Ohio Grandfather of 16 Children Found Incompetent to Stand Trial After Children Found Living in Squalor
A 73-year-old Ohio grandfather whose 16 grandchildren were discovered living in severe neglect has been deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial, months after the children were taken from a rural home.
A Vinton County judge has agreed to an evaluation report on Gary Siders Sr., who is charged with 16 felony counts of child endangerment. Siders’ mental health had worsened over the past few years and was not thought to be restorable, his attorney said.
Authorities found the 16 children, ages 18 months to 18 years, living in very poor conditions in the family home in Hamden and removed them on June 30.
The investigators said the kids had been mostly in a small room of the house for the previous four years. The authorities also discovered that the children were not in school and had been largely out of public sight.
The case has sparked serious concerns regarding the children’s access to education, health care, social interaction and basic living conditions.
Elizabeth and Gary Siders Jr., the children’s parents, and their grandmother, Christina Siders, also are facing 16 counts of felony child endangerment. They have pleaded not guilty.
After their removal, the children were temporarily placed in state care while authorities sought to meet their immediate needs and ensure their wellbeing.
The case has also come as a surprise to residents of the small Ohio community, who say they didn’t know so many kids were residing at the house.
Police are still trying to find out how the children were raised and what went wrong for years that allowed their situation to be kept secret.
