Ohio House of Horror Timeline

Gary Siders II and Elizabeth Siders

On June 30, 2026, law enforcement officers executing a search warrant at a residence on Ohmer Street in Hamden, Ohio, discovered sixteen children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years old, living in what authorities described as deplorable and dangerous conditions. Several children required immediate emergency medical treatment, with two transported by medical helicopter to Level I trauma centers.

Gary Siders II, Elizabeth Siders, Gary Siders Sr., and Christina Siders were arrested following the search. Each was charged with seventeen counts of second-degree felony Endangering Children involving serious physical harm. Investigators continue to process evidence, review medical findings, and examine the circumstances surrounding the children as the investigation remains ongoing.

Gary Siders II and Elizabeth Siders case image

Ohio House of Horror Timeline

Vinton County Child Endangerment Case

The 16 children, ranging in age from 17 months to 18 years, were removed from the residence and placed in the temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Several remained hospitalized after authorities said they required advanced medical care. The children were discovered when investigators raided the home with a search warrant related to separate allegations involving Gary Siders Jr.

The investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors say additional evidence and additional charges could emerge in the coming weeks.

March 31, 2008

Gary Siders II and Elizabeth Siders married in Ohio. Gary was 18, and Elizabeth was 15 at the time of their marriage. Source

May 30, 2008

The oldest child identified in the criminal complaints, C.S., was born. Source
- Count One in both Gary Siders II and Elizabeth Siders’ criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, a second-degree felony, and alleges the violation resulted in serious physical harm to C.S.

August 17, 2009

Z.S. was born.
- Count Two in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

March 13, 2011

C.S. was born.
- Count Three in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

March 28, 2012

K.S. was born.
- Count Four in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

May 8, 2013

B.S. was born.
- Count Five in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

September 2, 2014

G.S. III was born.
- Count Six in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

May 25, 2016

L.S. was born.
- Count Seven in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

October 26, 2017

V.S. was born.
- Count Eight in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

October 27, 2019

J.S. was born.
- Count Nine in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

September 29, 2020

E.S. was born.
- Count Ten in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

2021

Vinton County Local Schools had no record of the family, while Gallia County Local Schools reportedly had 2021 records showing Gary Siders II and Elizabeth Siders listed as parents. Source

February 10, 2022

Twins N.S. and S.S. were born. Counts Eleven and Twelve in both criminal complaints allege Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

2022 to June 2026

Authorities later stated the family had been living in Vinton County for about four years before the search. The Ohio Attorney General also stated the family had ties to Gallia County, Jackson County, Pike County, and Wisconsin. Source

January 21, 2025

Two children identified in the complaints as John Doe (A) and John Doe (B) were born. Counts Thirteen and Fourteen allege Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source

May 23, 2026

Gary Siders II was accused in a public indecency incident tied to the Ohmer Street home. This was part of a separate case that later led investigators to the residence. Source

May 27, 2026

A second alleged public indecency incident involving Gary Siders II was listed in court records. Source

May 29, 2026

A third alleged public indecency incident involving Gary Siders II was listed in court records. Source

May 31, 2026

A fourth alleged public indecency incident involving Gary Siders II was listed in court records. Source

June 29, 2026

An arrest warrant was issued for Gary Siders II at the Ohmer Street property in the unrelated public indecency case one day before the children were found inside the residence. Source
The warrant lists four public indecency charges tied to incidents at the family’s Ohmer Street home on May 23, 2026, May 27, 2026, May 29, 2026, and May 312026. Source

June 30, 2026

10:00 a.m. Law enforcement executed court-authorized warrants at 182 Ohmer Street in Hamden in the unrelated public indecency case. Source
- Upon arrival, deputies said they found 16 children who were allegedly kept isolated in a 12-by-12 room. Seven of the children were taken to hospitals, with two being flown to trauma centers in Columbus.
- First responders prioritized emergency medical care before collecting complete names or birth dates from the children. One first responder later said he transported four children during a twenty-minute hospital trip and described them as frightened, quiet, and having blank expressions. Source
- Two children were flown by medical helicopter to Level I trauma centers. Other children were transported by ambulance to hospitals across Ohio, and several were reported in serious condition. Source
3:36 p.m. The Gary Siders II criminal complaint was filed in the Vinton County Court of Common Pleas. The complaint lists seventeen counts of Endangering Children, F2, each alleging serious physical harm. Source
3:39 p.m. A Vinton County judge signed the first warrant, and a probate judge confirmed signing the second. The Elizabeth Siders criminal complaint was file-stamped in the Vinton County Court of Common Pleas. The complaint lists seventeen counts of Endangering Children, F2, each alleging serious physical harm. Source
- Authorities arrested Gary Siders Sr., Gary Siders II, Elizabeth Siders, and Christina Siders. Officials later stated the investigation involved prolonged and extreme intrafamilial neglect and abuse, and said there was no evidence of a public threat or human trafficking. Source
- Officials described the home as severely unsafe, with human feces, high bacterial presence, structural hazards, and areas not immediately safe for investigators to access. Sheriff Ryan Cain stated that most livestock are kept in better conditions than the children. Source

