New charges and court filings show the Siders family was on child services’ radar years before 16 children were rescued from their Ohio home.
Gary Siders Jr, 36, and Elizabeth Siders, 34, were indicted last week on two counts of sexual battery and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in a separate investigation, according to Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer and Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson. The alleged incident took place between January and September 2022, and the minor was not one of their biological children. Two additional men, Joshua Saunders, 23, and Brandon Henderson Sr., 40, were also charged as part of the same investigation, with Saunders facing three counts of rape and Henderson facing 21 charges including multiple counts of gross sexual imposition.
Court filings obtained by 10TV reveal Gallia County Children’s Services had ordered protective supervision of the children in January 2021, though they remained in their parents’ custody. Two months later, Gary Jr and Elizabeth agreed to a court-approved case plan, and by May 2021 the court noted progress before closing the case on June 15, 2021.
A separate filing from March 2020 shows an investigation was opened after a school raised concerns about the education level of some of the children. Five children were enrolled at the time, with records indicating one only knew half of the alphabet in lowercase letters. Another child, then seven, allegedly could not speak in full sentences or initiate conversation. A nine-year-old had made no progress in 10 weeks, while an 11-year-old could not write the entire alphabet, speak letter sounds, or count past 12. A 12-year-old had a 40 percent attendance rate, and a 13-year-old had dropped out after not completing schoolwork for a month.
The school evaluation stated: “The Siders family is not an appropriate fit for their program,” It continued: “believes that a traditional brick-and-mortar school would be in the best interest of the children.” The filing noted Gary Jr and Elizabeth were not complying with requests for speech therapy, physical examinations, or medical examinations, with Christina Siders, 68, being the family member who communicated with the school.
A December 2020 report to Gallia County Children’s Services from a doctor raised concerns that children were not taken to follow-up medical appointments and had developmental delays possibly from lead poisoning. A caseworker who visited reported flies, gnats, and cockroaches in the home, and observed two children with insect bites and bruises. Caseworkers subsequently made reports about possible neglect and abuse.
Court records show Gallia County Juvenile Court filed six truancy complaints against Gary Jr and Elizabeth for failing to send their children to school, with the children allegedly absent for the entirety of the 2021-2022 academic year. The cases were closed because the family could not be located or served.
In the viral moment that sparked national outrage, police discovered 16 children in April living in what authorities described as deplorable conditions at the Siders’ Vinton County home. The children were allegedly confined to a 12-foot by 12-foot room for four years, with investigators citing a lack of proper sanitation and the presence of human waste. Neighbors told police they had no indication children were living at the address. Gary Siders Sr, 73, Christina Siders, 68, Gary Siders Jr, 36, and Elizabeth Siders, 34, were arrested and charged with 16 counts of child endangerment, second-degree felonies. All four pleaded not guilty.
Elizabeth Siders’ lawyer Thomas Stolly told WSYX ABC 6 on first meeting his client: “I met a woman who was timid and who was exhausted. It looked like she had been crying quite a bit. She looked distraught.” When asked if Elizabeth is also a victim, Stolly said: “I don’t think she would classify herself as a victim,” He added the initial coverage of conditions at the home is “not the whole story.”
Gary Sr.’s lawyer Dorian Keith Baum said his client “has denied any and all allegations against him” and has “a vested interest… To clear his name.” Baum also raised concerns about Gary Sr.’s competency to stand trial, noting the 73-year-old has “significant health issues” and “very limited mobility.” Judge Laina Fetherolf Rogers approved competency evaluations for Gary Sr., Gary Jr., and Christina, and signed a gag order prohibiting attorneys and public officials from discussing Gary Jr.’s case with the press.
Gary Jr.’s bond was increased to $550,000 after he pleaded not guilty to all charges, including the new sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct counts.