Four arrested in Ohio after 16 kids found in 'deplorable' conditions

Authorities arrested four adults on felony child endangerment charges after discovering 16 children in dire need of medical treatment in a rural southern Ohio home.

The Ohio Bureau of Investigation and local sheriff's department searched a home in the small village of Hamden, where they found the kids in what officials called “deplorable" conditions.

“Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in,” Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said at a news conference.

Law enforcement arrested Gary Siders Jr, Gary Siders Sr, Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders. They have not yet been arraigned and assigned public defenders.

Vinton County prosecuting attorney William Archer said they were being charged with second-degree felony child endangering because it involved “serious physical harm”.

Officials did not confirm if the children were related but said it was not a human trafficking situation. They said the adults were not locals and appeared to have been travelling.

Hamden has a population of less than 1000 people and is about 97km southeast of Columbus.

The children ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years and included both boys and girls, officials said. Several were in serious condition when found, and two had to be flown to level one trauma centres because of their injuries.

Wilson said it was the worst scene he had ever encountered in his entire career, describing what he saw as “pure evil”.

Law enforcement were also executing a secondary search warrant at the home Tuesday, and the investigation is ongoing. The four adults will appear in court Wednesday morning.

“Justice will be served for these children,” Wilson said.