Elizabeth Siders, 34, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual battery and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor during an arraignment hearing in Vinton County Common Pleas Court on September 16, 2024.
Siders, who remains jailed in lieu of a $300,000 bond, is accused of sexually abusing a child in her care between January and September 2022. The child, described as a niece or nephew and more than a decade younger than Siders, is at the center of the allegations. Her husband, Gary L. Siders Jr., 36, faces identical charges and was arraigned last month. He remains incarcerated with his bond set at $550,000.
Courtroom observations
During her court appearance, Siders wore baggy orange prison attire and appeared to shield a protruding stomach as she entered the courtroom. Her attorney, Tommy Stolley, declined to confirm whether she is pregnant, stating, “I can’t address that at this time.” Siders has been pregnant for much of the past two decades, including a history of giving birth to 18 children since marrying her husband at age 15. Two of those children were conjoined twins who died at birth.
Broader legal context
Siders and her husband are among four adults indicted on multiple counts of child endangerment following the June 30, 2024 discovery of children in what officials described as “deplorable” conditions at their home in Hamden, Ohio. The Ohio Attorney General’s office confirmed that Siders faces 19 counts of child endangerment, though these charges do not yet appear in the online court docket. Her in-laws, Gary L. Siders Sr. and Christina Siders, also face child endangerment charges.
Additional defendants
Separately, Joshua Saunders III and Brandon Henderson, described as relatives of the family, face multiple charges alleging sexual misconduct involving two children. In a related development, Gary Siders Sr. was deemed not competent to stand trial after a court-ordered evaluation found he could not assist his lawyers. The judge accepted the evaluation, determining he cannot be restored to competency at this time.
Background on the case
The case gained national attention after authorities rescued 16 children from the Siders’ home, where conditions were described as unsanitary and hazardous. The children ranged in age, with reports indicating severe neglect and overcrowding. The Ohio Attorney General’s office has not yet provided further details on the timeline of events or the specific nature of the abuse allegations beyond the indictments.
Siders’ next court date has not been publicly scheduled as of this report.