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

Authorities removed the 16 children, ranging in age from 17 months to 18 years, from the residence and placed them 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.

Timeline and Siders Family History:

1975

Christina Siders, then Christina White, transferred from Point Pleasant Junior High School in West Virginia to Hannan Trace High School in Gallia County, Ohio. School records show she attended Hannan Trace for only the first semester of that school year.

July 23, 1978

Gary Siders Sr. 25, and Christina White 19, married.

December 2, 2002

Fourteen-year-old Tessi Wright, who was pregnant at the time, married 48-year-old Richard E. Siders (cousin of Gary Siders Sr.) in Gallia County, Ohio.
Tessi’s parents, Donald and Brenda Wright, and Gallia County Judge William S. Medley approved the marriage.
Tessi later identified Richard E. Siders as a cousin of Gary Siders Sr., connecting the marriage to the extended Siders family.
The Gallia County marriage records are identified as R000298351 and R000298352.

April 17, 2003

Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders’ daughter Virginia was 15 years old when she applied to marry a 19-year-old Joshua D. Sanders. Gary Sr. and Christina signed the application to provide parental consent. Marriage license application, R000299131

June 3, 2003

Virginia Siders and Joshua D. Saunders had a son, Josh Saunders.
- At the time, Ohio law generally established a minimum marriage age of 16 for girls and 18 for boys, with parental or guardian consent required when a person was a minor.
- Ohio law also permitted a juvenile court to authorize a marriage involving someone younger than the statutory minimum if a child had already been born or if the court found beyond doubt that the minor girl was pregnant and intended to have the child.

March 31, 2008

Elizabeth Russell, 15, and Gary Siders II, 18, married at a courthouse in West Virginia. Elizabeth was in her freshman year of high school. Court records state Elizabeth had completed the eighth grade and Gary had completed the ninth grade by the time they married. Source

April 29, 2008

School records show Elizabeth Russell, later known as Elizabeth Siders, withdrew from River Valley High School for home instruction. Educational records indicate she attended Addaville Elementary School, Kyger Creek Middle School, and River Valley High School before leaving the public school system.

May 30, 2008

One month after withdrawing from school, Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter. 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.

October 2008

Gallia County school records show Elizabeth Siders re-enrolled at River Valley High School during her sophomore year after the birth of her first child.

August 17, 2009

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

August 26, 2009

Elizabeth Siders completed her sophomore year before withdrawing from River Valley High School at the beginning of her junior year. School records list her educational status as home instruction, ending her enrollment in Gallia County Schools.

September 1, 2009

Joshua D. Saunders Jr. entered the Ohio prison system to begin serving his murder sentence of 15 years to life.
He is currently incarcerated at Chillicothe Correctional Institution. State prison records confirm the murder sentence, and current reporting identifies him as Virginia Siders Saunders’ still-legal husband.

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

January 2017

Gary Siders II was cited in Gallipolis Municipal Court for failing to properly secure a child in a required booster seat. Court records show he was assessed a fine, which was later suspended.

October 26, 2017

V.S. was born.
- Count Eight in both criminal complaints alleges Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm. Source
- Birth records indicate the Siders family had moved to a new residence in Bidwell, Ohio, with the updated address appearing on the birth record.

October 27, 2019

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

August 26, 2020

School records show the six oldest Siders children enrolled in the Gallia County Local School District. The enrollment records show the children attended public school while the family lived in Gallia County, Ohio.

September 29, 2020

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

December 7, 2020

Gallia County Children Services opened an investigation after receiving information that four children in the care of Gary Siders II and Elizabeth Siders had high levels of lead in their systems. Source
The agency raised concerns that Gary and Elizabeth were not completing required medical follow-up appointments, despite medical staff warning that elevated lead levels could cause developmental delays.

December 8, 2020

Caseworker Erin R. Canter attempted to access the Siders’ home but was denied entry and told to return because the children were sleeping. Source

December 9, 2020

Canter was allowed inside the home. The affidavit states that concerns were raised about a high population of roaches, flies, and gnats. Source
The affidavit states that the family later became compliant with medical appointments, but medical providers were concerned that the family would stop attending appointments once the Children Services case closed because this had allegedly happened after a previous case.
A physician raised concerns about one child’s teeth, which were described as being in poor condition.
The affidavit also raised concerns about another child’s speech because the child was nearly five years old and did not speak clearly. Children Services sought a speech evaluation.

