HAMPDEN, Ohio — A virtual 3D tour of a century-old home in rural Vinton County reveals the harrowing conditions where 16 children lived until their rescue last month, offering a stark digital glimpse into what authorities described as unimaginable neglect.
Bugs crawl across surfaces in nearly every room captured by the tour. Piles of clutter and debris fill the living areas. In one living room scene, a small “forget me not” box from a labor and delivery unit sits among the chaos — a quiet reminder of new life amid the decay. A single babydoll lies discarded nearby. The tour leads deeper into the house to a cramped “back room” where officials say most of the children were confined, a space that underscores the isolation and hardship they endured.
The home was not abandoned. People lived there — a multi-generational family paying rent in the small village of Hamden. Yet the 3D images paint a picture of severe disrepair: overwhelming smells noted by first responders, infestation, and filth that left investigators shaken.
The children, ranging in age from about 18 months to 18 years, were removed from the residence on June 30 during the execution of a search warrant. Seven required hospital treatment that night, with two airlifted to trauma centers in serious condition. All are now in state custody and receiving care.
Four family members face 16 counts each of second-degree felony child endangerment. Gary Siders Sr., 73; Christina Siders, 67; Gary Siders II, 36; and Elizabeth Siders, 33, have all pleaded not guilty. Gary Siders Sr. was later released on his own recognizance bond following a medical emergency, with officials citing the high cost of his specialized care. The other three remain in custody. Special prosecutors from the Ohio Attorney General’s office and elsewhere are assisting the case, which is expected to go before a grand jury soon.
Prosecutors have described the situation as an intra-family matter with no evidence of human trafficking or broader public safety threat. The family had ties to several nearby counties and had lived in the Vinton County home for about four years.
The 3D tour, now circulating as authorities continue their investigation, has brought renewed attention to the case. It allows viewers to navigate the very spaces where children slept, played and struggled to survive, serving as a digital record of conditions that officials say could have turned fatal without intervention.
Investigators continue to seek additional information about the family’s history and the children’s welfare. The case remains active as prosecutors build their filings.