New Court Records Reveal Years of Truancy Warnings Before 16 Ohio Children Were Found Living in Neglect
New court records have revealed that concerns about the welfare of the 16 children rescued from a neglected home in Ohio were raised years before authorities launched the child endangerment investigation that led to their removal.
The latest development follows the rescue of 16 children, aged between 18 months and 18 years, from a deteriorating home in Hamden, Ohio, where investigators alleged they had been living in unsafe and unhygienic conditions.
Four adults, including Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders, have since been charged with 16 counts of child endangerment. The children are now in protective care, while investigations continue.
Court documents obtained by ABC6 Investigates show that Gallia County Local Schools filed truancy complaints against Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders in October 2021 after six of the children accumulated more than 72 hours of unexcused absences, meeting Ohio’s legal definition of habitual truancy.
The records indicate that attendance officers had previously warned the parents about the children’s repeated absences and the legal consequences of failing to ensure they attended school. Separate juvenile court filings also classified several of the children as “unruly” because they continued to miss school despite intervention efforts.
However, the cases were terminated in January 2022 after the court was unable to locate the family, and no further action was recorded.
Child protection advocates say the newly disclosed records underscore the importance of treating persistent school absence as a potential safeguarding concern rather than simply an attendance issue.
They argue that stronger collaboration between schools, child protection agencies, healthcare providers and law enforcement can help identify vulnerable children earlier and prevent prolonged neglect or abuse.
The criminal investigation into the conditions in which the children were living remains ongoing, with prosecutors expected to continue grand jury proceedings in the coming weeks.
