Ohio 'House of Horrors' father seeks mental competency evaluation: report
A legal motion filed this Friday in Vinton County, Ohio, marks a new turn in the case against Gary Siders Jr. The father, who faces 16 felony counts of child endangerment, is now seeking a court-ordered mental competency evaluation before his trial moves forward.
Defense attorney R. Lee Roberts submitted the filing, requesting that specific documents regarding the defendant’s current mental state be kept under seal for privacy. This comes as the legal process continues in the aftermath of a June 30 police search that brought the situation to light.
Authorities discovered 16 children, ranging from 18 months to 18 years old, inside the Siders home. Reports describe the environment as highly unsanitary, with investigators citing extreme neglect. Several of the children required immediate medical attention and are reported to have suffered from developmental delays due to their living conditions.
Gary Siders Jr. remains in custody with a $300,000 bond. His wife, Elizabeth Siders, and his parents were also arrested during the initial investigation. The children are currently in state custody, where they receive rehabilitative care and medical treatment funded by the state to support their recovery. A hearing for separate misdemeanor public indecency charges against Gary Siders Jr. is scheduled for August 13.