Nearly two months after Ohio “House of Horrors” family Elizabeth Siders, Gary Siders Jr., Christina Siders and Gary Siders Sr. were arrested for allegedly endangering 16 children, new court records revealed that the parents were previously investigated over concerns for the children’s health, education and developmental delays.
The newly released Gallia County court documents reveal that Elizabeth, 33, and Gary Jr., 36, were the subjects of a child welfare investigation in December 2020, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The investigation was launched after a physician reported that four of Elizabeth and Gary Jr.’s children had high levels of lead detected in their system.
A social worker conducted a home visit and noted that the family lived in “a high population” of roaches, gnats and flies. Additionally, the social worker reported that there were two incidents when Elizabeth and Gary Jr. refused to allow her to enter the home or see the children in the upstairs portion of the home.
Once the social worker was finally able to see the children, she noted several concerns including that a 5-year-old girl could not speak “any clear language.”
The social worker said that one of the children had insect bites and scratches, while some of the children’s teeth were not in good condition. Additionally, she said that Elizabeth and Gary Jr. were “always in the same clothing and do not have consistent hygiene, nor do the children.”
Gallia County Children’s Services filed neglect and dependency complaints against Elizabeth and Gary Jr. in January 2021, and the court found “reasonable grounds to believe the children were at risk from their surroundings.”
The court ordered for the family to have protective supervision by the Gallia County Department of Job and Family Services. The following month, the court ruled that the children required intervention by the state to protect their welfare because they were “dependent” under the Ohio Revised Code.
Elizabeth and Gary Jr. agreed to a court-approved case plan in March 2021. A review hearing was then held in May 2021, in which the court said that Elizabeth and Gary Jr. had made “significant progress on their case plan.” However, the parents still needed to follow up with medical appointments for four of the children.
The protective supervision order was eventually terminated, and the cases were closed on June 15, 2021.
Elizabeth, Gary Jr., Christina, 68, and Gary Sr., 73, were arrested on June 30, and the children were rescued from their home in Vinton County after it was discovered that they were living in horrible conditions.
Elizabeth, Gary Jr. and Christina were hit with 19 counts of child endangerment, while Gary Sr. was charged with 17 counts. All four of the defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As Us previously reported, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson announced that Elizabeth and Gary Jr. were also indicted on multiple charges after an investigation determined that they allegedly “engaged in sexual conduct with a minor more than 10 years younger than their own age.”
The minor was not a member of their immediate family and was more than 10 years younger than Elizabeth and Gary Jr. at the time of the alleged assaults between January 2022 and September 2022.
The couple were indicted by a grand jury on two counts of sexual battery and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Formal charges have not yet been publicly filed against them.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
