In the latest update since 16 children were discovered and rescued after spending at least four years “kept in worse conditions than livestock”, and their responsible adults were arrested, the children’s father, Gary Siders, has asked a court to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.
The children, aged between one-and-a-half and 18, were discovered inside a crumbling house, locked in a room of just 12 by 12 feet by the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio on Tuesday, June 30.
Heartbreakingly, the children had suffered such “serious physical harm” that two had to be flown to specialist trauma centres.
At the same time, another seven were taken to Columbus Hospitals, with one admitted to the ICU and intubated.
Gary Siders Jr. and and Elizabeth Siders have been handed child felony charges. Credit: Southeast Ohio Jail
The four adults responsible have been arrested
The children’s father, Gary Siders Jr., 36, mother Elizabeth Siders, 33, and grandparents Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 77, were arrested and charged with 16 counts of child endangerment. However, they have all since pleaded not guilty.
Now, Gary’s attorney filed a motion requesting a psychiatric evaluation. According to People magazine, the lawyer argued that his client’s competency should be examined before the case proceeds.
The attorney, R. Lee Roberts, also asked the court to allow supporting documents to be filed under seal, saying they contain sensitive information about Siders’ mental health.
Sadly, during a press conference just days after the gut-wrenching discovery, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson and Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain warned the public, who have been gripped by the case, that the investigation could take some time.
The main reason for the expected delay in prosecution is that the children are believed to have very limited communication skills, with some of the 16 children who are aged between one and a half and 18 completely mute.
The state officials even compared the children to animals, describing them as “feral”.
The property the children were found in was falling apart. Credit: X / Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson
The court case is expected to take a long time
It is not known if any of the children have ever had any formal education, as there is no evidence of them ever being enrolled in a school, according to the Vinton County School District.
William Archer, Vinton County prosecutor, said: “One of the investigative challenges is that (the children) are limited. They can communicate, but it’s extremely limited and some not at all.”
The prosecutor also told reporters that the children are in the process of being placed in protective custody with Ohio Jobs and Family Services.
Since the arrests of all the allegedly responsible adults, the judge also confirmed that all four bonds are set at $300,000, and each charge could land a prison sentence of two to eight years.
If each of the four family members is found guilty on all counts, they could face 192 years in prison individually.
