As the case in Ohio involving 16 children found living in an alleged “house of horrors” continues to unfold, the mother at the center of the case has made a desperate request to authorities.
On June 30, police rescued 16 children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years, from a rural home in Vinton County, Ohio. Investigators allege that more than half of the children had spent at least four years confined to a single 12-foot-by-12-foot room inside a home authorities have described as “deplorable.”
Many of the children were reportedly mute, and according to authorities, they had not been enrolled in school.
“One of the investigative challenges is that [the children] are limited. They can communicate, but it’s extremely limited, and some not at all,” Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain said during a news conference.
“I cannot get the smell off of me”
Calling the situation “pure evil,” Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the children’s lives were “in danger at the time” they were found and described them as “almost feral.”
Authorities arrested Gary Siders Jr., 36, Elizabeth Siders, 33, Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67, at the scene. All four have been charged with 16 counts of child endangerment.
“I have never seen anything like what I saw today,” Wilson said.
“It really looked third world. It is not something we are used to seeing in America. I cannot get the smell off of me.”
Says she wants to “reunite with her children”
Elizabeth, Gary Jr., and Christina Siders are being held on $300,000 bond, while Gary Siders Sr. has been released on a recognizance bond due to what has been described as a “serious medical condition.”
Now, according to a court filing reviewed by Fox affiliate WCMH, the 33-year-old mother has asked to be released from jail as the case moves forward.
Her attorney, J. Thomas Stolly, wrote: “Through conversations with Counsel, the Defendant maintains that her principal desire (is) to reunite with her children; she understands that reunification of any sort is an impossibility if she does not appear before this Court,” according to LADbible.
Stolly argued that holding his client on what he considers “excessive bail” violates the Eighth Amendment. He said she does not pose a threat, is willing to cooperate with law enforcement, and has agreed to wear a GPS monitor.
Made a desperate request
After meeting with his client, Stolly told WBNS that the family’s living conditions were the result of extreme poverty and said the mother remains focused on her children.
“She did not ask when she was getting out of jail. She did not ask what a timeline was for her to get out of jail. She started asking about the kids,” Stolley said.
“There’s no indication that the kids were not free to move about the home. There’s no indication from my conversations with my client that the kids were not allowed to go outside.”
“We’re still at the early stages of this criminal case,” he added.
Dorian Baum, attorney for Gary Siders Sr., also defended his client, saying: “It’s important that everybody is entitled to the presumption of innocence, Mr. Siders is just like everyone else in this country.
“And whatever you may think you know, or whatever you may have heard out, there is certainly only one side of the story. It’s only the story that’s been released by the state.”
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