Ohio 'House of Horrors' case: 16 children rescued from filthy Hamden home

On July 1, 2026, law‑enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Ohmer Street in Hamden, Vinton County, Ohio. Inside, they discovered 16 children between 18 months and 18 years old living in extreme neglect. The home was described as filthy, with garbage, human waste, no working sanitation, and padlocked doors that confined the children in a 12‑by‑12‑foot room. Several children showed severe developmental and health issues; seven were taken to hospitals in Columbus and two were airlifted for emergency care.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain and local prosecutors charged the children’s parents – Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Siders and their parents Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders – with multiple counts of child endangerment. Investigators noted the family’s purchase of large bottles of oil, allegedly to provide extra calories, and that none of the children were enrolled in school. The case has prompted state‑wide scrutiny of the family’s alleged years of avoidance of oversight.