HAMDEN — Four adults were arrested on felony child endangerment charges after law enforcement discovered 16 children in a home in Hamden, Ohio, on June 30, 2026. The Ohio Bureau of Investigation and the local sheriff's department searched the home.

The arrested adults were identified as Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, and Elizabeth Siders. Vinton County prosecuting attorney William Archer stated that the adults were charged with second-degree felony child endangering. Archer said the charges involve "serious physical harm." Officials stated that the children were in need of medical treatment. Two of the children were flown to level one trauma centers due to their injuries. The 16 children ranged in age from 1.5 to 18 years old and included both boys and girls.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the conditions in the home as "deplorable." Wilson stated, "Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in." Wilson added, "Justice will be served for these children." Law enforcement executed a secondary search warrant at the home on Tuesday. Officials indicated that the adults were not local residents and appeared to have been traveling. The four adults have not yet been arraigned or assigned public defenders and are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning.

Officials did not confirm if the children were related to the adults, and stated that the situation was not human trafficking. Hamden, which has a population of less than 1,000 people, is located approximately 60 miles southeast of Columbus.