Elizabeth Siders’ legal representative has voiced concerns, asserting that she should not be labeled as “pure evil.”
On July 9, attorney Thomas Stolly expressed to WBNS-TV, a CBS affiliate, his strong opposition towards the negative portrayals of his client disseminated by law enforcement officials.
“As we’re just beginning the legal proceedings,” Stolly remarked, “it’s crucial to challenge such descriptors. It’s equally important to acknowledge that both Elizabeth and her family remain presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court.”
Public officials had earlier referred to the 16 children involved as “almost feral,” a characterization Stolly disputes.
“Describing the children as feral conjures images of individuals completely detached from society’s connections,” he commented. “It suggests they lack human interaction, social exposure, or communication abilities, which is not substantiated in this instance. In fact, we’ve noted evidence that contradicts this portrayal.”
Law enforcement had previously said the children were allegedly kept in a “12 by 12 area” in the home, which Stolly told the outlet isn’t true.
“There’s no indication that the kids were not free to move about the home. There’s no indication from my conversations with my client that the kids were not allowed to go outside,” Stolly said.
has reached out to the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
Ohio Family Arrested After 16 Children Found In “Disgusting” Conditions
The news from Siders’ attorney comes after four Ohio family members were taken into custody after authorities allegedly said they discovered 16 children living in squalor.
“Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children,” Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain remarked in a July 1 press conference streamed by WBNS. “[There] was extremely high presence, I’m sure, of bacterial and human feces. It was just a disgusting scene.”
Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Siders, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders each face 16 counts of endangering children after they were taken into custody June 30, according to a statement from the Ohio Attorney General.
The children were discovered inside the home after investigators were executing a search warrant in connection to an unrelated investigation.
All 16 children—who ranged in age from 18 months to 18—were removed from the property and taken to the hospital for evaluation. According to Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, one was in critical condition at the intensive care unit and two had been flown to trauma centers, while others were treated and released.
“I think if they would have waited another 24 hours,” Wilson said during the press briefing, “there was a very high probability that we’d be dealing with…a death or multiple deaths of these children.”
The family has lived in multiple Ohio counties since 2008, but had been in Vinton County for approximately four years, authorities said.
Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer described the oldest child as being “developmentally disabled” and said she couldn’t spell her own name.
Wilson said additional charges could be possible as the ongoing investigation continues.
All four adults—who were described as being the grandma, grandpa, mother and father of the children—are currently being held on $300,000 bond, prosecutors said in the statement. It is not clear if Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr. or Christina Siders have retained attorneys. Oxygen has reached out to Elizabeth’s attorney Thomas Stolly for comment.
The children have been placed in the temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.