MCARTHUR, Ohio (August 21, 2026) – A Vinton County grand jury has issued indictments against four members of the Siders family in cases involving child endangerment and alleged unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, according to a news release from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
The indictments name Gary Siders Jr., 36, and his wife Elizabeth Siders, 33, along with Gary Siders Sr., 73, the children’s paternal grandfather, and Christina Siders, 68, the children’s paternal grandmother. The charges stem from investigations by the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The cases are being prosecuted by the Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office with assistance from the Highland County Prosecutor’s Office and the attorney general’s Special Prosecutions Section.
Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders each face four charges related to alleged sexual conduct: two counts of sexual battery, third-degree felonies, and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, also third-degree felonies. The indictments allege that between January and September 2022 the pair engaged in sexual conduct with a minor more than 10 years younger than their own age. The victim is not a member of their immediate family.
In a separate set of charges arising from conditions found at a residence, all four adults face multiple counts of endangering children. Authorities executed a search warrant on June 30, 2026, at 182 Ohmer Street in Hamden. Investigators reported discovering 16 children living in the house under unsafe conditions. The indictments allege the children suffered serious physical harm.
Gary Siders Jr., identified as the children’s father, was indicted on 19 endangerment-related charges: two counts of endangering children as second-degree felonies, 10 counts as third-degree felonies, and seven counts as first-degree misdemeanors. Elizabeth Siders, the children’s mother, faces the same 19 charges.
Gary Siders Sr. was indicted on 16 charges: 10 counts of endangering children as third-degree felonies and six counts as first-degree misdemeanors. Christina Siders faces 19 charges: two counts of endangering children as second-degree felonies, 10 counts as third-degree felonies, and seven counts as first-degree misdemeanors.
The endangerment investigation followed information obtained during an earlier probe that prompted BCI to open an inquiry in March 2026 into allegations of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. That inquiry led to the June 30 search warrant at the Ohmer Street residence.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson stated: “These indictments are the latest developments in the ongoing investigations, but our work is far from complete. BCI is actively investigating these cases alongside the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, and my office will continue to support Prosecuting Attorney William Archer as the legal process continues.”
Indictments are criminal allegations. Under Ohio law, defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Court proceedings, including arraignments, are expected to follow. Three of the defendants have been held in lieu of bond in related prior proceedings, while one has received bond modifications due to medical circumstances reported in earlier coverage of the case.
The 16 children were removed from the home on June 30 and placed in the temporary custody of child welfare authorities. Officials have described the conditions found at the residence as among the most severe encountered in their experience. Investigations remain active. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact authorities through official channels provided by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office or local law enforcement.