January 21, 2021

Erin R. Canter, a caseworker with the Gallia County Department of Jobs and Family Services, signed an affidavit concerning nine children in the custody of Gary Siders II and Elizabeth Siders.
The affidavit stated that Children Services remained concerned about the family’s refusal to allow access to the upstairs portion of the home. Source
Canter documented bruising or marks on one child’s arms and scratches on another child.
The affidavit also raised hygiene concerns and stated that the parents and children frequently wore the same clothing.
Children Services concluded that the children were at risk of harm and dependency and requested court-ordered protective supervision of all nine children until their safety and well-being could be assured.

January 22, 2021

The affidavit was filed in the Gallia County Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile Division, before Judge Thomas S. Moulton Jr. Source

2022

The Siders family relocated from Gallia County to Vinton County, Ohio. Truancy proceedings initiated in Gallia County were later terminated after authorities reported they could not locate Elizabeth Siders.

February 10, 2022

Premature conjoined twin girls N.S. and S.S. were born. Source
- Counts Eleven and Twelve in both criminal complaints allege Endangering Children, F2, resulting in serious physical harm.
- Listed a Wisconsin home address on birth record

April 12, 2022

Gallia County Local School District records show the six oldest Siders children were officially withdrawn (unenrolled) after attending no school days during the 2021–2022 academic year. The family moved from Gallia County to Vinton County around this time, and truancy proceedings were later terminated after authorities reported they could not locate Elizabeth Siders.

January 2024

Elizabeth gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, in an Athens County hospital. Records list the same Cheshire, Ohio, address on their birth records. The home is also in the Gallia County school district.

January 21, 2025

Twin children, identified in the criminal complaints as John Doe (A) and John Doe (B), were born. Counts Thirteen and Fourteen in the criminal complaints allege second-degree felony Endangering Children resulting in serious physical harm. Birth records list a Hamden, Ohio, address for the family.

2022 to June 2025

Authorities later said the family had lived 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

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

December 2025

Dollar General employees contacted authorities with concerns about children they had observed.
At the request of the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Special Victims Unit opened an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving two children.
Authorities later stated that the child sexual abuse cases involved intra-family relationships, did not pose a risk to the general public, and did not involve human trafficking.

March 2026

Information obtained during the December 2025 child sexual abuse investigation prompted BCI to open a second investigation involving allegations of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
As part of the child sexual abuse investigation, law enforcement sought a DNA sample from Gary Siders Jr. for genetic testing.
After investigators located Gary Siders Jr., they executed search warrants to obtain his DNA in connection with the investigation.

May 23, 2026

Gary Siders II Jr. 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 Jr. 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 11, 2026

Two criminal complaints were filed in the Municipal Court of Gallipolis, Ohio, before Judge Eric R. Mulford.
State of Ohio v. Angel N. Doss, Case No. 26 CRA 204 Source
- Angel N. Doss, born May 29, 1989, was charged with Endangering Children, a third-degree felony under Ohio Revised Code § 2919.22(A) and § 2919.22(E)(2)(c).
- The alleged offense period was March 12 through April 3, 2026.
- The complaint alleges that Doss knew the child had disclosed sexual abuse involving James Cremeans but failed to take adequate steps to protect the child.
State of Ohio v. James L. Cremeans, Case No. 26 CRA 203 Source
- James L. Cremeans, born June 3, 1985, was charged with an offense involving sexual conduct with a child younger than 13, alleged as a first-degree felony under Ohio Revised Code § 2907.02(A)(1)(b).
- The alleged offense period was March 11, 2023 through June 9, 2026.
- The complaint states that Cremeans admitted during an interview with Gallia County Sheriff’s Office detectives to repeatedly engaging in sexual conduct with the child over approximately three years.
Note: Angel N. Doss is a cousin of Gary Siders Sr., connecting the Doss/Cremeans case to the extended Siders family.

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 the children’s full names or birth dates. 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 said each defendant was charged with 17 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 been issues with 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 he understood 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

August 21, 2026

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson announced that Gary Siders Jr., 36, and Elizabeth Siders, 33, had been indicted in a separate child sexual abuse investigation. Source
A Vinton County grand jury returned indictments in three criminal cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and child endangerment.
- The cases developed from three related investigations, beginning with the December 2025 child sexual abuse investigation and expanding as investigators obtained additional information.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the alleged victim is not a member of Gary Jr. and Elizabeth Siders’ immediate family.
The indictments allege that Gary Jr. and Elizabeth engaged in sexual conduct with a minor who was more than 10 years younger than each of them between January 2022 and September 2022.
Gary Siders Jr. was indicted on four charges:
- Two counts of sexual battery, third-degree felonies.
- Two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, third-degree felonies.
Elizabeth Siders was also indicted on four charges:
- Two counts of sexual battery, third-degree felonies.
- Two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, third-degree felonies.
These charges are separate from the Vinton County case in which Gary Jr., Elizabeth, Gary Siders Sr., and Christina Siders were charged after 16 children were removed from the family’s Hamden, Ohio residence on June 30, 2026
Statements:
- Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer: Click for video statement
- Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain: Click for video statement
Gary Jr.‘s indictment identifies him as the minor’s uncle and alleges that he was acting in loco parentis, meaning he was acting in the place of a parent. Later reporting provided additional context that the minor had been taken into Gary and Elizabeth Siders’ household in 2022. Gary Jr. pleaded not guilty to the four charges. Source

