Charged Man Falls Seriously Ill After 16 Children Rescued from Neglected Ohio Home
The criminal investigation into the rescue of four adults and 16 children from a severely neglected home in Ohio continues, with one of the four adults rescued being hospitalised with a serious medical condition.
Gary Siders Sr., 73, was transported to a hospital in Athens, Ohio from the Vinton County jail on Tuesday after he fell during the move. Doctors later determined he had a serious medical condition and recommended he be moved to a larger medical facility for specialised treatment, Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said.
Following the medical emergency, a court approved changing Siders Sr.’s $300,000 cash or surety bond to a recognisance bond with GPS monitoring. The choice, said Archer, will allow the county not to pay for his medical treatment while he’s out of jail.
Court documents also indicate that Siders Sr.’s attorney has sought a competency assessment, contending that his client seemed to be confused about the legal process and had a “deficiency in personal information.
Each of Siders Sr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders is charged with 16 counts of child endangerment after authorities pulled 16 children, ranging from 18 months to 18 years old, out of a crumbling dwelling in Hamden, Ohio. Seven of the kids needed to be treated in a hospital after being found living in unhygienic conditions.
All the kids are safe and cared for now, said prosecutors. Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office is leading the case with the assistance of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Highland County Prosecutor’s Office.
Meanwhile, investigators are still working the case and forging ahead with grand jury proceedings in the coming weeks.
