Ohio Mother Pleads Not Guilty to Child Neglect Charges Involving 16 Children

An Ohio mother whose 16 children were found living in what investigators described as “deplorable conditions” pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of child endangerment and neglect, according to The Guardian.

Elizabeth Siders, 34, is one of four family members facing charges in the case, which also includes her husband, Gary Siders Jr. The four defendants collectively face 16 counts of child endangerment and neglect, one for each child involved, the report said.

The children, ranging in age from 17 months to 18 years old, were discovered by investigators in July at the family’s home in Hamden, a small village in Ohio, according to The Guardian. The property was described in the report as decrepit.

Siders’ attorney told the court that she has been almost continuously pregnant since the age of 15 and has not had access to regular healthcare, The Guardian reported.

Details of the specific conditions found at the home, the exact nature of the charges against each of the four family members, and the current status or custody arrangements of the children were not fully specified in the available reporting. Further proceedings in the case are expected to follow.