August 24, 2026

Josh Saunders (grandson of Christina and Gary Sr Siders) and Henderson were arraigned in Vinton County following the August 21 grand jury indictments. Source
The court set bond at $250,000 for each defendant and ordered both men to have no contact with each other or with the alleged victims.

September 4, 2026

Josh Saunders’ attorney filed a motion asking the Vinton County Common Pleas Court to order a competency examination.
The defense is asking for evaluations addressing both whether Saunders is currently competent to stand trial and whether he understood the wrongfulness of his alleged conduct at the time of the offenses.
Saunders is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

September 9, 2026

A competency hearing was held for Gary Siders Sr. in Vinton County Common Pleas Court. A court-ordered evaluation found Siders not competent to stand trial at this time, meaning he presently lacks the ability to adequately understand the proceedings or assist in his defense. Reporting from the hearing also indicated the evaluator considered him not restorable to competency, potentially affecting whether the criminal prosecution can proceed. Source⁠

September 14, 2026

Elizabeth Siders is undergoing a competency evaluation. Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Siders and Christina Siders remain defendants in the criminal proceedings, while Gary Sr.’s prosecution is now affected by the finding that he is incompetent and cannot be restored to competency.

September 16, 2026

Elizabeth Siders was arraigned on charges in both the sexual-abuse case and child-endangerment case and pleaded not guilty. She already had a $300,000 bond in the child-endangerment case. The judge kept an additional $250,000 cash bond in place in the sexual-abuse case, bringing her combined bonds to $550,000. Source
Defense attorney Thomas “Tommy” Stolly argued that the existing $300,000 bond should cover both cases, stating that Elizabeth was unlikely to be able to post the additional $250,000 and arguing that she was not a flight risk. Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer opposed reducing the bond, citing the seriousness of the sexual-abuse allegations. The judge kept the additional $250,000 cash bond in place. Source
The judge ordered Elizabeth to have no contact with the alleged victims or her husband, Gary Siders Jr. Stolly said Elizabeth continues to ask about her children by name, has specific concerns about them and wants to send messages to children with upcoming birthdays. The state maintained that having no contact with Elizabeth is currently in the children’s best interests.
Following the hearing, Stolly reiterated concerns about Elizabeth’s competency, saying a decision had not yet been received. He also said he is continuing to explore whether Elizabeth herself may have been a victim, while acknowledging that Elizabeth does not view herself that way. Stolly pointed to her marriage at age 15, years of pregnancies, limited medical care and the length of time she had lived within the Siders household as issues he believes warrant further examination. Source⁠

September 18, 2026

Assistant Ohio Public Defender Kandra Roberts filed a memorandum supporting Christina Siders’ request to reduce her $300,000 bond or release her on a recognizance bond. The defense argued that Christina has no criminal history, is not a flight risk, poses no threat to the public, and would not return to the Ohmer Street residence if released. Source⁠
Prosecutors opposed the requested bond reduction, citing Christina’s pending competency evaluation, the seriousness of the charges, flight risk, and potential risk to the alleged victims. Source⁠

September 21, 2026

Christina Siders was scheduled to appear in Vinton County Common Pleas Court at 1:30 p.m. for a hearing on her request to reduce her $300,000 bond. The hearing was canceled after heavy overnight rainfall flooded the Vinton County Courthouse and prompted a Level 3 emergency declaration. The court said it would reschedule the hearing. Source⁠
Brandon Henderson Sr. was also scheduled for a pretrial hearing in Vinton County Common Pleas Court. His hearing was canceled because of the courthouse flooding and was continued to a later date. Henderson faces 21 charges arising from the related child sexual-abuse investigation, including endangering children, gross sexual imposition, and sexual battery. Source⁠

