According to new reports, a number of the rescued children struggle to communicate. The eldest, an 18-year-old woman, is developmentally disabled and unable to even write her name.

“One of the investigative challenges is that [the children] are limited. They can communicate, but it’s extremely limited, and some not at all,” Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain said at a news conference last Wednesday, July 1.

Investigators allege that the children had been confined to a 12-foot by 12-foot room for years and were permitted very little contact with the outside world. Police arrested their parents, Gary Siders II, and his wife Elizabeth Siders, as well as Gary’s parents, Gary Siders Sr. and Christine Siders.

The quartet are all now facing multiple child endangerment charges and are being held on bonds to the sum of $300,000. Each suspect could face a maximum sentence of up to 192 years in prison if convicted of the crimes.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gave a written statement on the horrifying find last week, describing it as “tragic”.

“Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has kept me informed about the tragic situation in Vinton County. I have talked to Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain to offer any help that we might be able to provide,” DeWine told the official State of Ohio site.

“The Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, Kara Wente, has been working today to assist Vinton County Children’s Services, and will continue to help in the days ahead.”