An Ohio woman accused of endangering her 16 children and facing separate sexual abuse charges pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday, as a judge increased her bail to $550,000.
Elizabeth Siders, 34, was arraigned in Vinton County court on 19 counts of child endangerment related to the living conditions in her home, where authorities reported finding children in squalid conditions. She also pleaded not guilty to two counts each of sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in a separate case. The alleged abuse occurred in 2022, and the victim was not one of her 16 children, though Siders was responsible for the child’s care at the time.
The judge ordered Siders to have no contact with her children, the alleged victim, or her husband, Gary Siders Jr., who is also facing charges. Her bond was raised from $250,000 to $550,000 after prosecutors argued she posed a flight risk. She remains jailed as of Thursday.
Siders’ attorney, Thomas Stolly, argued in court that his client may herself be a victim due to her history of early marriage and repeated pregnancies. Stolly noted she was married at age 15 and has been pregnant for much of the past two decades, suggesting she has not received adequate medical care or postpartum support. He did not address the charges directly but emphasized concerns about her well-being.
The case stems from a June 30 arrest of Siders and her husband, along with her in-laws, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders. Authorities described the home as littered with feces, with some children unable to speak. The couple was indicted on August 21 in the sexual abuse case, and Gary Siders Jr. was found incompetent to stand trial last week.
Siders’ next court appearance has not been scheduled.