaning up the word choice, cuz that sounds way too mild for what they described.