A marriage took place: A shocking new discovery linked to the case of the 16 children in Ohio has left the community horrified by this family
A SECOND underage marriage has been uncovered in the case where 16 children were rescued from a home in deplorable conditions.
The new discovery comes as Gary Siders Jr., the father of the 16 kids, pleaded not guilty to four child sexual abuse charges.
Sixteen children were recovered from a home in Ohio after investigators alleged they were living in deplorable conditionsCredit: AP
Gary Siders Jr., the father of the 16 kids, was arrested alongside his wife and parents, and is also facing child sexual abuse chargesCredit: Vinton County Sheriff’s Office
In June, 36-year-old Gary Jr. was arrested alongside his wife Elizabeth Siders, 33, and his parents Gary Siders Sr., 73, Christina Siders, 67, in rural Hamden, Ohio after police discovered the children.
Investigators alleged the children were living in deplorable conditions, were kept in a room no bigger than 12 feet by 12 feet and that many were barely able to speak.
“This is very, it was terrible. I mean, it looked like almost feral animals. It was terrible,” said Attorney General Andy Wilson.
All four of the adults were charged with 16 child endangering charges, but Elizabeth and Gary Jr. also face “serious felony charges,” according to Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer.
‘Feral’ kid parents hit with sex charge for minor who was not one of 16 children
It was previously revealed that Gary Jr. and Elizabeth got married when Elizabeth was just 15.
Another underage marriage license connected to the Siders family has now been uncovered by ABC affiliate WSYX.
A 2003 marriage-license application in Gallia County involves the daughter of Christina and Gary Sr., Virginia Siders.
Their daughter is listed as 15-years-old while the prospective husband is listed as 19-years-old.
Christina and Gary Sr. signed their consent to allow for the marriage, which listed the daughter as a student and the 19-year-old as a worker at Shake Shop.
NewsNation affiliate WCMH named Virginia’s husband as Joshua D, Saunders, now 42, who has been serving 15-years-to-life in prison since 2009 after being charged with murder.
Records reveal Virginia and Joshua gave birth to a son, Josh Saunders III, who has since been indicted on alleged sexual crimes.
Vinton County officials had opened a probe into the alleged sexual abuse of two minors, which then resulted in the arrests of now 23-year-old Saunders and 40-year-old Brandon Henderson Sr.
Josh Saunders, the 23-year-old son of Virginia Siders was arrested on alleged sexual crimesCredit: Vinton County Sheriff’s Office
Brandon Henderson, who reportedly has been in a relationship with Virginia, was also arrestedCredit: Vinton County Sheriff’s Office
Saunders faces three counts of rape and one gross sexual imposition charge, according to NewsNation affiliate WCMH.
The victims do not share any of the initials of any of Elizabeth and Gary Jr.’s 16 children, according to WSYX.
Records also revealed that Virginia and Joshua are still married, but the Siders daughter has had a relationship with Henderson.
Henderson has been indicted following allegations of a series of sex crimes against children between 2020 and 2025 and faces 21 charges.
Gary Siders Sr., the 73-year-old grandfather of the children, was arrested in June alongside his son Gary Siders Jr.Credit: Vinton County Sheriff’s Office
Debris could be seen inside of the home where the 16 children were recoveredCredit: AP
Henderson and Saunders pleaded not guilty to the charges they face on Monday.
On Wednesday, Gary Jr. pleaded not guilty to four charges he faces related to child sexual abuse, according to WCMH.
He was given a $250,000 bond for the two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of sexual battery.
He was also ordered not to have contact with Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Siders, 33, faces 16 child endangerment charges and four child sexual abuse related chargesCredit: Vinton County Sheriff’s Office
Christina Siders, the 16 kids’ grandmother, was also arrested and faces child endangerment chargesCredit: Vinton County Sheriff’s Office
Court records alleged Gary Jr. had unlawful sexual acts with a minor between the ages of 13 and 16 between January 2022 and September 2022, WCMH reported.
Elizabeth also faces two counts of sexual battery and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor but she has yet to be arraigned.
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Elizabeth’s attorney Thomas Stolley has pushed back on the claims from the attorney general that the conditions at the home were “pure evil.”
He has urged the court to release Elizabeth on a recognizance bond.
SOURCE: THE SUN
https://www.the-sun.com/news/16908923/josh-saunders-virgina-siders-feral-kids/
