New details emerge about oldest child in Ohio home where 16 children were left to rot like ‘feral animals…See more

The discovery and subsequent removal of the children has left the small town of Hamden, Ohio (population 717) reeling in disbelief. Investigators say the family had moved around a lot over the past two decades, while the children were not enrolled in school and were mostly confined to a small room in the house.

Authorities only discovered the children after attending the property, located in Vinton County, to serve an unrelated warrant for indecent exposure to Gary Siders II. At the home they found 16 children ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years old.

The property itself is alleged to have been in derelict condition, filled with dirt and feces. Attorney General Wilson noted that the house was in such a state of neglect that the children were “literally about to fall through the floor”, while they had suffered such “serious physical harm” that two had to be flown to specialist trauma centres. A further seven were taken to Columbus Hospitals, with one admitted to the ICU and intubated.