Vinton County sought state help after authorities removed 16 siblings from a rural Ohio home, straining the county’s resources as it prosecutes the children’s parents and two grandparents.
Vinton is Ohio’s smallest county and one of its poorest, a rambling 415 square miles of isolated Appalachian terrain with one traffic light and a single grocery store, the article said.
The county adjusted the bond for 73-year-old Gary Siders Sr. and released him so he could receive specialized medical care outside the county after, Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer Jr. said, "Based on the information the county was provided, his medical care could potentially bankrupt Vinton County." The judge’s order said the GPS tracking device he’ll be required to wear also will be "paid for at the State’s expense."
Also charged in the case were 67-year-old Christina Siders; son Gary Siders Jr., 36; and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Siders, 33. Gary Siders Sr. is charged with felony child endangerment, and the adults have pleaded not guilty, the article said.
Vinton County brought on three special prosecutors — Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, Assistant Attorney General Kara Keating and Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins — to assist "without compensation," and the county sheriff requested help from the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation, records show.
A state legislative panel was expected to consider a request from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth for $1 million in additional cash for Vinton County; the funding request said the money would allow the agency to "ensure vulnerable children receive the safety, treatment, and support they urgently require." The department estimates placement costs at $150 to $250 per child per day, which the article said adds up to roughly $850,000 a year.
The Siders children ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years; authorities said some were described as "feral" and unable to speak, that some medical needs required two children to be flown for hospital care, and that three sets of twins are among the siblings. Birth certificates reviewed by The Associated Press show all 16 children were born in hospitals, and records show Elizabeth Siders had a fourth set of twins in 2022 who died hours after birth. South Central Ohio Job & Family Services said on Facebook it is consulting with attorneys about setting up a trust after an influx of donations.