July 1, 2026

10:30 a.m. Gary Siders II, Elizabeth Siders, Gary Siders Sr., and Christina Siders were arraigned in Vinton County Court of Common Pleas. The Ohio Attorney General stated each defendant remained in jail on a $300,000 bond. Source
- - The Ohio Attorney General confirmed the sixteen children had been removed from the home and placed in temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Source
  - The Ohio Attorney General’s Office stated that each defendant was charged with seventeen counts of Endangering Children. This official statement matches the court complaints and resolves the early media discrepancy that repeated sixteen counts. Source
  - Investigators stated that none of the children were enrolled in school, that the oldest child reportedly could not spell her own name, and that several children had limited or no verbal communication. Source
  - Prosecutors are reviewing whether additional charges may be filed, including whether any children were victims of sexual assault. Authorities also continued reviewing the circumstances surrounding the children’s births. Source

July 8, 2025

Earlier: Gary Siders Sr., the 73-year-old grandfather, was released from jail on July 8, 2026, and transferred to OhioHealth O’Blenness Hospital in Athens due to health concerns.
- - Gary Siders Sr. was taken to O’Blenness Hospital in Athens after Judge Laina Rogers changed his $300,000 cash bond to a $300,000 recognizance bond.
  - Rogers also recommended that Siders be taken to a larger hospital for more specialized care.
1:00 p.m. Update from Vinton County prosecutor Source
- - Gary Siders Sr. had a medical issue during transport for the preliminary hearing.
  - He was taken to O’Bleness Hospital.
  - Testing showed he has a serious medical condition requiring specialized hospital care outside the area.
  - Because he is in county custody but not convicted, Vinton County would be responsible for his medical costs.
  - The prosecutor said the medical care could potentially bankrupt the county.
  - The OR bond allows him to receive medical treatment without placing that cost on local taxpayers.
  - If released from the hospital, he will be placed on GPS monitoring.
  - The prosecutor also confirmed that Gary Siders Sr.’s defense attorney filed competency motions. He said there have appeared to be issues regarding Gary Sr.’s ability to proceed with prosecution, and the defense requested that he be assessed.
Social Media and Public Rumors: The prosecutor strongly pushed back against social media rumors, saying that some online claims were false and harmful. He said those claims were neither truthful nor accurate. He specifically referenced claims that:
- - The children were in cages.
  - The children were taped shut.
  - Their mouths were taped.
When asked whether the suspects were receiving state benefits, the prosecutor said that, to his knowledge, only the two oldest defendants, described as “grandma and grandpa,” were receiving benefits at the time of the incident.
The prosecutor said the grand jury process is secret, so he could not give exact timing. However, he said they hope to have information within the next couple of weeks.
He also explained that Vinton County does not have grand juries as frequently as larger counties like Franklin County, which is why the preliminary hearing issue came up.
When asked about the relationship between the family and the deceased property owner, the prosecutor said his understanding was that the family were tenants paying rent.
When asked whether any federal agencies were involved, the prosecutor said: “No, not to my knowledge.” He declined to answer questions about:
- - The specific medical condition or care Gary Siders Sr. needs, citing HIPAA.
  - Whether Elizabeth Siders could be considered a victim.
  - Whether other defendants have competency issues.
  - Whether Elizabeth Siders may have had more than 16 children.
  - Whether additional charges are expected.
  - Whether testing has been done involving all 16 children.
  - Whether all children had birth certificates.
  - Whether the children were registered with the state.
  - How the family made income.
  - Whether
  - Child services had conducted safety checks.
  - Whether mandatory reports were made by hospitals or medical officials.
  - Details about the indecency investigation involving Gary Siders Jr.

July 9, 2026

10:45 a.m. Hearing on the four public indecency charges that reportedly led investigators to obtain the June 30 search warrant, during the execution of which they discovered the 16 children. Source

Unverified Claims Circulating Online

Relatives and social media commentators have claimed Elizabeth Siders gave birth to twenty-one children, had her first child at age thirteen, and is the biological mother of the children removed from the Hamden home. These claims should remain separate from the confirmed timeline unless verified by official records or confirmed law enforcement statements. Source

Investigation

Key Investigation Issues

Official Charge Count Source

Official court complaints and the Ohio Attorney General’s July 1 update confirm seventeen counts of Endangering Children for each defendant.
The public discovery total remains sixteen children located at the residence.
Because official records confirm both figures, the timeline should state that 16 children were found and 17 felony counts were filed.

Scene Processing Source

Investigators continued processing the residence after the children were removed.
Authorities were reviewing medical evidence, electronic devices, witness statements, and conditions inside the home.
Additional charges were publicly described as possible as the investigation continued.

Human Trafficking Clarification Source

Authorities clarified that, despite online speculation, the case was not being investigated as human trafficking.
The Ohio Attorney General described the case as prolonged and extreme intrafamilial neglect and abuse.

Crime Scene

The images below document the conditions investigators encountered during the June 30, 2026, search of the Hamden residence. Photographs include official crime-scene images, property photographs, court exhibits, and other evidence released through law enforcement or court records. Additional images will be added as they become available.