October 6, 2026

Judge Laina Fetherolf Rogers filed an entry formally dismissing the criminal case against Gary Siders Sr. without prejudice after finding him incompetent to stand trial and not restorable to competency within the statutory timelines. The order follows the September 9, 2026 competency hearing and relies on Dr. Daniel D. Hrinko’s July 29, 2026 forensic evaluation. Although Dr. Hrinko did not expressly conclude that Siders was unrestorable, he stated that the nature of Siders’ condition could support such a finding. The parties stipulated to the competency findings, and the court determined Siders was not restorable within the statutory period.
The court will retain jurisdiction over Gary Siders Sr. under Ohio Revised Code § 2945.38(H) until a civil-commitment action can be commenced in the Probate Division of the Vinton County Court of Common Pleas. Once that action begins, the Clerk of Courts must transmit all written reports concerning Siders’ mental condition to the Probate Court. The dismissal is without prejudice, meaning the charges were not dismissed on their merits. 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 official records or confirmed law enforcement statements verify them. Source

Investigation

Official Charge Count Source

July 1, 2026, Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Siders, Gary Siders Sr., and Christina Siders were each charged by complaint with 16 counts of Endangering Children, second-degree felonies, after authorities located 16 children inside the Ohmer Street residence. (Ohio Attorney General)
August 21, 2026, a Vinton County grand jury returned new indictments that replaced the original charging breakdown. (Ohio Attorney General)
- Gary Siders Jr. was indicted on 19 child-endangerment charges:
  - Two counts of Endangering Children, second-degree felonies.
  - Ten counts of Endangering Children, third-degree felonies.
  - Seven counts of Endangering Children, first-degree misdemeanors.
- Elizabeth Siders was indicted on the same 19 child-endangerment charges:
  - Two counts of Endangering Children, second-degree felonies.
  - Ten counts of Endangering Children, third-degree felonies.
  - Seven counts of Endangering Children, first-degree misdemeanors.
- Christina Siders was also indicted on 19 child-endangerment charges:
  - Two counts of Endangering Children, second-degree felonies.
  - Ten counts of Endangering Children, third-degree felonies.
  - Seven counts of Endangering Children, first-degree misdemeanors.
- Gary Siders Sr. was indicted on 16 child-endangerment charges:
  - Ten counts of Endangering Children, third-degree felonies.
  - Six counts of Endangering Children, first-degree misdemeanors.
The Attorney General’s Office explained that some charges were pleaded in the alternative, meaning multiple counts or different legal theories may relate to the same alleged acts.
The number of children discovered at the residence remains 16. The differing charge totals reflect the grand jury’s charging decisions and should not be interpreted as the number of children involved. (Ohio Attorney General)

Related Sexual-Abuse Indictments Source

The August 21 grand-jury announcement confirmed that the child-endangerment case was one of three related criminal investigations. (Ohio Attorney General)
The first investigation began in December 2025 after BCI’s Special Victims Unit opened an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving two children.
Josh Saunders, 23, was indicted on four charges:
- Three counts of rape, first-degree felonies.
- One count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony.
Brandon Henderson Sr., 40, was indicted on 21 charges:
- One count of Endangering Children, a second-degree felony.
- Two counts of Endangering Children, third-degree felonies.
- Four counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies.
- Four counts of gross sexual imposition, fourth-degree felonies.
- Eight counts of sexual battery, fourth-degree felonies.
- Two counts of Endangering Children, first-degree misdemeanors.
Information developed during that investigation prompted BCI to open a second investigation in March 2026 involving allegations of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders were each indicted on two counts of sexual battery and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all third-degree felonies.
Those indictments allege sexual conduct with a minor more than 10 years younger than the defendants between January and September 2022. The Attorney General’s Office stated that the alleged victim was not a member of their immediate family. (Ohio Attorney General)

Scene Processing and Continuing Investigation Source

The June 30 search of the Ohmer Street residence was connected to the sexual-abuse investigation that predated the child-endangerment case.
During execution of the search warrant, investigators discovered 16 children living inside the residence in unsafe conditions.
The grand-jury indictments allege that the children suffered serious physical harm.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Vinton County Sheriff’s Office continued investigating the related cases after the August 21 indictments.
Attorney General Andy Wilson said the indictments were the latest development in the investigations, but investigative work remained ongoing. (Ohio Attorney General)

Human Trafficking Clarification

Authorities specifically stated that the Siders investigation did not involve human trafficking.
Prosecutors described the sexual-abuse allegations as involving family or intra-family relationships and stated that the circumstances did not present a risk to the general public.
The June 30 discovery of the 16 children resulted from search warrants connected to the preexisting child-sex-abuse investigation, rather than from a human-trafficking investigation.

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.